Chicago rock trio Lifeguard have announced their debut album. Ripped and Torn drops June 6 via Matador. The band has also announced a North American and European tour behind the LP and shared its lead single, “It Will Get Worse.” The track arrives alongside a video, directed by Eli Schmitt, in which the band members get chased by a dog, tumble into the Chicago River, and more. Watch the video below.
Lifeguard—featuring bassist and vocalist Asher Case, drummer Isaac Lowenstein, and guitarist and vocalist Kai Slater—recorded Ripped and Torn in Chicago last year with producer Randy Randall of No Age. The trio made its Matador debut in 2023 with the five-song Dressed in Trenches EP.
Outside of Lifeguard, Kai Slater makes music as Sharp Pins. He recently released his great album Radio DDR. Read more about it in “The Best Music of 2025 So Far.”
All products featured on Pitchfork are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Ripped and Torn:
01 A Tightwire02 It Will Get Worse03 Me and My Flashes04 Under Your Reach05 How to Say Deisar06 (I Wanna) Break Out07 Like You’ll Lose08 Music for 3 Drums09 France And10 Charlie’s Vox11 Ripped + Torn12 T.L.A.
Lifeguard:
06-07 Berlin, Germany – Neue Zukunft06-07 Hamburg, Germany – Hafenklang06-09 London, England – Lexington06-10 Brighton, England – Dust06-11 Manchester, England – The Castle06-12 Bristol, England – Rough Trade06-13 Brussels, Belgium – Botanique (Witloof Bar)06-15 Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso06-28 Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall06-29 St. Louis, MO – The Sinkhole07-01 Nashville, TN – Blue Room07-02 Columbus, OH – Ace of Cups07-04 Toronto, Ontario – The Baby G07-05 Montreal, Quebec – L’escogriffe07-06 Kingston, NY – Tubby’s07-08 Medford, MA – Deep Cuts07-10 Philadelphia, PA – Warehouse on Watts07-12 Washington, D.C. – Songbyrd07-13 Raleigh, NC – Kings07-15 Atlanta, GA – Altar07-16 Memphis, TN – B-Side07-17 New Orleans, LA – Gasa Gasa07-19 Austin, TX – Mohawk (Inside)07-20 Denton, TX – Rubber Gloves07-22 Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad07-23 Phoenix, AZ – Valley Bar07-24 Los Angeles, CA – Zebulon07-26 San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill07-28 Portland, OR – Polaris07-30 Seattle, WA – Baba Yaga07-31 Boise, ID – The Shredder08-02 Denver, CO – Hi-Dive08-04 Kansas City, MO – Varsity Club08-05 Minneapolis, MN – Zhora Darling08-06 Milwaukee, WI – X-Ray Arcade
