The Whip first caught our attention in 2006, when the song “Trash” appeared as one of the standouts on Paris-based label Kitsuné’s Maison 3 compilation. The Manchester, U.K.-based four-piece has been carrying the rave/rock torch ever since, most notably in the form of its debut full-length, X Marks Destination.

The band brightened up the week by announcing a long-awaited U.S. release for the album, which means a couple things: Firstly, come winter 2009, Stateside fans won’t have to fork over 30-plus bucks to pay for the import price of the disc. The release also means we can hopefully expect some shows on North American soil next year.

The Whip is currently gearing up for some dates in Japan and the U.K., but will cross the Atlantic for a couple CMJ parties next week. Hopefully they’ve left the rave zombies at home.

X Marks Destination
01 Trash
02 Frustration
03 Fire
04 Save My Soul
05 Sirens
06 Divebomb
07 Blackout
08 Muzzle #1
09 Sister Siam
10 Dubsex

Dates
10/22 Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg (CMJ)
10/24 New York, NY – Irving Plaza (CMJ)
11/08 Tokyo, Japan – Studio Coast
11/09 Tokyo, Japan – Studio Coast
11/10 Tokyo, Japan – Astro Hall
11/12 Bristol, U.K. – Thekla
11/13 Leeds, U.K. – Cockpit
11/14 Glasgow, U.K. – Small Arch
11/15 Newcastle, U.K. – Other Rooms
11/18 Brighton, U.K. – Concorde 2
11/19 London, U.K. – Scala
11/20 Oxford, U.K. – Academy 3
11/21 Manchester, U.K. – Academy 2
11/22 Liverpool, U.K. – Chibuku
12/03 Oslo, Norway – John Dee
12/04 Copenhagen, Denmark – Loppen
12/05 Amsterdam, Netherlands – Melkweg
12/06 Brussels, Belgium – Botanique
12/09 Clermont Ferrand, France – Cooperative De Mai
12/10 Zurich, Switzerland – Abart
12/12 Paris, France – Showcase
12/15 Barcelona, Spain – Apolo
12/16 Madrid, Spain – Caracol
12/18 Dublin, Ireland – The Hub
12/19 Belfast, Ireland – Stiff Kitten
12/2 Galway, Ireland – Cuba