Ink & Dagger L-R Year 1996: Photo 1-2 By Chris P, Photo 3 By Justin Moulder
Philadelphia, PA (October 2, 2025) – From 1996 to 1999 Philadelphia’s Ink & Dagger burned like a roman candle, blurring the lines between punk, hardcore, and psychedelia, an enigma wrapped in rumors, vampire lore, and blood-spattered theatrics. Equal parts chaos and prank, their ever-shifting all-star lineup fed on the energy of others and spit it back out as something entirely their own.
Controversial, influential, and long out of print, their complete legacy has finally risen again. Trust Records is proud to announce their partnership with Ink & Dagger to reissue their entire discography via three stand alone LPs: Drive This Seven Inch Wooden Stake Through My Philadelphia Heart, The Fine Art of Original Sin and Ink & Dagger. All audio was painstakingly remastered by David Cooley (M83, Tame Impala, Jimmy Eat World). Each of the three albums will be in stores and available across digital platforms for the first time ever on October 31.
In addition, a deluxe edition box set titled Ink & Dagger: The Complete Works has been announced. This version includes the three stand alone albums, plus a fourth LP titled Experiments in Nocturnal Sound and Energy: Singles 96-99. Writer Erik Bader authored the insert / book, titled ‘The Almighty’. The box set was designed by visual artist Jeremy Dean and is limited to 500 copies. Ink & Dagger: The Complete Works ships March 2026.
LP 1: Drive This Seven Inch Wooden Stake Through My Philadelphia Heart – Includes Ink & Dagger’s first two EPs and one bonus track. It’s the first time ever this collection is available on vinyl as it was originally released only as a CD in the 90s. The Dagger’s blistering origin story, including such iconic tracks as “The Changeling”, “Frigid Shortcomings”, “The Road to Hell”, and “Full Circle”.
LP 2: The Fine Art of Original Sin – Ink & Dagger’s first LP. Originally released in 1998, The Fine Art of Original Sin saw Ink & Dagger pushing the boundaries of genre into uncharted territory. A psychotic blend of punk, hardcore, electronica and full-throttled rock and roll, Fine Art showcased the Dagger at their absolute peak.
LP 3: Ink & Dagger – Originally released posthumously on Buddyhead in 2000, this was the Ink & Dagger’s final form and statement, a murky, swirling, psychedelic soundscape that defied all category, a cryptic preview of a future that never came.
LP 4: Experiments in Nocturnal Sound and Energy: Singles 96-99 – *This LP will only be included in the physical box set and is a compilation of B sides, singles and splits. A sinister showcase of the band’s various modes and methods, exploring the furthest perimeters of structure and sound.
Ink & Dagger: The Complete Works – Deluxe Edition Box Set – Split across four separate LP releases, Ink & Dagger: The Complete Works collects the entirety of the band’s four years of furious output, all together for the first time.
Earlier this week, Ink & Dagger unveiled a billboard in Philadelphia teasing today’s news alongside a short film shot and directed by guitarist Don Devore titled “The Order” – watch here. Today Ink & Dagger are thrilled to announce a trio of hometown performances at Philadelphia’s First Unitarian Church happening over Halloween weekend, October 30, October 31 and November 1. Each night the band welcomes support from Paint It Black (October 30), Deadguy (October 31) and Soul Glo (November 1). Tickets are on sale Friday, October 3 at 10AM Local – see below for ticket links, posters and more.
In celebration, Ink & Dagger have shared the remastered audio for revered single “Full Circle” alongside a video directed by Brian Balchak which includes unseen footage by Joe Burns and images from the box set’s book.
