When word rang out that the noise machine of Frodus would be releasing new material -- as founders Shelby Cinca and Jason Hamacher regrouped from 10 years of inactivity -- all conversations turned to asking when to expect what was being recorded with Dillinger Escape Plan bassist Liam Wilson. No release date was announced, however. One day, 'Soundlab One' was unleashed without warning. Cinca told Noisecreep that it was not only the plan, but it might be the way more bands should approach album releases.

"I never understood in the digital age the whole thing of sending press people the stuff earlier, and then it leaks anyway and it's on Rapidshare and Mediafire and all these different sites. Because if people want to hear it, they'll find the press copy," the guitarist admitted, explaining the band's method. "[No release date] makes more sense in the way people consume music than staggering it for the elite few that get to hear it, and the masses have to wait. It seemed more natural in the way people want to consume information -- everything is there all at once."

You can't really argue with that logic when most people will download an album -- legally or illegally -- rather than take a five-minute drive to their local record shop. Cinca is far from alone in thinking this an old model. He cites Jack White's band the Raconteurs as an example of a big label band that took the same approach, releasing their last album without the knowledge of the press to push it.

"I don't know how we could have hyped it, honesty; send it to Alternative Press and try to get them to write about it and do features? I mean they're going to write about it anyway if they like it or not, whether it's before it comes out or the day it comes out."

To get the single out in a way that involved fewer hands in their and the fans' pockets, Cinca opted to set everything up with Bandcamp, a site he's used for his electronica side project Triobelisk and data punk outfit Frantic Mantis. The 'Soundlab' site boasts that "no multi-national corporations will receive any percentage."

"I like that it gives a way for the artist to release the music and have this great user experience opposed to all these other sites that are out there," said Cinca. "And it helps smaller labels. It makes the most sense I think."

This looks like many more of these smaller releases are on the way as CInca explains that the 'Soundlab' idea is to explore experimentations with different musicians. "The second 'Soundlab' could be with members of Norma Jean or ex-members of Refused or something. It's just our friends from being a band, that's kind of the idea."

He continued, "For me I'd almost like for it to be separated from Frodus, like the Frodus Soundlab as its own thing. I always like doing new stuff so I'd like to have enough songs to do newer songs and some of the older ones and kind of progress."

More From Noisecreep