Hard Working Americans have announced the release of their second studio album, 'Rest In Chaos,' on May 13 via Melvin Records/Thirty Tigers.

With the exception of Guy Clark's "The High Price of Inspiration," the 13-track album was written by the band on the road, live in six different studios.

Fronted by troubadour Todd Snider, the Hard Working Americans -- Dave Schools (bass guitar, background vocals), Neal Casal (guitars, background vocals), Duane Trucks (drums and percussion), Chad Staehly (keyboards, background vocals) and Jesse Aycock (guitars, lap steel, background vocals) -- embark on a musical journey that may parallel "Alice In Wonderland" to some degree.

The lead track, "Opening Statement," ("Before I refuse to take any questions/I've got an opening statement/that I'd like to keep to myself") sets the album's gritty tone and rolls right into "It Runs Together," which describes Snider first meeting his ex-wife in recovery. "Half Ass Moses" is essentially three driving rock songs rolled into one, and the gospelesque stomper "Throwing The Goats," blasts "we've got all the integrity that money can't buy." The album's title is nestled in "Ascending Into Madness," which Snider says is "about being an artist and coming up with new art."

It's been Snider's two-decade-plus professional proclivity to take the lyrical knife to expectation and subtly stab, then twist. On 'Rest In Chaos' Snider's knife has become a machete, with both words and voice.

As was the case with the band's self-titled debut release, the Hard Working Americans forge sonics completely apt for the messages they convey, yet unconventional enough to reach new depths listen after listen. "Rest In Chaos" isn't jam band or folk or rock or "trippiness" for their individual sakes...only for when it matters most.

The Hard Working Americans will once again prove that moniker when they hit the road for a multi-city tour mere days after 'Rest In Chaos' releases. Dates, cities and pre-order details will be announced soon.

Here's the Hard Working Americans 'Rest In Chaos' track listing:

1) Opening Statement
2) It Runs Together
3) Half Ass Moses
4) Dope Is Dope
5) Burn Out Shoes
6) Roman Candles
7) Ascending Into Madness
8) Throwing The Goats
9) Something Else
10) Massacre
11) The High Price of Inspiration (Guy Clark, songwriter, on guitar)
12) Acid
13) Purple Mountain Jamboree