In 2002, Black Eyes released a 7" on Ruffian Records (
Some Boys / Shut Up, I Never) and a 7" split with Early Humans on Planaria Recordings; the latter includes the track "Have Been Murdered Again," an early version of "Someone Has His Fingers Broken." Black Eyes' self-titled debut album was released in 2003 on
Dischord Records; most tracks feature the band's trademark dual vocals (from bass guitarist Hugh McElroy and guitarist Daniel Martin-McCormick) and two full drum kits. The album was produced by
Ian MacKaye and recorded by
Don Zientara at his
Inner Ear Studios. After
Black Eyes, bassist Jacob Long began teaching himself to play saxophone, which he performed in the group's subsequent live shows and recording sessions. For this album, the band incorporated frenzied
brass instrumentation, pushing further into
free-jazz territory. The band's members went on to pursue other projects, including Ital, Earthen Sea, Marriage, Hand Fed Babies, Sentai, and Mi Ami. McElroy continued to release work on his
DIY label, Ruffian Records, while producing and engineering recordings for other artists including
Priests, and Kanin founded On Repeat, a sub-label of
Astral Spirits. Along with a reissue of
Black Eyes, the band also released previously-unheard demos, live sets, and a zine titled
Speaking In Tongues: Black Eyes 2001-2004. The band continued to tour through 2024 and 2025, debuting new songs at these shows. The band also reissued
Cough as well, for its 20th anniversary. On August 13, 2025, the band announced a new album,
Hostile Design. The album was released on October 10, 2025 via
Dischord Records, and marked their first album in over twenty years. The band announced the release of the album on their blog alongside a new single, "Pestilence." The album was produced by
Ian MacKaye and engineered by Don Godwin. ==Black Eyes discography==