Bought to Rot

I went in and asked if they’d consider giving the songs a home. They were cool enough to hear me out and oblige. I couldn’t be more happy about the work we’re going to do together and sharing it with the world.^[10]

Laura Jane Grace announced in July 2018 that the band she had performed previous solo tours with since 2016,^[14] The Devouring Mothers, had recently completed Grace's second solo record together, to be released on Bloodshot Records in Autumn 2018. The band's members since its inception have been Grace and Willard from Against Me!, as well as long-time producer and collaborator Marc Hudson.^[15] The album is said to be heavily influenced by the works of Rowland S. Howard^[16] and Tom Petty,^[10][17] and includes collaborations with other artists.^[18]

Following a period of turbulence in Against Me!, the songs were recorded quickly in order to have them finalised before Grace underwent surgery shortly after the record's release, so as not to have the songs "rot" like surplus groceries bought.^[19] Grace later confirmed in January 2019 that she had undergone facial feminization surgery as part of her transition.^[20]

The album was announced for preorder on 29 August, with an immediate release of "Apocalypse Now (& Later)" (the fourth track on the album) on streaming services.^[21] On 11 October, "The Airplane Song" began streaming online,^[22] followed by "Reality Bites" on 25 October.^[23]

Before being cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Against Me! covered the song "Reality Bites" as a full band in two live shows in March 2020.^[24]