Northlane have released their brand-new single,”
Talking Heads,”
taken from their upcoming fifth studio album,
Alien, out August 2 via UNFD. Listen to “Talking Heads,” which premiered last night via Twitch,
here.
The song “talks about the insecurities and anxiety that come with growing up in a violent home with drug addicted parents,” said singer
Marcus Bridge. “That trauma had made it difficult to express my thoughts and ideas in the past, both emotionally and creatively.”
Bridge adds, “We started working on this song pretty early in the process and I think writing it actually started to erase a lot of that insecurity, helping me open up a lot more for the rest of
Alien. I think it’s important to know that there are a lot of people who feel the same way. I hope with this song and the issues talked about on rest of the album, that people will start to feel comfortable opening up about their past, turning it from a weakness to a strength in the process.”
The band previously dropped the new track
“Bloodline.” Listen to the song and watch the video
here.
Fans can pre-order Alien here. Alien is also available with exclusive vinyl, CD, and merch options in limited quantities worldwide here.
In support of Alien, Northlane will return to North America for a headline run throughout August and September with Erra, Currents, and Crystal Lake. All North American dates are below.
For a band that have traditionally focused on wider issues in the outside world, Alien is easily the most personal statement of their career. “I was raised in hell but I made it out,” Bridge said. “Raised in a place I shouldn’t have been, and no child should have been. But I’ve been able to break free.”
While some long-time listeners might assume that the title Alien is a continuation of the space and futuristic themes that have characterized previous Northlane albums, it is instead a reflection of the alienation Bridge felt as a child “who grew up in a weird, unusual household and who was bullied at school because of it.”
Produced by the band, the album was recorded at Chris Blancato’s studio in Sydney, where Northlane recorded their first EP, 2010’s Hollow Existence. Bridge did his vocals at Sydney’s Electric Sun Studios, where the quintet made their 2011 debut album Discoveries.
For a band marking their tenth anniversary in 2019, Alien is a bold leap forward; the work of a group fighting their way out of their corner by moving forward rather than looking back. Their previous three albums may have debuted in the Top 5 in — with Node landing at Number One before going on to win an ARIA Award for Best Hard Rock or Heavy Metal Album, an accolade also awarded to Mesmer. But Northlane are in no mood to play it safe.
ALIEN TRACK LISTING:
“Details Matter”
“Bloodline”
“4D”
“Talking Heads”
“Freefall”
“Jinn”
“Eclipse”
“Rift”
“Paradigm”
“Vultures”
“Sleepless”
NORTHLANE U.S. TOUR DATES:
8/14 — San Francisco, CA — Slim’s
8/16 — Seattle, WA — El Corazon
8/17 — Vancouver, BC — Bitmore Cabaret
8/18 — Portland, OR — Bossanova Ballroom
8/20 — Salt Lake City, UT — The Complex
8/21 — Denver, CO — Marquis Theater
8/23 — Minneapolis, MN — Amsterdam
8/24 — Chicago, IL — Bottom Lounge
8/25 — Detroit, MI — The Shelter
8/27 — Cleveland, OH — Beachland Ballroom
8/28 — Pittsburgh, PA — Rex Theater
8/29 — Toronto, ON — Mod Club
8/30 — Montreal, QC — Fairmount
8/31 — Boston, MA — Brighton Music Hall
9/01 — New York, NY — Gramercy Theater
9/03 — Philadelphia, PA — The Foundry
9/04 — Baltimore, MD — Soundstage
9/05 — Greensboro, NC — Blind Tiger
9/06 — Atlanta, GA — Masquerade
9/07 — Tampa, FL — Orpheum
9/09 — Houston, TX — White Oak Music Hall
9/10 — Dallas, TX — Gas Monkey
9/11 — San Antonio, TX — Paper Tiger
9/13 — Mesa, AZ — Nile Theater
9/14 — Anaheim, CA — Chain Reaction
9/15 — Los Angeles, CA — Teragram Ballroom
