Japandroids announce today their fourth album, ‘Fate & Alcohol’, which will be available on October 18th through ANTI-. In addition, today they share a new single, ‘Chicago’, the antithesis of Sufjan Stevens’ song of the same name, with the roaring guitars that characterize them. However, it will be their last album, because at the same time that the band gives us this good news, they announce their separation.
As PIAS Spain reports, “after three breathtaking, visceral rock ’n roll albums – 2009’s ‘Post-Nothing’, 2012’s ‘Celebration Rock’ and 2017’s ‘Near to the Wild Heart of Life’ – the Vancouver duo have decided to split up.” The new album is supposed to be “a return to form and an exciting step forward, a monument to the chemistry they have perfected for almost two decades side by side.” As expected, their label considers ‘Fate & Alcohol’ “their best work to date, the sound of a band saying goodbye at the peak of their career.”
Brian King has said that on this latest album they wanted to “expand the definition of what a Japandroids song is,” so they deliberately left demos “open and malleable” to allow for flexibility and experimentation in the studio. They were looking for a “cinematic version of our signature sound.” Here’s the song and tracklist:
1. Eye Contact High
2. D&T
3. Alice
4. Chicago
5. Upon Sober Reflection
6. Fugitive Summer
7. A Gaslight Anthem
8. Positively 34th Street
9. One Without the Other
10. All Bets Are Off
