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After a five-year hiatus, American rockstars Vampire Weekend are returning with a vengeance, with their highly anticipated fifth studio album, Only God Was Above Us set to drop tomorrow, April 5.
The ten-track record promises a fresh exploration of the band’s signature sound, infused with the spirit of 20th century New York City.
The New York-based indie rock band’s last album, Father of the Bride in 2019, was a critical and commercial success, showcasing a more mature and introspective sound.
This new offering draws inspiration from Steven Siegel’s haunting photograph of a junkyard in Jersey City during the late 1980s. The album is said to be ‘inspired and haunted by 20th century New York City’, according to the band.
Recorded across the globe in Manhattan, Los Angeles, London, and Tokyo, Only God Was Above Us reflects a cosmopolitan approach centred on its connection to New York. Producer Ezra Koenig, the band’s frontman, spent his formative years in the city and has often explored its themes in his music.
Two singles have been released from the album - Capricorn and Gen-X Cops.
The former is a driving, guitar-heavy track that evokes the band’s earlier work, while Gen-X Cops showcases a more experimental and electronic direction. The accompanying music videos for both singles further tease the album’s diverse sonic palette, with Capricorn featuring a vibrant, abstract animation and Gen-X Cops utilising a gritty, black-and-white aesthetic.
Other songs will include Prep School Gangsters and Ice Cream Piano.
To celebrate the album’s release, Vampire Weekend will play a special show at the Moody Amphitheatre in Austin, Texas on Monday, April 8, coinciding with the city’s total solar eclipse. This will be followed by a tour at the end of the year in Ireland, the UK and Netherlands.
Whether Only God Was Above Us surpasses the band’s earlier work or carves its own path remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: Vampire Weekend is back, and they’re ready to take listeners on a journey through the heart and soul of New York City.
