Lucky Number Music

HMLTD’s debut album, the expansive, labyrinthine West of Eden, is out now. Several years in the making, the daring collection of songs created to incite conversation about proposed new visions of masculinity, the decadence of western capitalism and the violence of insecurity and repression.  Across these 15 tracks the band realise their artistic vision in full technicolour, with all shades of their sonic palette used to create an album that is equal parts lush and abrasive.

The band describe the album thus, “West of Eden is a portrait of a civilization on the brink of collapse. This is the world our generation will spend its lives in, and we somehow need to find love and meaning within it. This album is about the struggle that we will all live, and about turning that struggle into joy.”

To celebrate the album’s release, the band have also shared an enigmatic new video, entitled the “West of Eden Chapter 0: Prelude” featuring a tantalising snippet of new unreleased music, and animated by their frequent collaborator Mike Raymond, who also designed the striking album artwork.

Having returned this Autumn to announce the upcoming release of long-awaited debut album West of Eden, alongside the explosive comeback singles ‘LOADED’ and ‘The West is Dead’, London based five-piece HMLTD today share the stunning animated video for new track ‘Why?’.

The story for the video was written by guitarist James, with its visuals created by Collectif 99°, an artist-led collective and organisation founded by 10 graduates of the Atelier Supérieur d’Animation in Paris.

Of the track, frontman Henry Spychalski says: “A further mirror to the modern world we live in – via exploring the paradoxical loneliness that defines modern, urban life. Set in Tokyo, the world’s largest metropolitan city and with the verse written in Japanese the song talks about being surrounded by people but an ever increased alienation and detachment from surrounding, neighbours and relationships. As the song progresses, the chorus sounds like Japanese but in fact is a meaningless series of vowels and consonants – mimicking the vertigo of detachment. Even when one does communicate. Is anybody really listening, understanding or trying to understand?”

Following their recent return with the explosive recent single ‘LOADED’, HMLTD today announce news of the upcoming release of their long-awaited debut album, West of Eden, due for release on 7th February 2020. You can pre-order and pre-save HERE.

The expansive, labyrinthine debut has been several years in the making; a daring collection of songs created to incite conversation about proposed new visions of masculinity, the decadence of western capitalism and the violence of insecurity and repression. Across its 15 tracks, the band’s artistic vision is realised in full technicolour, with all shades of their sonic palette used to create an album that is equal parts lush and abrasive.

Alongside today’s announcement, HMLTD share the video for brand new single and album opener ‘The West Is Dead’, a dizzying rally call brought to life with the fuzz of a driving bassline, pulsing electronics and Spychalski’s sick croon. Its accompanying haunting visuals envisions a near-future Europe, plunged back into feudalism after total social and ecological collapse. Shot by Niall Trask, it continues the band’s run of thought provoking yet beautiful videos,

Of the track, Spychalski explains: “this is not dystopia, but a mirror up to late capitalism; where we are and where we’re headed. Sick dolphins lap at the tide, the insects have all dropped from the skies and the global economy enters free fall. Ecological catastrophe guaranteed. The West is dead. Atomised, alienated and apathetic”

We’re thrilled to now be working with the incendiary London based five-piece HMLTD, who have shared ‘LOADED’, their first new music of 2019, alongside an official video directed by Mood Killer, watch the video below and buy or stream the track here.

Of the track and its accompanying visuals, the band say: “’Loaded’ is a song about a Faustian bargain, inspired by real events of which we were very much a part. Satan found our souls to be faulty and has been fully refunded. ‘Loaded’ is a story of self-deprecation, self-aggrandisement, and self-commodification. It is a self-help book to recovering from all of the above. ‘Loaded’ is a song about material wealth and spiritual poverty; the depths of which we have ploughed and plundered til penniless in both pound and principle. We have scraped the barrel of our hollow, piggy bank soul husks to bring it into this world. We did it for you, but mainly for us.”

Catch them on their UK tour this October, including a special show at London’s XOYO. Tickets here.