Portugal. The Man is about to release a new album ‘Evil Friends’ on June 4th via Atlantic Records, and we can already have a taste of it with the video for the title track, that was just premiered on the band's website.
The Portland indie band had spoiled us with super-catchy Beatles-esque soaring chorus and hooks so big you could hang yourself on it – have you ever heard ‘The Sun’ or ‘So American’? – but this time they have unleashed a much more aggressive sound and you will have to wait more than 2 minutes in the song to find some familiarity with their usual power choruses.
The atmosphere of the video couldn’t be more bizarre, as it seemed to have been filmed at night in the coldest place on Earth, may be Alaska where the band is originally from? Anyway the creepy greenish light and these people wearing balaclavas with hatchets and martial art pauses, are as weird as the artcover.
The band has already a few dates scheduled, the F*ck Yeah Tumblr Party at SXSW on March 10th, Coachella on April 13rd and 20th, the Jimmy Kimmel Live! on April 22nd, the Governors Ball on June 9th, and at Bonnaroo on June 13-16th.
Interestingly, the album is produced by Danger Mouse, and here is the tracklist:
1. Plastic Soldiers
2. Creep In A T-Shirt
3. Evil Friends
4. Modern Jesus
5. Hip Hop Kids
6. Atomic Man
7. Sea of Air
8. Waves
9. Holy Roller (Hallelujah)
10. Someday Believers
11. Purple Yellow Red and Blue
12. Smile