We have well and truly been welcomed into the next Arcade Fire era. The Canadian rock band recently debuted a string of new tracks from their new album at their show in Mexico on April 22.
The Canadian band’s seventh album is due out May 9. And , if last night’s performance is anything to go by, it marks a distinct left turn from what you expect.
The set was split into two acts. The first focused entirely on unreleased material, including the first-ever live outing of the album’s title track. They band also premiered several other songs including ‘Circle of Trust’, the industrial-tinted ‘Alien Nation’, the atmospheric slow burn ‘I Love Her Shadow’, and the undeniably sticky ‘Stuck in My Head’. Based on what I’ve heard, if there’s one through-line, it’s this. Pink Elephant is Arcade Fire getting weird again, and loving it.
After debuting the new songs, the band then wrapped up the second act of the performance with a more familiar run of fan favourites. This included ‘Age of Anxiety II (Rabbit Hole)’, ‘The Suburbs’, and ‘Everything Now’.
The show also confirmed that Richard Reed Parry is sitting this tour out to spend time with his newborn, with the band continuing on as a slightly leaner unit.
Pink Elephant was recorded at Win Butler and Régine Chassagne’s Good News Recording Studio in New Orleans. It promises a blend of “cinematic mystical punk”, whatever that ends up meaning. The record spans 10 tracks and 42 minutes, with Chassagne taking on bass duties for the first time and Butler stepping behind the drums.
The new chapter arrives under the weight of ongoing scrutiny around Butler, who was accused of sexual misconduct in 2022. While Butler has since denied any non-consensual interactions he has also acknowledged that he previously caused harm. The band have since moved forward quietly, with Pink Elephant marking their first new material since the allegations surfaced. So let’s just see where it all goes.
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