The Drums Announce New Album Brutalism, Share Lead Single

The Drums have shared the details of their new album, Brutalism, out on April 5 via ANTI- Records, and they’ve also unveiled the lead single, “Body Chemistry.” Brutalism is their fifth studio album and it follows their 2017 LP, Abysmal Thoughts, the first Drums album with Jonny Pierce as its sole member. In addition, The Drums have announced a North American tour set for April and May.

“Body Chemistry” was the first song written for the album, and on the track, Pierce addresses his depression and outside forces urging him to change his life. Pierce ponders what he really wants and to what extent his personal shortcomings are innate. Featuring a healthy mix of The Drums’ much-loved indie-pop spunk and bright new textures, The Drums sound as musically confident and lyrically woeful as ever.

Pierce said of the track’s initial inspiration:

For the year prior to writing this song, I had been dealing with an increased feeling of depression. To counter that, I was doing all I could do to try and make myself feel good: implementing all sorts of self-care, going to therapy, eating well, exercising at the gym, taking a step back from partying, and focusing on positive relationships while weeding out the not-so-good ones. I still found myself weighed down with anxiety and depression. This song asks the question: Is this dull, sad feeling in my DNA? Is it part of my gene pool? Can it ever be corrected? I had been confronting some of my most stubborn demons, and I came to realize that confronting doesn’t always mean conquering.

According to a press release, the album is “self-care focused.” “I was exhausted, depleted and sabotaging myself, partying so much but in reality running away from pain,” says Pierce. “It was a downward spiral. It was do or die. I don’t think I’ll ever really find myself. I don’t think people do. I don’t think there’s a day that you wake up and you go, ‘Now I know who I am.’ The best way for me to be an artist is by taking a goddamn minute, being still and listening to what it is that I want and need.”

Brutalism was written and recorded between New York and California, and Pierce enlisted Chris Coady (Beach House, Amen Dunes) to mix the album. Pierce has been very hands-on with every Drums album, but he did a little more delegating this time around. He brought in a guitarist and live drummer—the first Drums record with live drums—to record with him so Pierce could oversee a more specific vision.

Listen to “Body Chemistry” below, and see The Drums’ 2017 Paste Studio session and upcoming North American tour dates further down. You can keep scrolling to check out their album artwork and tracklist. Click here to preorder Brutalism.

The Drums Tour Dates:

April
24 – Tustin, Calif. @ Marty’s On Newport
26 – El Paso, Texas @ Lowbrow Palace
27 – San Antonio, Texas @ Paper Tiger
29 – Omaha, Neb. @ The Waiting Room
30 – St. Paul, Minn. @ Turf Club

May
01 – Chicago, Ill. @ Metro
02 – Toronto, Ontario @ Phoenix Concert Theater
04 – Boston, Mass. @ Paradise Rock Club
07 – New York, N.Y. @ Mercury Lounge
08 – Asbury Park, N.J. @ Asbury Lanes
09 – Philadelphia, Pa. @ The Foundry at The Fillmore
10 – Brooklyn, N.Y. @ Warsaw
11 – Washington, D.C. @ The Black Cat
13 – Carrboro, N.C. @ Cat’s Cradle
14 – Nashville, Tenn. @ Exit/In
15 – Atlanta, Ga. @ Terminal West
16 – Orlando, Fla. @ The Beacham Theater
17 – Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. @ Revolution Live
18 – Tampa Bay, Fla. @ The Orpheum
20 – Pensacola, Fla. @ Vinyl Music Hall
21 – Houston, Texas @ White Oak Music Hall (Downstairs)
22 – Dallas, Texas @ Granada Theater
23 – Austin, Texas @ Emo’s

Brutalism Album Artwork:

Brutalism Tracklist:
01. Pretty Cloud
02. Body Chemistry
03. 626 Bedford Avenue
04. Brutalism
05. Loner
06. I Wanna Go Back
07. Kiss It Away
08. My Jasp
09. Blip Of Joy