Yak Announce New Album Pursuit of Momentary Happiness, Share Ferocious New Single

London rock trio Yak have announced the follow-up to 2016’s Alas Salvation. Their second studio album Pursuit of Momentary Happiness is out on Feb. 8, 2019, via Third Man Records and Virgin EMI. They’ve also shared their latest single, “Fried,” following the release of previous tracks “Bellyache” and “White Male Carnivore.”

“Fried” is full of fuzzy punk grumbles as the track ramps up via frontman Oli Burslem’s jagged howls and an epic, distorted cacophony of guitars. If these three new cuts from their record are a good indication of the album’s overall sound, it appears that the heavy-rock origins of Alas Salvation have been rekindled, as their turbo-charged guitar flamethrowers have been dusted off and wielded with a bold ferocity once again.

According to a press release, Burslem’s hopes to write and record their new album abroad didn’t go to plan. Their previous bassist Andy Jones departed the band, and plans to write in Japan and rehearse in Australia with Tame Impala’s Jay Watson didn’t yield the desired material. Burslem eventually returned to the U.K. homeless, with no money and no album. “I don’t want it to be a boo-hoo story,” says Burslem. “It was fun doing it. It’s nice to push yourself to the limit, and I can say now that I don’t give a shit what anyone thinks because it’s a document of that time, and it’s honest and open, and I couldn’t have done or given much more.”

After 18 months worth of failed album plans, Burslem and drummer Elliot Rawson were still determined to make a new record, so they recruited new bassist Vinny Davies and were later introduced to Spiritualized’s Jason Pierce, who encouraged them to keep on it. They eventually signed new deals with Third Man Records and Virgin EMI, with both Watson and Pierce playing a part in sparking this new record. Yak recorded the album at London’s RAK Studios with producer Marta Salogni (Björk, Django Django) and Burslem added some finishing touches at a small home studio with help from Pierce. Pierce also appears on the record, lending slide guitar and vocals to the final track, “This House Has No Living Room.”

Listen to “Fried” and Yak’s 2015 Daytrotter Session below, and check out their album artwork and tracklist further down. You can preorder Pursuit of Momentary Happiness here.

Pursuit of Momentary Happiness Album Art:

Pursuit of Momentary Happiness Tracklist:
01. Bellyache
02. Fried
03. Pursuit Of Momentary Happiness
04. Words Fail Me
05. Blinded By The Lights
06. Interlude
07. White Male Carnivore
08. Pay Off VS. The Struggle
09. Encore
10. Layin’ It On The Line
11. This House Has No Living Room (Featuring J.Spaceman)