Japandroids Are Reborn ‘Near to the Wild Heart of Life’

Beloved Canadian duo Japandroids recently announced Near to the Wild Heart of Life, their long-awaited follow-up to 2012's album Celebration Rock. Technically, next year's record (due out January 20 via ANTI-) marks their third full-length; loud as its forebears, it ultimately represents a stylistic — even spiritual — reboot, as the band's Brian King recently detailed to Stereogum: "This record will be closer to our first EP in that way. It’s a first attempt at something we’ve never done before." In addition to a broader instrumental palette (bass, synthesizers and — gasp — acoustic guitars), he said, the album demonstrates a conscious attempt to translate their riotous live energy from ephemeral spectacle to everlasting statement.

Consider the title track, then, our reintroduction to Japandroids. It's a hearty rock song that finds the band winding down the amps from 11 to 10 in a rare trade-off: less feedback and raw power, more melodic ebullience. Stream it below, and scroll down to view the track list.

Near to the Wild Heart of Life is out January 20 via ANTI-. Pre-order here. The band is also planning to release a 7″ of the title track b/w a cover of Talking Heads’ “Love → Building on Fire.”

JAPANDROIDS, NEAR TO THE WILD HEART OF LIFE TRACK LIST
1. “Near to the Wild Heart of Life”
2. “North East South West”
3. “True Love and a Free Life of Free Will”
4. “I’m Sorry (For Not Finding You Sooner)”
5. “Arc of Bar”
6. “Midnight to Morning”
7. “No Known Drink or Drug”
8. “In a Body Like a Grave”