London based five-piece HMLTD’s debut album, the expansive, labyrinthine West of Eden, is out now via Lucky Number and today the band share a lyric video for the album’s tear-jerking and aspirational pop moment, ‘Mikey’s Song’, as they set off on their UK/EU headline tour.
The lyric video comprises heart-warming home footage of an Italian road-trip by vocalist Henry Spychalski who says of the track; “‘Mikey’s Song’ is the most personal and sincere song we have ever written. It is a straight-up love song, unflinching and unreserved. Be we in Eden or Gomorrah, we still have to do something to give our lives meaning, to pursue joy, to justify our sufferings. Love, compassion, tenderness – these are the last bastions of hope.”
West of Eden was several years in the making, the daring collection of songs created to incite conversation about proposed new visions of masculinity, the decadence of western capitalism and the violence of insecurity and repression. It includes the band’s explosive comeback singles ‘LOADED’ and ‘The West is Dead’, plus the stunning curveball of ‘Why?’ and the boldly optimistic anthem ‘Blank Slate’. Across these 15 tracks the band realize their artistic vision in full technicolour, with all shades of their sonic palette used to create an album that is equal parts lush and abrasive.
Vocalist Henry Spychalski describes the album thus, “West of Eden is a portrait of a civilization on the brink of collapse. This is the world our generation will spend its lives in, and we somehow need to find love and meaning within it. This album is about the struggle that we will all live, and about turning that struggle into joy.”
Following a run of intimate shows last autumn, HMLTD will tour across UK and EU from today, February 13th. Please note that due to building delays, the band’s headline London show has moved from new venue Lafayette to The Garage. The Hamburg show also sees a venue upgrade and will now take place at Molotow. All tickets remain valid. See below for all tour dates and further info.
Feb 13th | Liverpool, UK @ Arts Club
Feb 14th | Glasgow, UK @ Nice N Sleazy
Feb 15th | Edinburgh, UK @ Opium
Feb 16th | Birmingham, UK @ Sunflower Lounge
Feb 18th | Dublin, IE @ The Sound House
Feb 19th | Manchester, UK @ YES
Feb 20th | London, UK @ The Garage
Feb 21st | Bristol, UK @ The Exchange
