Kings Of Leon have been notably absent from the rock n roll arena lately, and it’s been nearly three years since the release of their last studio LP, but the Nashville four-piece are planning their comeback later this year with the release of their sixth studio album, due sometime this coming September.
The news was confirmed by Kings Of Leon bassist Jared Followill in an interview with NME, who revealed, “I thought we were going to make a really mature album but I’m amazed how youthful it sounds. It’s like a mix of Youth & Young Manhood and Because Of The Times.”
The still untitled album will mark the group’s first since 2010’s Come Around Sundown, which failed to ignite audiences in the same way as commerical smash hit Only by The Night, which spawned hit singles ‘Sex On Fire’ and ‘Use Somebody’.
Only By The Night went on to sell over 600,000 copies in Australia and was certified 9x platinum, whereas Come Around Sundown struggled to sell a quarter of its predecessor with just over 140,000 sales in Australia.
But following the release of their 2010 album, the worst was yet to come for the group, who cancelled their entire US tour in August 2011 after they were forced to abandon a show in Dallas halfway through due to frontman Caleb Followill being spectacularly drunk, leaving the stage and refusing to return. There were reports that his bandmates wanted him in rehab, although his mother denied such claims at the time. “I’m amazed how youthful it sounds. It’s like a mix of Youth & Young Manhood and Because Of The Times.” – Jared Followill, Kings Of Leon
Their last Australian tour was also also wrought with difficulty. First postponed after drummer Nathan Followill had surgery on his arm and was unable to play, they then suffered a set back after Qantas messed up their flights, forcing then to travel through a convoluted route and amassing an incredible 24 hours flying time just to get down under.
News of Kings Of Leon’s forthcoming album is the first real announcement that the group were back writing new music since the meltdown. In their downtime, group members Nathan and Caleb Followill have both become fathers, while Jared got engaged and released the debut EP of his Smoke & Jackal side project, which he started with longtime friend Nick Brown, in August last year.
There’s no word yet when Kings Of Leon might visit Australia next, but before the album is released those anxious to hear the new tunes will probably get the chance when the group hits the road for a handful of dates this summer, including headlining spots at festivals like the Governor’s Ball in New York City in June, and the U.K.’s V Festival in August.
The group also unveiled plans for a box set of their previous releases a couple of weeks ago. The rather directly titled The Collection Box, is a six-disc set that will include all five of Kings Of Leon’s studio albums alongside a DVD copy of Live At The O2 – London, England.
The news of another album from the Followills is the latest in a string of fresh album details, including the darker, more aggressive turn from Sigur Rós, and new records from Aussie hip hop group Bliss N Eso and Scottish hedonists Primal Scream; as well as the latest from The National, Vampire Weekend, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Daft Punk, Phoenix, Mudhoney, City and Colour, Palms, Fall Out Boy, and The Knife, with the Swedish duo recently releasing a batshit insane press release for their 98 minute long opus.
Similarly we can see brand new tunes from local artists including a long overdue return from Empire of the Sun, the Cat Empire’s latest, the second album from Melbourne twosome Big Scary, the Russian inspired return of Midnight Juggernauts, and a heap of new albums from the likes of Bernard Fanning, Birds of Tokyo, Hermitude, Airbourne, Super Wild Horses, and a swathe of new material from Perth outfit Pond.
But the most anticipated album of 2013 status must go to the sixth album from Queens Of The Stone Age, Like Clockwork, with Arctic Monkey Alex Turner and UNKLE’s James Lavelle the latest to be added to the album’s all-star cast; which includes Sir Elton John, Trent Reznor, Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters, previous QOTSA collaborators Mark Lanegan and Nick Oliveri, and Dave Grohl on drums.
