WORDS DESH KAPUR
Pixies
The Night The Zombies Came
Release date: Friday, October 25th 2024
Pixies‘ latest album, “The Night The Zombies Came”, is a dark, eclectic journey that expands on their signature indie rock sound with a cinematic flair. Set for release on October 25, 2024, the album marks their 10th studio record and their first featuring new bassist Emma Richardson (formerly of Band of Skulls). It feels like a dynamic blend of eerie themes and experimental storytelling.
Frontman Black Francis describes the album as a “movie in song form,” where individual tracks are “fragments” that tie into a larger narrative. These fragments come together to explore a wide range of peculiar topics—like druidism, apocalyptic settings, and medieval restaurants—creating a bizarre and surreal atmosphere fitting for its spooky Halloween release. Musically, the album touches on elements of surf rock, punk, and even literary references from 12th-century poetry, making it one of their most experimental works since Surfer Rosa.
Singles like “Chicken” where Francis takes on the persona of decapitated poultry, embodying the album’s playful yet macabre tone. and “You’re So Impatient” capture the raw energy and quirkiness fans expect from Pixies, with jagged guitars and Francis’ trademark cryptic lyrics. The album shows a clear effort to break away from conventional rock formats, embracing a more narrative-driven and fragmented structure.
While the album feels more experimental in theme, with apocalyptic imagery and esoteric concepts, it retains the distinctive Pixies energy, a marriage of abrasiveness and melody that longtime fans will appreciate. This album, is a reminder of the band’s ability to evolve while staying true to their punk roots.
For longtime fans, The Night The Zombies Came maintains the band’s gritty, off-kilter aesthetic while still offering something fresh, thanks to its cinematic approach and new influences brought by Richardson’s basslines. It may not be as immediately catchy as their early works, but it stands as a bold evolution in the Pixies’ storied career.
7.5/10
Track Listing
The Night The Zombies Came
1/ Primrose
2/ You’re So Impatient
3/ Jane (The Night the Zombies Came)
4/ Chicken
5/ Hypnotised
6/ Johnny Good Man
7/ Motoroller
8/ I Hear You Mary
9/ Oyster Beds
10/ Mercy Me
11/ Ernest Evans
12/ Kings of the Prairie
13/ The Vegas Suite
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My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago
