Rather than going with one of his customary surprise drops, Jeff Rosenstock decided to announce his new album, HELLMODE, in advance. Even so, today he is unleashing the LP a day early via Polyvinyl Records. Stream it in full below.
HELLMODE, Rosenstock’s fifth studio album, was recorded in Summer 2022 with his longtime studio producer Jack Shirley at Hollywood’s EastWest Studios. In a statement, he described it as feeling like “the chaos of being alive right now,” adding, “We’re experiencing all these things at the same time that trigger our senses, and emotions that make us feel terrible. We’re just feeling way too much all at once!”
Lead single “DOUBT” encourages listeners to cut loose and persevere through any feelings of self-consciousness. “It doesn’t matter anyway so let it out,” he sings. “Scream/ Louder than you need to/ Loud enough to cut through.” It comes with an anime-inspired video that Rosenstock made with the “ridiculously talented artists” at Craig of the Creek, a children’s animated series for which he composed the music.
In May, Rosenstock shared another track from the album, titled “LIKED U BETTER,” while announcing his North American tour kicking off in September. Grab your tickets here.
HELLMODE is the proper follow-up to 2020’s NO DREAM, though Rosenstock has released the projects DUMP and SKA DREAM since then. Last fall, he teamed up with Laura Stevenson for a Neil Young covers EP.
HELLMODE Artwork:
HELLMODE Tracklist:
01. WILL U STILL U
02. HEAD
03. LIKED U BETTER
04. DOUBT
05. FUTURE IS DUMB
06. SOFT LIVING
07. HEALMODE
08. LIFE ADMIN
09. I WANNA BE WRONG
10. GRAVEYARD SONG
11. 3 SUMMERS
