The Mountain Goats Detail Musical Theatre-Inspired New Album & Share Single ‘Armies Of The Lord’

The Mountain Goats announced a new album, Through This Fire Across From Peter Balkan, set for release on November 7 via the band’s own Cadmean Dawn Records. The single, “Armies of the Lord,” arrived as the first offering from the LP.

Through This Fire Across From Peter Balkan is “a full-on musical that stands as the most conceptually detailed and musically elaborate project in the band’s ever-expanding catalog,” press materials for the record noted. The album features guest spots from towering musical theatre figure Lin-Manuel Miranda as well as The Replacements‘ Tommy Stinson and harpist Mikaela Davis.

Peter Balkan also sees contributions from new The Mountain Goats bassist Cameron Ralston along with the band’s core three — primary songwriter/founder John Darnielle, drummer Jon Wurster and multi-instrumentalist Matt Douglas, with the latter handling production on the album.

The idea for Through This Fire Across From Peter Balkan came in a dream to John Darnielle, who loved musicals as a child and has rekindled his affinity for the art form. Darnielle further detailed the 12-track LP’s subject matter:

“There were sixteen men on a fishing boat but only three survived the storm, and one of those went missing, and is presumed dead. That leaves me & Peter Balkan, whose health is failing as his apocalyptic visions dissipate in the spray at the shore. The Mountain Goats are proud to announce Through This Fire Across from Peter Balkan, a story of momentary visions away from the world, due 7 November 2025 on Cadmean Dawn Records: our own label! The first song we’re sharing from it is called ‘Armies of the Lord’; we recorded this in January at Dreamland Studios. Matt Douglas produced it; Ben Loughran who you know from tour did the synth with Matt as co-conspirator; that’s Mikaela Davis on the harp; the voice on the harmonies in the bridge that sounds like Lin-Manuel Miranda is Lin-Manuel Miranda, who followed Peter Balkan’s story from its early gleanings through its realization. Through This Fire Across from Peter Balkan. Only available on Cadmean Dawn Records and tapes.”

In true theatre fashion, Peter Balkan gets underway with an overture, the first instrumental cut on a record in The Mountain Goats’ nearly 35-year career. The new single “Armies of the Lord” comes later in the album as the ninth track. Listen below:

The Mountain Goats launch a fall tour on September 17 in Atlanta. Scroll down after the tracklist for the band’s itinerary and ticket info.

Through This Fire Across From Peter Balkan Tracklist

1. Overture
2. Fishing Boat
3. Cold at Night
4. Dawn of Revelation
5. Your Bandage
6. Peru
7. Through This Fire
8. Rocks in My Pockets
9. Armies of the Lord
10. Your Glow
11. The Lady from Shanghai 2
12. Broken To Begin With