The War On Drugs Announces New Album ‘A Deeper Understanding’ & Shares Single

The War On Drugs will issue a new album entitled A Deeper Understanding through Atlantic Records on August 25. The album features the single “Holding On,” which has been made available in advance of the record’s release.

The follow-up to 2014’s Lost In The Dream features 10 songs, including the 11-minute Record Store Day release “Thinking Of A Place.” Described as a “band record in the noblest sense,” frontman Adam Granduciel brought in the group’s bassist Dave Hartley, keyboardist Robbie Bennett, drummer Charlie Hall and multi-instrumentalists Anthony LaMarca and Jon Natchez to collaborate in the studio while recording the fourth The War On Drugs album.

“I wanted it to be more of a band record in terms of the confidence within each player,” Granduciel stated. “I’ve realized that I take for granted how much I love being in the studio. I love the trial and error, but for some people it’s understandably daunting, and it can be vague to tell somebody to do something ‘just by feeling.’ And even though we had developed a live camaraderie, I wanted to use people whose playing I loved and had worked with before.”

Recorded in studios in Los Angeles and New York City, Granduciel enlisted the aid of engineer Shawn Everett to help craft the album. The band will tour in support of the album beginning this September, with tickets going on sale tomorrow.

“The point of the record is watching yourself move between different versions of yourself,” said Granduciel, “and trying to either hold onto or figure out which one you’re more comfortable being — which version of yourself are you most true to?”

Stream “Holding On” followed by the previously shared “Thinking Of A Place” below:

A Deeper Understanding Tracklist

1. Up All Night
2. Pain
3. Holding On
4. Strangest Thing
5. Knocked Down
6. Nothing To Find
7. Thinking of a Place
8. In Chains
9. Clean Living
10. You Don’t Have To Go