The Montreal-based band and Canadian treasure Arcade Fire are set to release their 6th studio album, titled WE, on May 6th. It’s been 5 years since their last album release and fans are eager to hear what’s in store. They are also fresh off the heals of a surprise performance at this year’s Coachella Festival which was a major success. Although they could have headlined a main stage they performed in a smaller tent jam-packed with over ten thousand fans in attendance to get the opportunity to hear them play for the first time at the festival since 2005.

When the Covid 19 Pandemic impacted the globe in 2020, the band was in the midst of writing their new album WE. They were individually living in both the US and Canada and travelling back and fourth to finish the songs together, however when the borders closed the band was separated and they felt the challenge of working together without the intimacy of creating in the same place at the same time. 

They were finally able to reunite six months later in El Paso, Texas at the height of the pandemic with the chaos of the US election underway at the time. Despite all the uncertainty around them they were able to connect on a deep creative level.

It’s been 18 years since the group shot to world fame with its debut album, Funeral. The new record finds Arcade Fire playing songs with mix of urgency, intimacy and abandon that reflects the moment in the world that it was written during.

One thing that is different about the band is the absence of Win’s brother, Will Butler. Despite the magic that was created with Will’s presence as they put this last album together, Will decided it was his time to pursue other creative ventures in the future without the band. Meanwhile Dan Boeckner of Montreal indie-rock act Wolf Parade has since been added to the group. 

WE was co-produced by Butler, Chassagne and Nigel Godrich, known for his work with Radiohead and includes wan appearance from the legend Peter Gabriel as well. I for one, am extremely excited to hear it.