Gorillaz Drop Latest Track Featuring IDLES For Upcoming Record

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Beloved band Gorillaz have released their third single from the upcoming album, ‘The Mountain‘. Bristol-founded post-punk group IDLES collaborated with them for this latest release, titled ‘The God Of Lying‘. This is the band’s first feature on a Gorillaz song. This being said, many of the releases on the upcoming project feature previous collaborators, such as Mark E. Smith. Featured artists are part of what makes Gorillaz such a creative project. As a long-time fan, their ability to combine both old and new collaborators is great to see.

I certainly didn’t expect this vibe when first going into the song. It feels almost slightly, as though it has arrived from a different world. Damon Albarn’s vocals on the chorus definitely help maintain some consistency with other tracks released by the band. The distortion effects used reminded me of his voice in the choruses of both ‘Feel Good Inc.‘ and ‘Saturnz Barz‘. It’s a hallmark that I purposefully look out for on their new releases.

Varied Influences

Another consistent characteristic of this upcoming album is its widespread geographical influences. This song was recorded in Mumbai, Devon, and London. The vast world-music influences are a major component of this upcoming album. However, this has always been prevalent across Gorillaz records. I think this is a defining part of what I love from the band. They continue to help open my eyes to musicians and genres that I wouldn’t have been so familiar with otherwise.

IDLES do a great job at adding to the eerie element of this song. Their frontman, Joe Talbot, is credited as a co-writer for the single. His lyricism is insightful and thought-provoking, especially surrounding the meaning of life. His voice really contrasts with Damon’s, so the pair worked well to give the track multiple dynamics. 

Furthermore, I enjoyed the featured musicians who helped to hold down the rhythm and create a well-fitting atmosphere. Ajay Prasanna on bansuri and Viraj Acharya on percussion added to the themes that were felt in the lyrics. This created a very immersive listening experience. I particularly enjoyed the bansuri, which is an ancient Indian bamboo flute. It’s not an instrument I stumble across much, but it added another welcome layer to the production.

Fans of Gorillaz only have to wait a few more months until the full record is released on 20th March by the KONG label. This ninth full-length album by the band will be accompanied by a UK and Irish tour in 2026. All three singles released so far have been consistent in their themes, whilst varying in their stylistic choices. The rest of the LP is hard to predict.

Gorillaz are on Instagram, X, TikTok, and Threads. You can stream their latest track, ‘The God Of Lying‘, below and read more news pieces here.

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