Late last year the band premiered a few of their new songs to announce the upcoming album, these included ‘The Good News’, ‘The Love Within’ and a live rendition of ‘Exes’.

‘Virtue’ has an optimistic feel, with the same mutated guitar-synth present in ‘The Love Within’, giving the song a similar aesthetic to the more dance oriented single. The lyrics also take from the same religious vocabulary as heard in all the new songs, unsurprising given the concept and name of the album, channeling the energy of worship songs. What all the songs also have in common is a tender hopefulness, something Bloc Party have shown in the past, but usually tucked away between the anxiety of songs like ‘Helicopter’, ‘Hunting for Witches’ or ‘Kettling’. You can check ‘Virtue’ out for yourself below:

Hymns also marks the first music from what Kele Okereke has labelled “Bloc Party Mk.2″, with drummer Amy Bartle and bassist Justin Harris replacing Matt Tong and Gordon Moakes respectively. The band look comfortable already in their new line up, even performing old classics live with a natural ease.

Bloc Party’s fifth studio – or first with their new line-up – Hymns is 1/29 via Infectious Music/BMG/Vagrant

The first two songs ‘Exes’ and ‘The Good News’ were given their premiers earlier today when they played a live set at Maida Vale as guests on Lauren Laverne’s BBC Radio 6 morning show. ‘Exes’ may be familiar to anyone who has caught Bloc Party at recent gigs or their recent live session for Australian radio station Triple J where they’ve played the song before.  They also played some classics during the seven song set, including ‘This Modern Love’ and ‘Banquet’. You can watch the whole set while is till available on iPlayer here or watch them perform ‘Exes’ below:

As if that wasn’t enough, Bloc Party also unveiled their fist single off the record, ‘The Love Within’ on Annie Macs BBC Radio 1 show earlier this evening. The song has a dance feel reminiscent to one of their previous songs ‘Ratchet’, and features some pretty space/time bending guitar effects that sound more synth than string. You can hear the song via Youtube below:

This is the first time the band has played in the UK with their new lineup. Drummer Louise Bartle and bassist Justin Harris (formerly of Menomena) replace Matt Tong and Gordon Moakes respectively.

The band described the sound of the new album as “eclectic” during their interview with Annie Mac. On the release date of the new album they weren’t able to give concrete details but instead suggested it would be out in early 2016.

Bloc Party are performing the following UK Shows:
09/11 Glasgow O2 Abc

03/12 Manchester Albert Hall

04/12 London St John at Hackney