Alt rockers Balaam And The Angel drop new EP “Love Death Wealth Water”
The band continue their widely acknowledged return to form with another striking collection of powerfully dark and atmospheric tracks and embrace their musical legacy with an autumn tour to celebrate 40 years since the release of the classic “The Greatest Story Ever Told” album.
On Friday 1st May, Balaam And The Angel will release the “Love Death Wealth Water” EP, a collection of 4 songs recorded as a follow up to the enthusiastically received 2024 “Forces Of Evil” EP, which was the band’s first release of new material in over 30 years.
On that day the new EP will be available to stream and download on all regular digital platforms.
In addition, a very limited-edition vinyl 4 track 12-inch single will be available on the band’s recently created Darklands Recordings label (Darklands being one of the tracks that appeared on their very first 1984 EP). Copies of the vinyl can be pre-ordered HERE.
Production of the record saw the band return to Oxygene studios Manchester to record with Christoph Bride (who has recently worked on albums by The Chameleons and Kirk Brandon/Theatre Of Hate/ Spear Of Destiny). Reviews of the previous collaboration (“Forces Of Evil” EP – Oct 2024) were universally positive making the return to Oxygene an obvious option for the band.
The sound of the new record is a deliberate attempt to blend the ambiance of the band’s darker past with the punchier edge of their later albums alongside some of the most interesting and exciting new approaches to song writing and recording.
The four tracks on the EP cover a range of lyrical content from some of the bands’ more common themes about how we navigate our daily lives and friendships alongside some more provocative themes such as the perception of poverty and the threat of online hacking, scamming and extortion to our daily lives and basic necessities.
“We were very pleased with the response to the “Forces Of Evil” EP and the clear appetite of the alternative rock audience in the UK to embrace our new songs. As a result, we went into the studio this time with a renewed sense of confidence that we were creating the type of energized and atmospheric rock that could resonate with current music fans. The desire to improve upon the previous EP did present us with a challenge which we were keen to embrace through an elevated attention to detail in the recording process as well as a curiosity to embrace some more contemporary sounds and techniques” says guitarist Jim Morris.
The band are keen to encourage audiences to search for and listen to the new material on streaming platforms, or digital downloads, so will not be preceding the release with a video at this time.
They will, however, support the release of the EP and passionate audience response to their previous live work (sold out Kindred Spirits Day Fest show in London, support dates with Fields Of The Nephilim, a very positively received performance at Tomorrows Ghosts Festival) with a further series of dates across the UK.
Balaam And The Angel are one of the very few bands of their era who can still claim to have maintained their original line up and as a result guarantee their audiences an authentic 80’s alternative live music experience.
“Love Death Wealth Water” EP tracklist
Wealth
Fear Of Poison Water
You Are Dead To Me
Love Me Too
And you can catch Balaam And The Angel playing tracks from the “Love Death Wealth Water” EP live at the following dates:
Sat 9th May: Woking, Fiery Bird
Sun 10th May: Brighton, Concorde 2 – Kindred Spirits Day Fest
Fri 9th July: York, The Fulford Arms
Sat 10th July: Edinburgh, La Belle Angele – Deadinburgh Festival.
Ticket links for all shows can be found via the band's website HERE.
“The Greatest Story Ever Told” 40th Anniversary Tour:
In August 1986 “The Greatest Story Ever Told” was released on Virgin Records. The album achieved a chart position of 67 in the UK and went onto be released worldwide throughout 1987. She Knows, one of three singles taken from the album, charted in the top 75 (peaking at 70) and the period saw Balaam And The Angel headlining shows at UK concert venues like The Town And Country Club, London (now The Forum Kentish Town) and embark upon tours of USA, Japan and various European countries.
Tracks from the album have become firm live favourites prompting the band to feel that it would be fitting to mark the album’s anniversary with a carefully curated UK tour during which they will play the album in its entirety.
“Through the years we have come to appreciate the fact that “The Greatest Story Ever Told” album was a record that represented a very important part of the alternative rock scene in the mid 80’s and was a body of work that connected with audience across the world in a very deep and significant way. For many it was the soundtrack behind the rights of passage that formed their individual views of life and, from the feedback we get, is still an album that they return to alongside other classics from that period. We are keen to be seen to be moving forward with new material but think it there is a clear responsibility on us to mark the anniversary of this release with some live performances” said singer Mark Morris
Hear “The Greatest Story Ever Told” at the following dates:
November:
Friday 20th November – Leeds, Warehouse
Friday 27th November – London, Bush Hall
Saturday 28th November – Birmingham, 02 Institute2
More dates to be announced over the coming weeks….
