Photo by Claire Marie Vogel

Today, the Silversun Picked up announced their latest album, Physical Thrills, will release on Aug. 19, via their label, New Machine Recordings. The release marks the Los Angeles-based American rock band’s sixth album, and in conjunction with the project’s announcement, the band shared a single titled “Sacred Together” alongside a music video.

Physical Thrills came together after the group’s tour in support of their 2019 record Widow’s Weeds was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The band–comprised of guitarist and singer Brian Aubert, bassist Nikki Monninger, drummer Christopher Guanlao, and keyboardist Joe Lester–found themself stuck at home and Aubert, now tending to his family, found himself finding new melodies germinating in his head.

“I would sneak off and start writing these songs, and I didn’t know what they’re for because I didn’t really think about Silversun on any level. I was just doing it to keep myself calm and keep myself company,” said Aubert in a press release. The release went on to describe the songs as divergent from usual Silversun Pickups songs: softer vocals and horror-esque inspirations. However, the band and producer Butch Vig gravitated towards the new direction and quickly began to record.

“All of our records are designed for people who want to listen to them all the way through and hopefully stick around with it,” continued Aubert. “After a while, maybe you’ll catch on to the little things—not just the [pattern of] the dream songs, but maybe you’ll hear that, and you’ll hear a melody from the first song in the last song. There are crossover things happening.” Monninger added, “We’ve been together for twenty-two years; it’s really interesting that we still love doing this. We know that we’re fortunate to still be together after all these years, seeking out the silver lining. I feel like we still have many more things to say, and we’re so happy with how this album turned out.”

The video for the single “Scared Together,” which serves as the first release off the album, was directed by Claire Marie Vogel. Of the track, Aubert said, “You never know what can bring two people together. Sometimes it’s something light and comfy. Sometimes it’s a shared love of some kind of totem or idol that is dear. Other times, it’s something a little more dreadful. But whatever works I say. To each their own. This song is about becoming close and intimate with someone through hardship. Being thrown into something quite frightening brings out some shared qualities that connect them.”

Silversun Pickups also confirmed that they will perform in cities including Atlanta, LA, Nashville, New York, and more in support of the project though the exact dates and venues for each show have yet to be announced.

 Physical Thrills is available for pre-order on all formats here.

Listen to “Scared Together” below.