Newcastle-based alternative rock band Maximo Park have released their seventh album, ‘Nature Always Wins’ . The twelve-track album features recent single ‘All Of Me’, with ‘Baby, Sleep’ and ‘I Don’t Know What I’m Doing’ released last year. This is Maximo Park’s first album since the departure of keyboardist Lukas Wooller in 2019.
Maximo Park was formed in 2000 and their last album, ‘Risk to Exist’ was released in 2017. Their first two albums, ‘A Certain Trigger’ in 2005 and ‘Our Earthly Pleasures’ in 2007 went gold in the UK and the band was nominated for the Mercury Prize for their debut. Fans have waited nearly four years for a new album, and frontman Paul Smith said that ‘Nature Always Wins’ has maintained some of the political energy from their last album, Risk to Exist': “We wanted to be explicit on the last record. Some people thought we went over the line, but other people thought it wasn’t far enough… Maybe we’re Centrist Dads! But you put yourselves out there, and you can’t please everybody.”
‘Nature Always Wins’ was produced by Grammy-winner Ben Allen and recorded during the pandemic. The album reflects upon the band’s identity and humanity with lively indie-pop songs. In an interview with DIY Mag, Smith said: “I’m so happy we were able to make this album during lockdown, as it’s been a challenging time for everyone. After almost 4 years since ‘Risk To Exist’, we wanted to explore new musical territory (for us) without sacrificing our trademark melodic twists and heartfelt lyrics. As always, the passing of time looms large, although the songs contain more affection for the past than before, and there are occasional hints of the fractious, divided time that we live in.”
Following the news of the postponed tour originally scheduled for this month, Maximo Park have announced a live-streamed concert from Riverside venue in Newcastle for 6th March celebrating the release of ‘Nature Always Wins’. The exclusive live show will feature the band’s songs from the new album as well as some of their biggest hits. It is scheduled to start at 8.30pm and tickets are available here, retailing at £11 including booking fee.
‘Nature Always Wins’ is out now on all platforms, check out the music video for ‘All Of Me’ below.
Maximo Park have also announced that they will tour the UK this summer. Tickets can be bought on their website. The tour dates are as follows:
08/06/21 – Trinity Centre – Bristol
09/06 – Earth Theatre – London
10/06 – Earth Theatre – London
12/06 – O2 Ritz – Manchester
13/06 – Boiler Shop – Newcastle
15/06 – Leadmill – Sheffield
16/06 – Saint Lukes – Glasgow
17/06 – The Mill – Digbeth
