Indie pop-rockers Islands have a new album coming out mid-September that frontman Nick Thorburn, in a recent press release, says is “basically an essential introduction to Islands—it’s everything we’ve ever been about.”

Ski Mask, the fifth full length album Islands have put out since forming in 2005, is, according to Thorburn, about being angry.” The content will be heavier, centering around the crappy moments in limbo before some kind of breakthrough. The irony here is the beautiful, upbeat, somewhat tropical sounds that Thorburn has created to back up the dark content.

Along with the album announcement, Islands have treated fans to the first single, “Wave Forms,” streaming now on Soundcloud. Ski Mask is out September 17th on Thorburn’s own Manque Music label.

Ski Mask
01. Wave Forms
02. Death Drive
03. Becoming the Gunship
04. Nil
05. Sad Middle
06. Hushed Tones
07. Here Here
08. Shotgun Vision
09. Of Corpse
10. We’ll Do It So You Don’t Have To
11. Winged Beat Drums