Psych rock power group, Earthless, tease fans with a three minute snippet of the title track from their upcoming album Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, set for release this Friday, January 28.

The album and its title draws inspiration from ancient Japanese folkore Hyakki Yagyo, or the “Night Parade of One Hundred Demons” where mobs of terrifying other-worldly imps and ghouls ravage a sleeping village in the night, once a year. In one version, the village must hide in their homes to avoid capture by the creatures, for anyone who witnesses the seizure dies instantly. Earthless bassist, Mike Eginton, was surprisingly intrigued by this saying, “I like the idea of people hiding and being able to hear the madness but not see it. It’s the fear of the unknown.” He and his son came across the Japanese legend while perusing ghost stories.

The album takes a turn from the trio’s familiar catalogue to a more ominous tone. “It definitely has a darker, almost evil kind of vibe compared to stuff we’ve done in the past,” Rubalcaba says. Eginton channels this tone and his inner graphic designer to create the busy and shadowed cover art. He explains, “I started researching the different Yōkai—the demons—and really got into it. It was really cool reading about where they came from and what their interactions with humans were. Then I tried to create what I imagined the event might look like. I didn’t get a hundred in there, but I got quite a few.”

Earthless did not want to do another track with vocals. Instead, the title track is an epic 10 minute long instrumental– its three minute snippet perfectly showcasing what fans can expect: ear-piercing guitar solos and hard rock drums. Fans can enjoy the band’s return to their beginnings with the upcoming album on January 28.

Photo Credit: Raymond Flotat