Arcade Fire reveal first album in three years, drop new single

Arcade Fire recently announced their upcoming album, ‘Pink Elephant,’ their first release since frontman Win Butler faced allegations of sexual misconduct by multiple women in 2022. The band unveiled their seventh album, along with the first single, “Year of The Snake,” which was released on Tuesday.

The album is described in a press release as a reflection of the paradox where efforts to suppress thoughts lead to them becoming unavoidable. The single, “Year of The Snake,” is inspired by the 2025 Lunar New Year, symbolizing renewal as Arcade Fire transforms and starts afresh.

Moving forward from the past, the band seems to be distancing themselves from the accusations surrounding Butler. In 2022, reports surfaced on Pitchfork detailing allegations of sexual misconduct made by five women against the singer. Butler, who has been married to bandmate Régine Chassagne since 2003, admitted to consensual relationships with the women mentioned.

The accusations came shortly after the band’s sixth album, ‘We,’ was released and shortly before both Beck and Feist withdrew as opening acts for the subsequent tour. Despite this setback, ‘We’ received a Grammy nomination for Alternative Music Album of the Year at the 2023 Grammy Awards, where it was nominated alongside Wet Leg but did not secure the win.

The revelation of ‘Pink Elephant’ occurred shortly after the band regrouped, indicating a fresh start and a renewed artistic direction. The album announcement arrives at a time when the band is setting the stage for a new musical journey.