After stepping off the show circuit and spending the last six months recording and perfecting a new album, Burnt Ones have emerged out of the smoke to announce the March 28 release of their third LP, Gift, via Castle Face Records.

Describing the reasons behind taking a break from live performances, lead singer Mark Tester tells Impose, “We decided to stop playing shows and to stop thinking about playing music from a live perspective. That was immensely informative as far as the development of the record. Between our tour, and traveling with/bootlegging Mike Donovan & Band for a couple weeks after, I started thinking a lot about space and distance, the time it takes to get to places and everything that gets passed and looked over in between.”

Along with a release date, the band recently unleashed the first cut of the new record, titled “Spell Breakers.” Starting off with a drum machine (“wonderful, secret, junk instrument”) opener and an understated guitar riff, the track unfolds into a layered sonic tapestry woven out of punchy live drums, familiar distorted guitars, dissonant undercurrents, bright keys, and outwardly simple but intrinsically mind-melting lyrics like, “If I ever find my proper place, will I know?,” a line Mark delivers during a hushed moment when the song strips down to a single guitar. The results are stunning and pleasantly stimulating, preluding the next chapter for a band that continues to push forward.

Burnt Ones are joining Ty Segall for the second gig of his two-night stint at Rickshaw Stop next month. It will be the band’s first show since August and they’ve promised new material, so have a listen to the track below and if you dig what you hear, show your face on Wednesday, February 26, for an extended preview of what you can expect from Gift.

Ty Segall, Burnt Ones, Endless Bummer
Rickshaw Stop
February 26, 2014
8pm, $16-20 (18+)