Gorillaz Unveil Next Chapter of ‘The Mountain’ Album with Two-Tracker "The Hardest Thing / Orange County"

The virtual world of Gorillaz is expanding once again as Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett prepare for the release of their ninth studio album, The Mountain. Following a string of cryptic teasers and a high-concept "phone-free" performance in London late last year, the band has confirmed that the project will officially arrive on February 27, 2026. This weekend, the anticipation reached a fever pitch with the release of two new singles: the sprawling, sitar-infused "Orange County", and "The Hardest Thing." Both tracks highlight the album’s unique recording process, which saw the band traveling through Mumbai, New Delhi, and Varanasi to capture a sound Albarn describes as "a journey of the soul, with beats."

The Mountain is being framed as one of the most ambitious collaborative efforts in the band's 25-year history. The 15-track LP features a staggering array of guests, ranging from IDLES and Johnny Marr to Indian classical maestros like Anoushka Shankar and Asha Bhosle. However, it is the inclusion of "ghostly" collaborators that has sparked the most intense discussion among the fan community. The album features posthumous vocals from several late legends and former Gorillaz friends, including Tony Allen, Bobby Womack, Mark E. Smith, and Dave "Trugoy" Jolicoeur of De La Soul. These archival recordings were reportedly "unearthed from the vault" and woven into the new tracks to reflect the album’s overarching themes of mortality and spiritual legacy.

25 Years of Gorillaz

To understand the weight of The Mountain, one must look back at the radical evolution of Gorillaz since their self-titled debut in 2001. Originally conceived by Albarn and Hewlett as a satirical response to the "manufactured" nature of MTV-era pop, the band—comprised of animated members 2D, Murdoc, Noodle, and Russel—quickly became a legitimate global powerhouse. While the project began in the fictional Kong Studios, it reached its creative apex with 2005’s Demon Days and 2010’s Plastic Beach, albums that redefined what a "virtual band" could achieve by blending hip-hop, dub, and electronic textures with high-concept storytelling.

Over the last quarter-century, Gorillaz has functioned as a rotating gallery for some of the world's most influential artists, from Lou Reed and Snoop Dogg to Elton John. However, The Mountain represents a full-circle moment for the group. By recording in India and utilizing the voices of departed collaborators, Albarn is paying homage to the artists who helped build the Gorillaz universe while pushing the "virtual" concept into its most spiritual territory yet. As the band prepares for a massive world tour—concluding at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in June 2026—this new era proves that even as Damon Albarn approaches his 60th year, his appetite for "musical meditation" and borderless collaboration is as sharp as it was when 2D first stepped into the light.