More than two decades since redefining the concept of a “band”, Gorillaz continue to blur the line between virtual and visceral with their new single ‘The Manifesto’.
It’s the second taste of their upcoming ninth record, The Mountain, due March 20, 2026, and this time they’ve enlisted Argentine rapper Trueno and the late Proof of D12 for a cross generational collision that’s as bold as it is unexpected.
At over seven minutes long, ‘The Manifesto’ unfolds in two striking halves. The first is deceptively breezy, an upbeat, synth-washed groove that nods to the more playful corners of Gorillaz’s universe. Halfway through, the mood shifts: Proof’s posthumous verse cuts through with haunting precision, flipping the track into something darker and more reflective. It’s a daring structural pivot, but exactly the kind of risk Damon Albarn’s cartoon collective has always thrived on.
Proof’s presence isn’t random nostalgia, either. Hardcore fans will remember that D12 previously teamed up with Gorillaz on ‘911’ from the Bad Company soundtrack back in 2001. This new track feels like a spiritual follow-up — a full-circle moment for a project that’s always moved between worlds.
Gorillaz ‘The Mountain’
The Mountain itself is shaping up to be a global epic. Recorded everywhere from London to India, Turkmenistan, Syria, and the U.S., the album features Idles, Kara Jackson, Yasiin Bey, Johnny Marr, Black Thought, Anoushka Shankar, and Omar Souleyman. Albarn describes it as the band’s closest return yet to Plastic Beach, with co-production from James Ford, Remi Kabaka Jr., Samuel Egglenton, and Bizarrap.
In a recent interview, Albarn revealed The Mountain explores death as a central theme , even incorporating posthumous performances from icons like Bobby Womack, Dennis Hopper, and Tony Allen. For a band built on imagination, this new chapter sounds more alive than ever, the only downside? We have to wait until next year to hear it!
MORE IN Music
