Internet nerds are holding their Critical Theory Master Degrees fast and shaking in nervous reverie because our buddy, John Darnielle, whom we interviewed here, is releasing a new Mountain Goats album titled The Life Of The World To Come. The album drops 10/6 on 4AD.

In order to bring this heavenly-themed release to life, John has brought along — in addition to longtime bassist Peter Hughes — two new do-gooders in the form of Superchunk drummer Jon Wurster, and Owen Pallett, whose string arrangement work is known under another alias so criminally dorky that we can’t even mention it.

John told his fans the following about this record because he loves them, and if he didn’t they would kill him…or, at least, wet the message boards. And probably call us homophobes. (Please cover “Queer” for the Chris Knox tribute, John!)

So, his new album, right:

I guess the obvious question is going to be: “John, have you had some sort of religious awakening?” and while I guess lots of people might want to be coy about answering that, that’s never really been my style, so: no. It’s not like that. It’s not some heavy-narrative-distance deal either, though, and it’s not a screed. It’s twelve new songs: twelve hard lessons the Bible taught me, kind of. More than that I’d want to wait to say until some people have heard it, which won’t be long. Will there be more news soon, quite soon? Like, next week, even? Oh yes there will!

Check out this mp3 for “Genesis.”

The Life Of The World To Come tracklist follows as such:

01 “1 Samuel 15:23″
02 “Psalms 40:2″
03 “Genesis 3:23″
04 “Philippians 3:20-21″
05 “Hebrews 11:40″
06 “Genesis 30:3″
07 “Romans 10:9″
08 “1 John 4:16″
09 “Matthew 25:21″
10 “Deuteronomy 2:10″
11 “Isaiah 45:23″
12 “Ezekiel 7 and the Permanent Efficacy of Grace”

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