Death Cab for Cutie Announces New Album, 'Kintsugi', Out March 31st

Atlantic recording group Death Cab for Cutie has announced the release of their much-anticipated eighth studio album. "KINTSUGI" arrives everywhere on March 31st.

"KINTSUGI" - which follows 2011's GRAMMY(R) Award-nominated "CODES AND KEYS" - marks Death Cab for Cutie's first new album since the departure last year of founding guitarist/keyboardist/producer Chris Walla.

Recorded in Los Angeles with Rich Costey (Franz Ferdinand, Muse, Interpol) behind the board, the album takes its title from the Japanese art of repairing broken ceramics with precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum, highlighting cracks rather than hiding them.

As such, kintsugi represents a compassionate aesthetic philosophy in which damage and wear are embraced as part of an object's history.

"Considering what we were going through internally, and with what a lot of the lyrics are about, it had a great deal of resonance for us - the idea of figuring out how to repair breaks and make them a thing of beauty," says bassist Nick Harmer, who suggested the name to singer/guitarist Ben Gibbard and drummer Jason McGerr.

"Philosophically, spiritually, emotionally, it seems perfect for this group of songs." An extensive tour schedule will surround the release of "KINTSUGI." For up to the minute details and ticket information, please log on to www.deathbabforcutie.com/tour.

For nearly two decades, Death Cab for Cutie has been hailed as one of contemporary music's most compelling and creative collectives.

Born in Bellingham, Washington in 1997, the band followed a long relationship with the Seattle-based independent label, Barsuk, by making their Atlantic Records debut with their fifth studio release, 2005's "PLANS." The album proved Death Cab for Cutie's popular breakthrough, earning RIAA platinum certification as well as spawning the chart-topping singles, "Soul Meets Body" and "I Will Follow You Into The Dark." The latter track was honored with a GRAMMY(R) nomination as "Best Pop Performance By Duo Or Group With Vocals," with "PLANS" receiving the nod as "Best Alternative Album." "DIRECTIONS," the 2006 DVD companion to "PLANS," earned an additional GRAMMY(R) nod as "Best Longform Music Video."

Now fully affirmed as an era-defining band, Death Cab for Cutie made a stunning #1 debut atop the SoundScan/Billboard 200 with 2008's RIAA gold certified "NARROW STAIRS." More critical acclaim and two further GRAMMY(R) nominations followed, including nods for "Best Alternative Album" and "Best Rock Song" (honoring the hit single, "I Will Possess Your Heart").

"THE OPEN DOOR" EP was released in 2009, earning DCfC a third consecutive GRAMMY(R) Award nomination for "Best Alternative Album." "CODES AND KEYS" arrived in 2011 and made a top 3 entry on the SoundScan/Billboard 200 before receiving the band's fourth straight GRAMMY(R) nomination for "Best Alternative Music Album." "You Are A Tourist," the album's first single, also proved a multi-format radio smash, reaching #1 at both Triple A and Modern Rock outlets nationwide - Death Cab for Cutie's first-ever #1 at the latter format.