Track: The National – The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness, plus Album /Tour news


Following some mysterious posts on their social networks, The National have just announced a new album – their seventh studio album – entitled “Sleep Well Beast”, due out on 8 September 2017 through 4AD. The song list is:

1. Nobody Else Will Be There
2. Day I Die
3. Walk It Back
4. The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness
5. Born to Beg
6. Turtleneck
7. Empire Line
8. I’ll Still Destroy You
9. Guilty Party
10. Carin at the Liquor Store
11. Dark Side of the Gym
12. Sleep Well Beast

The National have also released a new single called “The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness” displaying all the hallmarks of the band – deep brooding vocals of Matt Berninger and a dramatic sweeping, anthemic chorus. It bodes well:

You can pre-order the album here.

The band has also announced a World Tour in support of the album, kicking off in Cork, Ireland on 16th September. The ticket pre-order begins Monday, 15th May with public on-sale beginning Friday, 19th May. Highlights include multiple night residencies in Dublin, Edinburgh, Manchester and London. Every ticket in North America includes a digital copy of Sleep Well Beast delivered on 8th September. UK and European customers pre-ordering Sleep Well Beast (via specific retailers) before 10am BST on Sunday 14th May will receive an exclusive early access code for Monday’s tour pre-sale. All details available here. The National will also play Glastonbury and Haven Festival in Copenhagen this summer. For additional information visit

June
23rd – 25th – Glastonbury Festival – Glastonbury, UK
August
12th – HAVEN Festival – Copenhagen, Denmark
September
16th – Cork Opera House / Sounds From a Safe Harbour, Cork, Ireland
17th – Vicar Street, Dublin, Ireland
18th – Vicar Street, Dublin, Ireland
20th – Usher Hall, Edinburgh, UK
21st – Usher Hall, Edinburgh, UK
22nd – O2 Apollo, Manchester, UK
23rd – O2 Apollo, Manchester, UK
25th – Eventim Hammersmith Apollo, London, UK
26th – Eventim Hammersmith Apollo, London, UK
27th – Eventim Hammersmith Apollo, London, UK
28th – Eventim Hammersmith Apollo, London, UK
October
5th – Wang Theatre, Boston MA, US
6th – Forest Hills Stadium, New York NY, US
11th – Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles CA, US
12th – CalCoast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, San Diego CA, US
14th – Greek Theatre, Berkeley CA, US
21st – Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg, Germany
23rd – Tempodrom, Berlin, Germany
24th – Tempodrom, Berlin, Germany
25th – AFAS Live, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
28th – Coliseum, Lisbon, Portugal
30th – Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels, Belgium
31st – Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels, Belgium
November
2nd – 4th – Pitchfork Paris, Paris, France
4th – Annexet, Stockholm, Sweden
5th – Annexet, Stockholm, Sweden
6th – Sentrum Scene, Oslo, Norway
7th – Sentrum Scene, Oslo, Norway
27th – Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland OR, US
28th – Paramount Theatre, Seattle WA, US
29th – Paramount Theatre, Seattle WA, US
December
1st – Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver BC, Canada
2nd – Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver BC, Canada
4th – Verizon Hall, Philadelphia PA, US
7th – Metropolis, Montreal QC, Canada
8th – Metropolis, Montreal QC, Canada
9th – Sony Centre, Toronto ON, Canada
10th – Hamilton Place Theatre, Hamilton ON, Canada
12th – Civic Opera House, Chicago IL, US
13th – Civic Opera House, Chicago IL, US

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