The animated band “Gorillaz,” known for blending music, storytelling, and visual art, released its latest album, “The Mountain,” on Feb. 27, 2026. The project combines these creative elements with a deeper spiritual tone and experiments with new instruments and sounds, making the album feel more than just a typical album.
Created by musician Damon Albarn and illustrator Jamie Hewlett, “The Mountain” draws inspiration from travels and musical influences connected to India and South Asian culture. In interviews, Albarn and Hewlett explained that the project reflects on loss, grief and the idea of the afterlife. Both Albarn and Hewlett have recently lost their fathers, which influenced the emotional and spiritual direction of the album.
Before the album’s release, Gorillaz introduced the project through several singles, including “The Happy Dictator” released on Sept. 11, 2025, followed by “The Manifesto” on Oct. 8, 2025 and the double singles “The Hardest Thing” and “Orange County” on Jan. 16, 2026. These earlier releases gave fans a taste of the album’s tone and emotional range.
The double singles pair two songs that together highlight the emotional core of “The Mountain.” “The Hardest Thing” explores personal struggles, while “Orange County” reflects grief and rebirth. The track was intentionally paired to show differences and similarities. Both appear in the animated short film, helping to express key moments.
Like many Gorillaz projects, “The Mountain” also features collaborations with artists from diverse musical backgrounds, including rapper Black Thought, Sitar Virtuoso Anoushka Shankar, Argentine rapper Trueno and many others. Helping the album blend hip-hop, world music and an alternative sound into one cohesive project.
Alongside the album, the band released an animated short film titled “The Mountain, the Moon Cave and the Sad God.” The film uses a classical cartoon style while expanding on the album’s theme through the band’s animated universe, following their journey through mystical mountains and caves. The visuals add another layer to the listen experience and helps connect to the album’s deeper ideas with music Critically, “The Mountain” has received positive attention from music reviewers and entertainment outlets. Writers from publications such as NME, Rolling Stones and Pitchfork have praised the album’s creativity.
With “The Mountain,” Gorillaz continues its legacy of combining music, art and narrative into a single creative experience. The album reflects the band’s ability to evolve as it explores personal and spiritual themes through sound, visuals, and storytelling.
