Gorillaz take over the internet with new album Humanz

After six years in hiding, Gorillaz have announced a new album, released four new songs and promised UK fans many gigs to come.

Humanz will be the super group's fifth studio record and the official start of their fourth conceptual phase titled "We Are Still Humanz".

The animated band, from former Blur lead man Damon Albarn and comic book artist Jamie Hewlett, has been teasing a comeback since 2014, three years after the release of The Fall - an album recorded entirely on Albarn's iPad.

This is classic Gorillaz, though.

The group is known for its innovative, experimental mishmash of hip hop, pop rock, alternative rock, trip hop, electronica, gospel, funk, dub poetry, actual poetry - you name it.

On Thursday, Albarn's gang released a series of images on Instagram, announcing the name and date of the new album, as well as cryptic photos of possible collaborations.

The faces of Benjamin Clementine, Mavis Staples, De La Soul, Pusha T, the Savages' Jehnny Beth, DRAM, Popcaan, Grace Jones, Kilo Kish, Zebra Kats, Anthony Hamilton, Vince Staples and actor Ben Mendelsohn all featuring in the photos.

Adding to the excitement, the band decided to overload the internet, releasing two full music videos, four songs and announcing a secret London concert on Friday.

Fans had just a few hours to pre-book tickets, but Gorillaz said worry not: "If you missed the chance to access tickets for the launch event, you can still pre-order Humanz to get first access to tickets for future headline shows."

Fans had been waiting for a day like this for years, and the reactions on social media ranged from "emotional" to downright hysterical.

"Gorillaz new tracks got me all emotional," one user wrote.

"Ahhhhhhhh I'm crying!! new song of Gorillaz is beautiful!", wrote another.

Some said they would "play this track at my wedding", others "thanked the music gods", wrote in screams and undecipherable sounds.

The four new tracks released are Saturnz Barz (feat. Popcaan), Andromeda (feat. DRAM), We Got The Power (feat. Savages' Jehnny Beth) and Ascension (feat. Vince Staples).

Saturnz Barz is a Jamaica-fuelled song accompanied by a strange video where the animated Gorillaz are seen entering a haunted house and sent to an alternate dimension.

The Humanz story line picks up where Escape To The Plastic Beach (Phase 3) left out.

Characters 2D, Murdoc, Russell and Noodle have all escaped their impending Plastic Beach doom and are now back in the safety of civilisation - or are they?

"Simply put, we're in transition, we're turning into something else," Albarn said.

"The album kind of came from this dark fantasy. Just imagine, the weirdest, most unpredictable thing that changes everything in the world. How would you feel on that night? Would you go and get drunk? Would you stay at home? Just watch TV? Would you talk to people?"

One thing we know for sure, Humanz signals a new chapter for the band, after rumours of a rift between Albarn and Hewlett threatening the future of the group.

But the former Blur frontman said bygones be bygones and even went as far as ending one of Britpop's oldest feuds.

In We Got The Power, Noel Gallagher is heard doing back vocals, making the pair a surprising team after years of rivalry between Blur and Oasis.

"I mean now it feels like, completely, you know, not news at all really," Albarn said.

"He's fantastic in the studio and it's nice when you see how someone goes about their business."

The band recorded the 14 new tracks in London, Paris, New York, Chicago and Jamaica and will also release a 19-track deluxe version, as well as a super deluxe vinyl box set with alternative versions of the songs.

For those looking forward to seeing them on stage, but were too late to book the London gig, Gorillaz will be back on UK stages this summer, headlining their very own music festival called Demon Dayz on 10 June.

More 2017 dates will soon follow.

Humanz will be out in UK stores and on streaming platforms 28 April.

:: Full track list for Humanz:

1 Ascension feat. Vince Staples
2 Strobelite feat. Peven Everett
3 Saturnz Barz feat. Popcaan
4 Momentz feat. De La Soul
5 Submission feat. Danny Brown and Kelela
6 Charger feat. Grace Jones
7 Andromeda feat. DRAM
8 Busted and Blue
9 Carnival feat. Anthony Hamilton
10 Let Me Out feat. Mavis Staples and Pusha T
11 Sex Murder Party feat. Jamie Principle and Zebra Katz
12 She's My Collar feat. Kali Uchis
13 Hallelujah Money feat. Benjamin Clementine
14 We Got The Power feat. Jehnny Beth

Bonus Tracks:

15 The Apprentice feat. Rag'n' Bone Man, Zebra Katz, and RAY BLK
16 Halfway To The Halfway House feat. Peven Everett
17 Out Of Body feat. Kilo Kish, Zebra Katz, and Imani Vonshà
18 Ticker Tape feat. Carly Simon and Kali Uchis
19 Circle Of Friendz feat. Brandon Markell Holmes