Today, Mike Krol announces his deliriously infectious new album Power Chords, out January 25. An evolution in sound, structure, and themes, Power Chords serves as Krol’s boldest and longest record to date at 34 minutes. It’s hard-fought and hard-won, bloodied and bruised. And more importantly: defiant and triumphant. Pre-orders are available now in the Merge store on CD, LP, and limited-edition clear Peak Vinyl, and through your preferred digital music service. All physical Merge store pre-orders receive a free Mike Krol patch while supplies last!

The album’s lead single “Little Drama” is just one of the revelatory moments on the record. Krol notes it was “born out of a simple challenge: to make the simplest, most primitive ‘rock riff’ progression ever.”

Krol goes onto explain, “‘Little Drama’ summarizes my daily struggles. It has brash, over-the-top aggressive verses with a chorus that reveals all of the confrontation and toughness that was just described in the verses was internal and an imaginary scenario that’ll most likely never be carried out. I suppose it’s the Midwestern in me to be polite, kind and apologetic always on the outside—while on the inside, keeping a list of names of everyone who’s done you wrong and bottling up all your anger until one day it explodes.”

Of all the breakups in Mike Krol’s songs, the most harrowing story is about his breakup with music. In 2015, coming off of his best record yet and the ensuing world tour, Krol found himself in the midst of a full-blown existential crisis. He’d invested everything to create the rock-and-roll life he’d always wanted, but he wasn’t sure the life wanted him back. Power Chords picks up where 2015’s Turkey left off. It traces Krol’s journey back to punk rock, harnessing both the guitar technique and the musical redemption referenced in its title. To rediscover the power in those chords, Krol recorded for two-plus years in three separate locations (Nashville, Los Angeles, and Krol’s native Wisconsin) with the majority produced by Mike McCarthy (Spoon, Trail of Dead) at the studio where Neil Young recorded Harvest.

Music ruined Krol’s life. And then saved it. In chronicling that process, Krol has made his best record—painful, voyeuristic, and angry, but ultimately transcendent and timeless. It is the sound of Krol giving in to a force greater than himself, as though the chords are playing him rather than the other way around.

Krol hits the road mid-February of next year on a headlining, North American tour through the Midwest, up the West Coast and down the East Coast in support of Power Chords. Check below for a full list of dates.

Mike Krol on tour:
Feb 15 San Diego – Soda Bar*
Feb 16 Los Angeles, CA – Bootleg Theater*
Feb 20 San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill*
Feb 22 Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios*
Feb 23 Seattle, WA – Crocodile Back Bar*
Feb 26 Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry
Feb 27 Milwaukee, WI – The Back Room at Colectivo Coffee
Feb 28 Chicago, IL – Empty Bottle
Mar 01 Detroit, MI – Deluxx Fluxx
Mar 02 Toronto, ON – The Garrison
Mar 04 Allston, MA – Great Scott
Mar 05 Brooklyn, NY – Rough Trade
Mar 06 Philadelphia, PA – The Boot & Saddle
Mar 07 Washington, DC – DC9
Mar 08 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle Back Room
Mar 10 Atlanta, GA – The Earl
Mar 11 New Orleans, LA – Gasa Gasa
Mar 19 Denver, CO – Globe Hall
Mar 20 Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court*
Mar 22 Reno, NV – Holland Project*
Mar 23 Visalia, CA – Cellar Door*
w/ Vertical Scratchers