ESMZ is currently an 11 piece band. A cult is not too far off from what Alex Ebert, Jade Castrinos, Christian Letts and friends have intentionally or not created with the project, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros. All of the ingredients are there: strong spiritual declarations, enigmatic origins, a huge “underground” following reminiscent of, if not grander than the early My Morning Jacket spawning.

Their trademark relationship is shrouded in mysterious beginnings and endings, the details of which have been thus far best served as excellent song fodder. The fictional character “Edward Sharpe” himself was spawned from Alex Ebert’s book-penning attempt at creating a messianic figure who has been sent to save the Earth, yet constantly finds himself caught in the throes of romance.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros are the first band to be signed to Mumford & Sons’ Gentlemen of the Road, and the album will be the label’s first release by a band other than Mumford & Sons. The two bands forged an unbreakable bond across many cumulative weeks spent on the road (and rails) together, including the six-city run of shows that comprised the inaugural Railroad Revival Tour in 2011, immortalised in Emmett Malloy’s award-winning film Big Easy Express.

Mixing soulfulness, raw exuberant pop and psychedelia, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros shows a band constantly evolving and hopeful for the future. Produced by frontman Alex Elbert, its thirteen tracks are upbeat, boisterous and passionate, with gospel harmonies, raw vocals, and deep-in-the-pocket rhythms.