Mumford & Sons Explore ‘Birth and Death’ on ‘Delta,’ First Album in 3 Years

Mumford & Sons are gearing up to release what guitarist and banjo player Winston Marshall jokingly describes to Rolling Stone Country as the group's "emo album." Frontman Marcus Mumford clarifies that each member of the group has "been much closer to birth and death, which both feel f--king wild to me, and most of the songs have been written about things like that." That album, Delta, will be available to fans in November of 2018.

It's been over three years since the group released their third and most recent studio album, Wilder Mind. Two years prior to that project, Mumford & Sons announced in 2015 that they would be going on hiatus in order to have a bit of a break from the strain of the road. "These shows take a bit more out of us," keyboardist Ben Lovett said at that time. "We have a bigger responsibility to be in better form. We can't be dropping the set 20 minutes because Marcus has tired legs." Lovett also went on to add that the group's members needed time focus on life outside of the band.

The ups and downs of life outside of music have certainly affected the group in various ways since 2013: Bassist Ted Dwane underwent surgery to treat a blood clot in his brain; Mumford and his wife, actress Carey Mulligan, welcomed two children; and Marshall got married. While the group hasn't provided exact specifics, they did share with Rolling Stone that the forthcoming album will grapple with some of the weightier aspects of life. Press play above for the first taste of the new project, "Guiding Light."

Delta is scheduled for release on Nov. 16, but is available for pre-order now. Additionally, Mumford & Sons is planning a 60-date world arena tour in support of the album. Dates and details will be available on Oct. 4.