Evangeline vs. the Machine
| Evangeline vs. the Machine | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 2, 2025 | |||
| Recorded | 2024–2025 | |||
| Studio | Neon Cross Studio (Nashville) | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 36:00 | |||
| Label | EMI Nashville | |||
| Producer | Jay Joyce | |||
| Eric Church chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Evangeline vs. the Machine | ||||
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Evangeline vs. the Machine is the eighth studio album by American country music singer Eric Church. Released on May 2, 2025, the album was preceded by the single "Hands of Time" released on March 20, 2025.
Background and promotion
[edit]Following the release of Church's triple album, Heart & Soul, Church took a hiatus from making music, having one of his only mainstream appearances following the album being his feature on Morgan Wallen's "Man Made a Bar" which topped the Country Airplay charts and peaked at 15 on the Billboard Hot 100.[1] In October 2024, Church released a promotional single entitled "Darkest Hour (Helene Edit)", his first solo performance in three years. He had already written the song before Hurricane Helene and intended to release it in 2025, but because the lyrics fit with the serious damage the storm caused to his home state of North Carolina, and the efforts to help, Church said it "didn't feel right to wait with this song." Church helped directly with the recovery and promised all publishing royalties would go to help the state.[2] Church and Luke Combs put together the "Concert for Carolina" on October 26, 2024, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, which raised over $24 million for Hurricane Helene relief.[3] Church performed the song at the 58th Annual Country Music Association Awards.[4]
On March 17, 2025, Church announced via his social media that he would release the first single from his upcoming eighth studio album, "Hands of Time" on March 20, 2025.[5] Shortly before the song's release, both the song and the album leaked on Apple Music, allowing listeners to listen to the song a few hours early, while also revealing the full tracklist and the title, Evangeline vs. The Machine. Church then took to his social media acknowledging the leak and revealing the release date, saying, "News escaped from the machine earlier today, but we're proud to announce the single "Hands of Time" is out now, and the new album Evangeline vs. The Machine will be releasing on 5.2.25."[6] Church's shortest album to date, containing eight songs in total, contains the original cut of "Darkest Hour" along with the previously released "Hands of Time."[7]
Church appeared on the Today show and talked about the album, saying about the album release:
"In the day we live in now, with all the social media... you can release a song on Tuesday, another song on Friday, another song on Tuesday," explained Church in the feature. "I'm an album artist, always have been, and I think we've gotten away from that now. The 'machine' is consumption; the 'machine' is the world we live in - and the interesting thing about 'Evangeline' is it's kind of creativity versus the machine, and 'Evangeline' represents that creativity."
On April 29, 2025, Church teased the second track from the album, "Bleed on Paper", across his social media.[8] The next day, on April 30, Church announced his upcoming "Free the Machine" tour.[9] The album was released on May 2, 2025.
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hands of Time" |
| 3:32 |
| 2. | "Bleed on Paper" |
| 5:39 |
| 3. | "Johnny" |
| 5:03 |
| 4. | "Storm in Their Blood" | Church | 3:30 |
| 5. | "Darkest Hour" | Church | 5:48 |
| 6. | "Evangeline" |
| 4:40 |
| 7. | "Rocket's White Lincoln" | Church | 4:03 |
| 8. | "Clap Hands" | Tom Waits | 3:45 |
| Total length: | 36:00 | ||
Personnel
[edit]Musicians
[edit]- Eric Church – vocals (all tracks), acoustic guitar (tracks 2–8)
- Jay Joyce – acoustic guitar, choir arrangement, electric guitar, keyboards, programming (all tracks); percussion (1, 3, 4, 6–8), bass (1, 3, 4, 7), synth bass (2, 5, 6, 8), drums (4, 5, 7); handclaps, timpani (8)
- April Rucker – choir vocals
- Armand Hutton – choir vocals
- Jeremy Lister – choir vocals
- Kristen Rogers – choir vocals
- Roy Agee – trombone
- Joanna Cotten – background vocals (tracks 1, 2, 4–6, 8)
- Rob McNelley – electric guitar (tracks 1, 5, 6, 8), acoustic guitar (2, 6, 8)
- Mike Haynes – trumpet (tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 8)
- Todd Lombardo – acoustic guitar, mandolin (track 1)
- Luke Laird – acoustic guitar (track 1)
- Craig Wright – drums (track 1)
- Austin Hoke – cello (tracks 2–8)
- Bryan Sutton – acoustic guitar (tracks 2–5)
- Billy Justineau – choir vocals (tracks 2–8), Hammond B3 organ (3, 4), piano (4, 6), handclaps (8)
- Jessica Nolan – choir vocals (tracks 2–8)
- Maureen Murphy – choir vocals (tracks 2–8)
- Moiba Mustapha – choir vocals (tracks 2–8)
- Evan Cobb – saxophone (tracks 2–8), flute (5)
- Eleonore Denig – violin (tracks 2–8)
- Beth Beeson – French horn (tracks 2–6, 8)
- Sam Bacco – percussion (tracks 2–6, 8)
- Avery Bright – viola (tracks 2–6, 8)
- Kristin Weber – violin (tracks 2, 5, 6, 8)
- Laura Epling – violin (tracks 3, 4)
- Emmanuel Echem – trumpet (tracks 3, 4)
Technical
[edit]- Jay Joyce – production, mixing
- Jason Hall – mixing, engineering
- Andrew Mendelson – mastering
- Jimmy Mansfield – immersive mixing, immersive mastering, recording, engineering assistance
- Bobby Louden – recording, engineering assistance
- Court Blankenship – production coordination
Charts
[edit]| Chart (2025) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[10] | 88 |
| UK Album Downloads (OCC)[11] | 33 |
| UK Country Albums (OCC)[12] | 1 |
| US Billboard 200[13] | 30 |
| US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[14] | 5 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Morgan Wallen | Biography, Music & News". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
- ^ "Eric Church Shares First Solo Song in 3 Years 'Darkest Hour' to Aid Home State of North Carolina After Hurricane Helene". People.com. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
- ^ Woodward, Garret K. (October 27, 2024). "Eric Church and Luke Combs Sing 'Carolina' Together for First Time at Massive Benefit Concert". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
- ^ Dowling, Marcus K. "2024 CMA Awards: Eric Church breaks down why he performed 'Darkest Hour' at the event". The Tennessean. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
- ^ Lippe, Ryan (March 17, 2025). "Eric Church Announces New Song "Hands of Time"". Country Central. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
- ^ Liptak, Carena (March 20, 2025). "Eric Church's New Single Got Leaked -- Here's What He Did Next". Taste of Country. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
- ^ "Evangeline vs. The Machine by Eric Church". Genius. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
- ^ Church, Eric (April 29, 2025). "Eric Church on Twitter/X: With some blue ink, a blank page and an ole six string, I bleed on paper". Twitter/X. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
- ^ Lippe, Ryan (April 30, 2025). "Eric Church Announces His "Free The Machine" Tour". Country Central. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
- ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
- ^ "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
- ^ "Eric Church Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
- ^ "Eric Church Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 13, 2025.