Disappears have always had a good way with cold, metallic sounds. Listen to those rhythmic guitar clicks that trickle through the opening of 'Halcyon Days', this new track from their forthcoming LP Irreal: processed, reedy pulses echo briefly before being cut dead in the left channel, stubby chugs itch away in the right, the whole coaxing out an atmosphere of fraught, slightly doomy angst, brought even closer by Brian Case's droning, monotonous vocals. Admittedly things do let up, as more resonant guitar lines spill out, glossing the track with a reverb'ed sheen as the track closes, but it feels like the Chicago outfit's most icily focussed offering yet. It's been produced John Congleton at Steve Albini's Electrical Audio studio and promises a three-way "Ballardian mix of imperfect melodies, half thoughts and good ol' dystopian modernity" according to the press release. Take a listen to 'Halcyon Days' above, courtesy of Kranky, who'll be releasing the album on January 19 2015, and stay tuned for further coverage of the band on the Quietus.