Harrisburg’s very own Babel Map is back with a vengeance. The band has unleashed their latest single, “Not This Time,” giving fans a tantalizing taste of what’s to come from their forthcoming album, Teeth. The track is a hard-hitting prelude to what promises to be a sonic evolution for the group.
Teeth marks Babel Map’s third studio album and was forged in the legendary God City Studio under the watchful eye of Kurt Ballou (of Converge fame). With mastering handled by the renowned Magnus Lindberg (Cult of Luna), the album is set to drop in the spring of 2024. The band describes this new chapter as a transformative period, spurred by lineup changes that sparked a surge of experimentation and a deeper dive into uncharted musical territories.
Unlike their previous work, which was largely crafted in a live setting, Babel Map approached Teeth with a blank canvas. The four-piece came together with minimal preconceptions, hit record, and let the songs take shape organically—a process that pushed their sound into new, unexplored realms.
Teeth will be available on LP, CD and streaming on November, 1st, 2024 via Lost Future Records.
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Once the album’s recording wrapped, Babel Map reconvened as a quartet, sharpening their live performance skills to bring this ambitious project to the stage. The title Teeth carries a dual meaning for the band: it’s about “showing your teeth,” but also about leaving a lasting mark—a permanent piece of themselves—for the world to ponder.
Babel Map’s journey began in 2011, initially as a trip-hop/electronic solo project spearheaded by Jessica Drummer in Philadelphia. After relocating to Harrisburg in 2015, Drummer started playing live shows, which led to collaborations that would ultimately shape the band’s evolution. Guitarist Steph Werner joined in 2018, followed by bassist Michael Stipe in 2019, and together they steered the project into the dreamy, heavy waters of shoegaze and post-metal.
The band dropped their debut album, Raw Tomato, My Heart, in 2020, recorded with Ian Scheila at Philadelphia’s Headroom Studios. But just as they were finding their groove, the pandemic hit, forcing a temporary hiatus. Emerging from the COVID-19 fog, Babel Map quickly penned and recorded CANCEL THIS!, which was released in 2022.
With lineup shifts and new creative sparks flying, the band began work on Teeth in 2023, initially as a trio experimenting with electronic drums produced by Stipe. Percussionist Brian Doherty later joined, adding his rhythmic flair to the mix and solidifying the band’s current lineup as they gear up to take their latest creation on the road.
Babel Map is set to leave an indelible mark on 2024 with Teeth—an album that not only showcases their raw power but also the depth of their artistic evolution.
