Eric Church Unleashes the Next Chapter with "Evangeline vs. The Machine"
Eric Church, the ever-evolving maverick of country music, is set to make waves once again with his latest album, Evangeline vs. The Machine, dropping on May 2. Known for his rebellious spirit and fearless storytelling, Church has crafted a project that pushes boundaries while staying true to his roots. Fans can pre-order and pre-save the album now, building anticipation for what promises to be another genre-defying masterpiece.
A Visionary’s Commitment to the Album Format
Church has never been one to follow trends. Instead, he continues to champion the art of cohesive storytelling, a hallmark of his career. Evangeline vs. The Machine is no exception.
“An album is a snapshot in time that lasts for all time,” Church shares of the creative approach behind the highly-anticipated new project. “I believe in that time-tested tradition of making records that live and breathe as one piece of art – I think it’s important.”
“I’ve always let creativity be the muse. It’s been a compass for me,” he adds. “The people that I look up to in my career and the kind of musicians I gravitate to never did what I thought they were going to do next – and I love them for it. I never want our fans to get an album and go, ‘Oh, that’s like Chief or that’s like this.’ Painstakingly, I lose sleep at night to try to make sure that whatever we do creatively, they go, ‘Wow, that's not what I thought.’ I think that's my job as an artist.”
Lead Single “Hands of Time” Sets the Tone
Kicking off this new era is Hands of Time, the album’s lead single, impacting country radio on March 24. The song offers a reflective take on nostalgia and the passage of time, themes that resonate deeply with Church.
“As I get older, I’m looking for things that make me feel not as old,” he shares. “Music has a way of transporting you, making you feel like you did back then.”
Songs with a Purpose: “Darkest Hour” and “Johnny”
Beyond pushing sonic boundaries, Evangeline vs. The Machine also showcases Church’s unwavering commitment to using music for a greater cause. One such example is Darkest Hour, a track released in response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in 2024. Church donated all of his publishing royalties from the song to aid relief efforts in his home state of North Carolina.
“That song had the chance to change things—it already has,” Church reflects. “The greatest concert I’ve ever played was the Concert for Carolina – that’s the greatest thing I’ve been involved with. This song played a big part of that night and is a rallying cry for the people there that still need a lot of help. As a person who writes and performs a song, seeing it truly impact people’s lives is the greatest thing you can hope to accomplish.”
Another standout is Johnny, a soul-stirring reinterpretation inspired by The Devil Went Down to Georgia and the tragic Covenant School shooting. Church first introduced the song at his Chief’s To Beat The Devil residency and later at the Country Radio Seminar, leaving audiences in stunned silence.
Church Continues to Blaze His Own Trail
With Evangeline vs. The Machine, Church cements his legacy as a trailblazer in modern country music. This marks his first full-length release since 2021’s Heart & Soul trilogy, a project that itself redefined the country album format.
Evangeline vs. The Machine Track List
Hands Of Time (Eric Church, Scooter Carusoe)
Bleed On Paper (Tucker Beathard, Casey Beathard, Monty Criswell)
Johnny (Eric Church, Luke Laird, Brett Warren)
Storm In Their Blood (Eric Church)
Darkest Hour (Eric Church)
Evangeline (Eric Church, Luke Laird, Barry Dean)
Rocket’s White Lincoln (Eric Church)
Clap Hands (Tom Waits)
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