Leeds post-punk quintet Autobahn return today with the frenetic first single and title track of their upcoming second album, “The Moral Crossing”, premiering exclusively with DIY. The album will be released by Tough Love Records on a selection of physical formats – including CD, a red vinyl pressing for indie stores, 100 red vinyl pressing with a poster available exclusively through Bandcamp / Tough Love Records and, finally, a 100 grey vinyl pressing only available for their hometown through Leeds record stores.

Following considerable attention around their debut album from the likes of The Guardian, Uncut, NME, Louder Than War and more, Autobahn’s second has seen lead singer and principal songwriter Craig Johnson, guitarists Michael Pedel and Gavin Cobb, bassist Daniel Sleight and drummer Liam Hilton deciding to giving up their practice room that doubled as a hardcore/punk venue (which influenced their original sound, as did a love of The Birthday Party) and build their own studio space – on their own terms, all on their own.

“The first album hinted at emotion and feeling, but this record encapsulates that from the offset. The melancholic aspect of our music is often offset by an aggressive dissonance, but to me there’s also a romantic side to what we do, which isn’t always clear because of the 100mph drive of the band. That’s what we are exploring with this new album.” – Craig Johnson

They found a former double-glazing firm, under a disused bridge, in Holbeck (Leeds’ red light district), and despite having no experience of such a job, they undertook this feat. It took a year from ripping out the existing contents to finishing the album – which was then mixed in New York by Ben Greenberg, known for his work with the Sacred Bones label.

On top, Johnson taught himself how to make a record after the studio was built. “I was down there nearly every night,” Johnson recalls. “It was pretty horrible at times, but worth the pain to have control over everything. We’ve had the chance to create the sound we want, at times it’s more melancholic, and romantic.”

The self-produced “The Moral Crossing” will contain 10 new songs from the band.

Track listing:

1. Prologue

2. Obituary

3. Future

4. The Moral Crossing

5. Torment

6. Low/High

7. Execution/Rise

8. Creation

9. Fallen

10. Vessel

Autobahn will follow the release of their album with a full UK tour.

Full dates below:

4-November: O2 – Oxford

5-November: Brudenell Social Club – Leeds

8-November: Louisiana – Bristol

9-November: The Lexington – London

10-November: The Joker – Brighton

11-November: Heartbreakers – Southampton

16-November: The Cookie – Leicester

17-November: Record Junkee – Sheffield

18-November: Undegun – Wrexham

22-November: Broadcast – Glasgow

23-November: Sneaky Pete – Edinburgh

24-November: Ku Bar – Stockton-on-Tees

25-November: The White Hotel – Manchester