Adam Lytle Navigates Darkness And Light On New Album 'Altars' | Releases Live Rendition Of Focus Track "Lead On Desire"
Adam Lytle shot by Meg Molli
LISTEN TO ALTARS:
https://adamlytle.ffm.to/altars
WATCH “LEAD ON DESIRE”:
youtube.com/watch?v=V40uTRvn20U
"Lytle, a troubadour of the tenebrous, wields his nylon-string guitar like a scalpel, peeling back the skin of American mythos."
– Post-Punk
"...a striking, psychedelic hammer blow influenced by Gothic and industrial rock. Intimidating, poignant and sickly sticky with its towering chorus."
– Turn Up The Volume
May 2, 2025 – Today, New York-based musician Adam Lytle releases his highly anticipated album, Altars. Leading the charge is the project’s focus track, "Lead On Desire", a powerful anthem brimming with stomp and swagger.
“‘Lead On Desire’ was the first song to take shape during the Altars recording sessions, and it quickly became the benchmark for the entire album”, Lytle explains regarding its creation. “It perfectly illustrates the magic of my collaboration with co-producer Jonathan Schenke. His recording and mixing of William Logan's driving drums and Mauro Refosco's vibrant percussion truly elevated the song beyond my initial vision.”
The album's genesis lies in Lytle's immersive winter experience: "I wrote this album while traveling through Europe," he shares. “During those three months, I traced the influence of modern art, poetry, and religion from the boulevards of Paris to the mountains of Granada before settling in Arles, France. The collision of myth and reality was influenced by this distinctly European backdrop. Where ruins from empires past sit next to visions of the future.” Altars is a record that arrives at a moment of great turmoil. The air is thick with the promise of something dark and destructive. Where many artists have stood at the edge of this darkness and turned back, Lytle leads us deeper into the void. He sings for the ones who feel too much, the ones whose hearts beat in rhythm with the sorrow of the world, the ones who have loved, lost, but are still standing. Like the great poets of the underworld, his songs echo in the silence long after they’ve ended.
To commemorate the album launch, Lytle has also unveiled a dynamic live performance video of “Lead On Desire,” filmed at the legendary Power Station. Recorded by Glenn Forsythe, the video showcases Lytle's captivating stage presence alongside his live band: Cameron Kapoor, Felix Ambach, and Julian Cubillos.
About Adam Lytle:
A technician of the sacred, Adam Lytle writes songs that explore the darker regions of the heart. The New York songwriter has built a passionate following around the alluring sound of his nylon-string guitar and poetic lyrics. With his electrifying band, he transforms from a quiet, introspective artist to a powerhouse performer; seductive and menacing all at once.
After years of honing his craft, Lytle emerged at the turn of the decade as a distinctive voice in the tower of song. With its striking lyricism and evocative arrangements, his solo debut This Is The Fire drew comparisons to the work of Leonard Cohen, Townes Van Zandt, and Scott Walker. Audiences around the world took note as Lytle embarked on tours across Europe and the United States.
Arriving a little over a year after its predecessor, the new album Altars is the fruit of his long running collaboration with producer Jonathan Schenke. While Lytle’s guitar and voice still take center stage, gone is the monumental orchestra which lifted his debut. In its place, there is something more earthbound, more opaque; a cacophony of screeching metal, blown-out amps and apocalyptic rhythm. A ferocious sound crafted from the wreckage of the modern American landscape.
Tracklist:
Savage Thunder
Lead On Desire
Sister Wave
Midnight Shakes The Memory
That Was Me
Sanctuary
Heaven
Black Masses
Nothing Lies Beyond
Hollow Eyes
Sea of Tears