Fire Track: The Berries – “Angelus”

The Berries Announce Self-Titled Album – Shares Track for “Angelus”

Matthew Berry is back, and he’s bringing The Berries into sharp focus with their new self-titled record, out August 29. After a few years of side projects and restless creativity, Berry returns to the core of what makes his songwriting click: heartfelt lyrics, big guitar moments, and songs that feel both intimate and widescreen.

The Berries is Berry’s most focused work yet. It mixes warm Americana with hazy, California-tinted melancholy and a touch of studio magic. Think the emotional sweep of Tusk-era Fleetwood Mac meeting the atmospheric sprawl of The War on Drugs. Each song feels like its own little world, shaped by Berry’s instinct to follow the mood rather than stick to any strict formula.

The lead single, “Angelus,” is a perfect example. Over a simple progression, Berry’s voice drifts like a daydream, slowly stacking melodies until the song blooms into something cinematic. It’s got that feeling of driving along empty highways, sun in your eyes, thinking about everything and nothing at once.

Berry’s path to this record wasn’t easy. After the burnout of past albums (Berryland, Throne of Ivory, High Flying Man), he stepped away, diving into projects like Hotline TNT, his band Big Bite, and new outfits RAM and Drug Addict. These experiments cleared the slate, letting him return to The Berries with fresh ears. The result? A collection of songs that sound like someone rediscovering why they fell in love with music in the first place.

Recorded at engineer Jimmy Dixon’s home studio with a tight crew of friends (Kora Puckett of Narrow Head, drummer Bryan De Leon, Color Green’s Corey Madden, and poet-musician Julia Lans Nowak), The Berries has a lush but unpretentious vibe. Grand arrangements sit alongside stripped-back moments, all anchored by Berry’s unflinching lyrics about finding purpose and fighting through the fog of modern life.

This record doesn’t pretend to have all the answers, but it does what the best albums do: it makes you feel less alone in the search.

The Berries drops August 29. Until then, check out “Angelus” and let it hit you right where it counts.

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