The last time we heard from Mark Kozelek aka Sun Kil Moon (aside from his collaborative albums with Desertshore and Jimmy LaValle) it was on last year’s Among The Leaves an album with some pretty bitter (though also funny) lyrics backed by delicate and beautiful melodies. We really loved that album, but after hearing “Richard Ramirez Died Today Of Natural Causes,” it’s hard not to get even more excited for his next one. “Richard Ramirez,” which will appear on his new album Benji is raw as fuck, with driving drums and acoustic strumming that match the death obsessed lyrics which includ everything from musings on James Gandolfini’s death to the choice phrase: “When I fuck too much I feel like I’m gonna have a heart attack.” Kozelek’s lyrics have always been intense, but the music and delivery here are matching it now in a startling way. Benji, which will appear next year, and features Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley, Will Oldham, Owen Ashworth (Casiotone For The Painfully Alone), and Jen Wood (Postal Service) in various guest roles. Listen below.

Benji is out 2/4 on Caldo Verde.