Canadian synth-rock-heroes Metric are coming back to the UK to play some shows to promote their fifth, full-length studio album Synthetica.

This is what the cover of the record looks like:

About the cover, Emily Haines says:

“We wanted the artwork for Synthetica to be thought provoking and a little disorienting, an optical illusion which asks you to stop for a moment and consider what you are looking at. We were very influenced by images from the Radical architecture movement of the 1960s”

Here are some more details for you:

• Synthetica, Haines explains "...is about being able to identify the original in a long line of reproductions. It's about what is real vs what is artificial."
• The first single from the album is out on May 1st, and is a song called ‘Youth Without Youth’ (yes, that is also the name of a Francis Ford Coppola movie), which according to the press release is a song that 'tackles the topic of a fraying social state with bristling energy and lyrical complexity, spearheaded by a characteristically driving rhythm.'
• The album was recorded at their own Giant Studios in Toronto and at Electric Lady Studios in NYC, where it was mixed by long-time collaborator, John O’Mahony.
• Liam O'Neill from The Stills and Eight and a Half (who play the DiS stage at Great Escape!), also worked in the studio with the band.
• as part of the 2 month countdown, fans will be able to hear the whole album, but not all in one go. If you head over to ilovemetric.com now you can experience "Reflections of Synthetica"
• We've heard the record and it's a triumphant blast of shattered disco balls and soaring guitars. There are some killer hooks and gorgeous synth textures. Basically, it's the Metric we all know and love, evolved a little more, but not too much.

S Y N T H E T I C A : TRACKLISTING

Artificial Nocturne
Youth Without Youth
Speed The Collapse
Breathing Underwater
Dreams So Real
Lost Kitten
The Void
Synthetica
Clone
The Wanderlust
Nothing But Time

And yeah, the headline does mention UK live dates, and they are:

July 2012

2nd London, UK @ 02 Shepherds Bush Empire
7th Manchester UK @ HMV Ritz
8th Oxford, UK @ 02 Academy

For ticket links, album teasers and more visit ilovemetric.com.