It’s been a long road back for Pedro the Lion. As Seattle Weekly detailed back in May, David Bazan’s influential Christian-leaning Seattle indie rock band ceased operations back in 2005, seeking a solo creative outlet that felt less complacent as his faith was eroding. After reforming Pedro the Lion last year to tap into his more rocking side once again, Bazan is finally ready to release the first new album from the band in almost 15 years. Phoenix will rise from the proverbial ashes on Jan. 18, 2019, and can be preordered now via the Polyvinyl Records web store. To mark the occasion, this week Pedro the Lion unveiled its first new song (complete with music video)—“Yellow Bike.”

The song takes a no-nonsense rock groove and lets Bazan muse wistfully and nostalgically about youthful freedom and fears through the symbolism of the titular yellow bike, then contrasts it with the crushing loneliness of the traveling life as an adult. The video parallels a dour, booze-driven Bazan with a child (played by Nils Bazan) aimlessly killing time on his bike, reading issues of Thrasher Magazine, and spending his piggy-bank savings at the convenience mart.

In addition to prepping for the release of Phoenix, Pedro the Lion has a concert at Neumos on Fri., Nov. 23 with opening support from Chris Staples. Maybe other new jams will work their way into the set for that show.