Year of the Horse (Fucked Up album)

Last updated
Year of the Horse
FuckedUpYearoftheHorseAlbumCover.jpg
Studio album by
Fucked Up
ReleasedMay 7, 2021 [1]
Recorded2016–2021 [2]
Length94:19
Label Self-released
Fucked Up releases chronology
Dose Your Dreams
(2018)
Year of the Horse
(2021)
One Day
(2023)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Pitchfork 7.8/10 [3]
Exclaim! 9/10 [4]
Punknews.orgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [5]

Year of the Horse is a 2021 self-released concept album by Canadian punk band Fucked Up. [1] It is the ninth installment in the band's long-running Zodiac series and is structured as a single composition divided into four movements. It was recorded between 2016 and 2021. [2] Year of the Horse was released in stages on Bandcamp, beginning with the first act on February 5, 2021, and concluding with the fourth act on May 6, 2021, followed by the official digital release of the full album on May 7, 2021. [6] [7] [1] The album's physical editions were released by Tankcrimes in August 2021. [8]

Contents

Concept and narrative

Year of the Horse is a dramatic concept album written by guitarist Mike Haliechuk, in collaboration with Toronto playwright David James Brock. [9] [1]

The story involves a mythical horse named Perceval on the run from an evil wizard king, King Sour, and attempts to reach her rightful home among the moon and stars. [1] The album is broken into four acts and individual scenes, following Perceval as she flees the town of Abfall and is pursued into surrounding wastelands by a posse led by a merciless sheriff named Bloody Lance. [9]

Music and composition

Year of the Horse is structured as a single, continuous composition divided into four acts, each functioning as a movement within a larger narrative arc. Across its roughly 94-minute runtime, the album incorporates a wide range of musical styles, including hardcore punk, metal, psychedelic rock, experimental pop, folk, ambient music, Western, and classical-influenced elements. Rather than presenting discrete songs, each act is composed of multiple interconnected scenes, with recurring motifs. [1] [9]

The album contains several guest vocalists, including Julien Baker of Boygenius, Matt Berninger of the National, Maegan Brooks Mills of Chubby and the Gang, as well as Tuka Mohammed and Eidolon. [1] [9]

Dedication

The album is dedicated to Iron Age guitarist Wade Allison and Power Trip singer Riley Gale, who both died in 2020. [10] [1]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Mike Haliechuk [11]

No.TitleVocalsLength
1."Act I"Abraham, Mills, Mohammed, Eidolon19:25
2."Act II"Abraham, Mohammed, Berninger, Mills26:31
3."Act III"Abraham, Mills, Eidolon, Mohammed22:07
4."Act IV"Abraham, Mohammed, Mills, Baker26:16

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Berman, Stuart (June 24, 2021). "Fucked Up: Year of the Horse". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  2. 1 2 Breihan, Tom (March 5, 2021). "Fucked Up – "Year Of The Horse – Act Two"". Stereogum. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  3. Stuart Berman (June 24, 2021). "Fucked Up: Year of the Horse". Pitchfork.
  4. Dika, Paul (May 9, 2021). "Fucked Up's Narrative Ambitions Are Finally Fully Realized on Year of the Horse". Exclaim!. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  5. John Gentile (June 22, 2021). "Fucked Up – Year of the Horse". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  6. Rettig, James (May 6, 2021). "Fucked Up – Year Of The Horse – "Act Four"". Stereogum.
  7. "Year of the Horse". Bandcamp. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
  8. Gentile, John (2021). "Fucked Up detail Year of the Horse release". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Dika, Paul (May 9, 2021). "Fucked Up's Narrative Ambitions Are Finally Fully Realized on Year of the Horse". Exclaim!. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  10. Manno, Lizzie (5 February 2021). "Fucked Up Share Latest Zodiac Release Year of the Horse". Paste Magazine. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  11. Year of the Horse (Media notes). Tankcrimes. 2021. LP liner notes.