Eric Church’s single release plan may have been spoiled by a leak, but he still had the final say.
The Chief has been preparing for new music for the past week, and on Monday (March 17), he officially announced the release of his latest single, “Hands of Time.”
The song was supposed to be released at midnight on Thursday (March 20), but it got leaked a little early.
By the time the clock struck midnight, many fans had already heard “Hands of Time,” a bluesy, crank-it-up barn-burner that brings back memories of Church classics like “Springsteen.”
But Church had one more secret up his sleeve, which he revealed on Thursday. He’s releasing a new album titled Evangeline vs. the Machine.
He also provided a tracklist for the project. With eight songs split into Side A and Side B, it’s a slimmer release than fans might have expected from The Chief, whose previous album, Heart & Soul, was a triple album.
The new collection will be released on May 2.
Some of the songs should be familiar to Church fans. Aside from the single and lead track “Hands of Time,” Evangeline vs. the Machine also includes “Darkest Hour,” which Church released in 2024 and dedicated to the victims of Hurricane Helene.
It also includes “Johnny,” which the singer debuted in February at the Country Radio Seminar in Nashville. That track has yet to be released in a studio version.
Evangeline vs. the Machine is currently available for preorder and pre-sale. The project was produced by Jay Joyce.
Eric Church, Evangeline vs. the Machine Tracklisting:
1. “Hands of Time”
2. “Bleed on Paper”
3. “Johnny”
4. “Storm in Their Blood”
5. “Darkest Hour”
6. “Evangeline”
7. “Rocket’s White Lincoln”
8. “Clap Hands”
Eric Church’s “Hands of Time” Lyrics:
Detroit built brakes so they could make a Chevy slow down / And a just right midnight ‘Sorry’ might turn ‘Goodbye’ around / Bloody Marys and aspirin will give a hangover one hell of a fight / But my remedy for handling the hands of time…
Chorus:
Is Seger singing ‘Hollywood Nights,’ ‘Even the losers get lucky sometimes’ / A paradise by the dashboard light / And I’m just fine, I’m doing alright / We ain’t as young as we used to be / But young at heart is so easy / When you let some loud guitars and words that rhyme / Handle the hands of time
My go-to game day jersey’s always Carolina blue / When I need to find forgiveness, I find a little small-town church pew / Yeah, after work I like to put my elbows up on a bar / But girl, I turn to the speakers when I need to speak to this ole heart / And it’s…
Chorus:
Back in Black, Shook Me All Night Long, Could You Be Loved, Redemption Song / Luckenbach, home sweet home, I’m where I belong, ain’t nothing wrong / Yeah, we ain’t as young as we used to be / But young at heart is so easy / When you let some loud guitars and words that rhyme / Handle the hands of time / Hands of time
Tryin’ to hang on as the song rolls / Like gravity pulls on the grains of sand / We take our licks, life takes its toll / We say thanks and we fold our hands / And it’s…
Chorus:
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound / Sunday Morning Coming Down / Tuesday’s gone, green grass of home / I come to the garden alone, yeah / We ain’t as young as we used to be / But until under that willow you bury me / I’m gonna turn up some loud guitars / Turn up some loud guitars / Turn up some loud guitars / Crank up some loud guitars / Crank up some loud guitars / Wanna hear some loud guitars / Gonna let some loud guitars and words that rhyme / Handle the hands of time