Punk rockers of ELLEGARDEN drop the single Mountain Top, their first release in nearly 16 years. Following the 2006 album ELEVEN FIRE CRACKERS, the band declared an indefinite hiatus to a shocked legion of fans, as the foursome parted ways to pursue separate musical ventures. However, vocalist and lead composer Takeshi Hosomi revealed on his blog in February that he and 40 demo tracks had relocated to a personal studio in Los Angeles to commit to the next ELLEGARDEN full-length, now nearing completion.

ELLEGARDEN - Mountain Top [MUSIC VIDEO]

Watch this video on YouTube

Contrasting the meteoric aggression of past singles Salamander and Space Sonic, the reunion tune strikes a more deliberate note with its messaging about Hosomi’s inseparable dedication to his craft. In many ways, the long-awaited Mountain Top represents an introspective letter to and a bittersweet reconciliation with his younger, brasher self. The mid-tempo march, punctuated with a sentimental bass interlude, recounts the mental struggles during Hosomi’s rise with ELLEGARDEN, when he obsessively poured himself into the freshmen-turned-Oricon-chart-topper, despite never signing a major label deal or appearing on network television.

ELLEGARDEN performs “Mountain Top” with Takeshi Hosomi on lead vocals

Penning lyrics entirely in English, Hosomi beckons in the chorus, “Give me the light of a lightning flicker. Then I will be dancing with demons once more. I’m the one who wants to burn out”, signaling that his musical journey had always intended to take him back to ELLEGARDEN, no matter the toll, and that the dots were all meant to connect as he looked back atop the summit.

Shinichi Ubukata on lead guitar

Shot on location in LA, the music video reunites the original lineup, with Shinichi Ubukata on lead guitar, Yuuichi Takada on bass, and Hirotaka Takahashi on drums.

Yuuichi Takada on bass

Kicking up dirt on the empty lot, the SoCal sun beating down on their dark shorts and Gibson guitars, members of ELLEGARDEN resurrect every essence of their unpretentious punk rock attitude. And, as if making good on a 16-year promise, Hosomi’s melancholic refrain once again soars among the layers of cantankerous riffing from his bandmates, who know just as well that the time has come.

Hirotaka Takahashi on drums

ELLEGARDEN heads toward the final stages of producing the new album with longtime collaborator Scott Murphy of Allister, Scott & Rivers, and MONOEYES. Additionally, the Japanese public broadcasting station NHK will spotlight ELLEGARDEN in an upcoming documentary, showcasing its gradual return to the stage and interviews on its visions for the future. The special is scheduled to air on September 23 at 22:45 local time.