Two decades into their career, Uncle Lucius aren't interested in nostalgia. They're more interested in turning the highlights of the past 20 years — platinum-selling singles; sold-out shows stretching from Austin to Australia; rebirths and resurgences — into fuel for an even brighter present. On their newest release, Open Eyes, Broken Heart, those instincts steer the band into new territory. Recorded on the heels of a comeback tour that found Uncle Lucius circling the globe, it's a record about the modern moment, inspired by the long and winding road that brought them here.

For Kevin Galloway, the new songs didn't arrive overnight. They're the product of years spent on tour, a breakup and reunion, and the slow realization of what it means to be an artist in a fractured world. "This album is the culmination of all the years we've spent on the road," says the frontman. "All the battles, all the losses, all the wins. This record couldn’t have happened at

any other time."

When it comes to Open Eyes, Broken Heart, timing is everything. Many of its songs have been waiting in the wings for over a decade — written, temporarily shelved, and revisited as Galloway wrestled with how much of himself he wanted to reveal. "For the longest time, I wasn't ready to be that vulnerable," he admits. When he finally did bring them to the band, the songs weren't over-rehearsed or overthought. Instead, they were left open to Uncle Lucius' interpretation, reshaped in real time by a group of road warriors who've grown tighter in the years since their return.

That return, sparked in part by renewed attention from a Yellowstone placement, could have been a victory lap. Instead, Uncle Lucius treated it as a reset. Expanding their lineup and their sound, the reunited band ended their five-year hiatus by logging thousands of miles across America, Europe, and beyond, rebuilding their chemistry the old-school way: onstage, night after night, song after song. "Gelling on the road… that's what led us to make this record,” Galloway says. The result is a studio record rooted in the live experience, filled with the intuition and instincts that only come from shared experience.

Recorded over 10 days in a rented house in Wimberley, Texas, Open Eyes, Broken Heart strips back the distance between the stage and the studio. The band arranged themselves in a circle, facing one another, and tracked mostly live. They took their time, looking for performances that balanced song craft with the chemistry and camaraderie of their concerts. Engineer/Mixer Chris Bell captured the results on the same mobile unit he'd used for Live in '25, the 18-song live album that documented Uncle Lucius' return to Gruene Hall several months earlier. The environment in that house, with its vaulted ceilings and view of the Blanco River, allowed the songs to unfold naturally. Produced by Uncle Lucius, "It was the best feeling we've had making a record," Galloway adds. "Everything felt easy and honest."

Honesty is a big part of the album's arc. It all begins with angst — with the jaw-clenched anger of "The Bruxist," one of several songs to lean into the band's rock influences — before moving toward zen-like acceptance. For listeners who just want to enjoy themselves, they're plenty of ear-candy here: the ethereal space-rock of "As Above, So Down Below"; the gritty, cinematic sweep of "I Too Have Raged"; covers of Robert Earl Keen's "Mariano" and Talking Heads' "City of Dreams," with updated lyrics approved by the original artists; even a rewritten version of "Coming Down," originally released on 2009's Pick Your Head Up and presented here with an updated groove. For those willing to dig deep, though, Galloway's lyrics tackle the disorder of contemporary life with unchecked honesty. This is a record about accepting the chaos we find all around us, without looking for resolution or escape. Instead, Open Eyes, Broken Heart encourages us to be gracious in the midst of that chaos… not just to ourselves, but to those around us, too.

"Open Eyes, Broken Hearts isn't a concept record, but it does take you on a journey," says Galloway. "It's a journey from the human realm to something more ethereal, where you realize that this world may be flawed, but it's up to us to work within that flawed system and find beauty. There's always a silver lining, if you ask me. There's always a way to move forward." Forward momentum. It's something that has always defined Uncle Lucius, an Austin-based band whose ambition and artistry far beyond the Lone Star State. With Open Eyes, Broken Hearts, the musicians push ahead once more. They're not just exploring new combinations of muscle and melody — they're looking for the meaning behind it all, too.

"We initially got back together because 'Keep the Wolves Away' had become a hit on Yellowstone while we were on hiatus," says Galloway. "Along the way, I figured out that I'm an artist, not just an entertainer. So what's the responsibility of an artist? What can you do? For me, it comes back to being human. Being vulnerable. Reflecting the moment — and hopefully, creating a little bit of healing out of the chaos."