Gorillaz – The Mountain (Album Review)

Gorillaz is back on top of “The Mountain” with their 9th studio album

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TOP 5

5. The God of Lying

I’m not going to lie, the lyricism is what I appreciate most about “The God of Lying.” Call me crazy, but it dives into themes that feel like a guilty pleasure for me: death, life, and the afterlife.

“The God of Lying” comes across as both intriguing and deeply existential. It wrestles with the questions we all confront when thinking about what comes next, faith, truth, and whether something greater truly exists.

The song captures that tension perfectly, pairing those heavy ideas with Gorillaz’s signature vocals and a distorted, megaphone-style effect that makes the message feel both distant and urgent.

Dark? Maybe. Great song? Definitely.

4. The Happy Dictator

Hear me out…

“The Happy Dictator” is the first of six singles from The Mountain. Right away, it sets the tone for the album with dance-driven, upbeat energy and choir-like layered vocals that feel both celebratory and slightly unsettling.

What really pulls me in is the sheer number of layers and sonic details woven throughout the track. Beneath the bright production, there’s an undercurrent that hints at a savior complex built on lies and false promises. It sells a polished version of happiness, peace, and salvation, all while quietly encouraging listeners to ignore the darker, more uncomfortable parts of life.

To me, that tension feels intentional. The song mirrors the world around us, where optimism is often packaged and marketed, even when the foundation is shaky. Maybe that interpretation is personal, but “The Happy Dictator” feels less like a simple anthem and more like a glossy illusion with cracks just beneath the surface.

3. Orange County

Gorillaz seem to know a thing or two about painful goodbyes.

“Orange County” opens with a soft intro and a calming whistle that gently sets the scene before shifting into a more upbeat rhythm. That subtle transition creates a beautiful contrast, easing you in before lifting the tempo.

I love how distinct this track feels because of that sonic switch. The brighter, more energetic production clashes in an almost poetic way with the sad sentiments underneath. Beneath the bounce lies the devastation of a painful goodbye, the kind that lingers long after the music fades.

It taps into that timeless story of love and loss. No matter how many times artists revisit it, I never get tired of a song that feels universally relatable in one way or another.

2. The Empty Dream Machine

Culture, spirituality, and mental darkness meet on one track.

“The Empty Dream Machine” is, sonically, pure atmosphere. The production leans into lush textures and almost sensual vocal work that feels warm and hypnotic at first. It pulls you in gently, like you are drifting somewhere weightless.

Then the lyrics take a sharp, shadowy turn. What starts as a vibe-heavy experience slowly unravels into themes of mental darkness, anguish, pain, and emotional restraint. That contrast is powerful. The backing vocals elevate everything, adding depth and tension that make the heaviness hit even harder.

When the rap verse arrives, it transforms the track completely. The passion intensifies, the rhythm sharpens, and suddenly it becomes impossible not to nod along with the beat. The spiritual references, especially the nontraditional ones rarely highlighted in mainstream media, really stood out to me. I admired the cultural nods woven through the mentions of Black and Hindi music. By the end, I just remember thinking, “oof.” It genuinely felt like I was floating, suspended somewhere between euphoria and introspection.

1. The Manifesto

What an unexpected yet incredible twist— I’m hooked.

This song has everything. I genuinely was not expecting a Spanish or Spanglish track on this album, so that surprise alone made it special for me, especially as a Latina. Within seconds of pressing play, my reaction was simply, “okayyyyy!” And that excitement never really faded.

“The Manifesto” feels like three or four songs woven into one seamless journey. It opens with strong Urbano Latino energy, bright and optimistic, carrying themes of faith, finding light in dark places, letting go, and embracing freedom. The “England to Argentina” shoutout stood out to me in particular. It reflects the global spirit of the entire album, not just this one track, highlighting how borderless the music feels.

About halfway through, the song shifts into an R&B and rap fusion, featuring a verse from the late Proof. His vocal tone contrasts beautifully with Trueno’s softer delivery, creating a dynamic tension that adds emotional weight. I absolutely loved that transition. Then the beat pivots again, handing the mic back to Trueno for a powerful Spanish rap verse that seals the experience. It is an incredible track that keeps evolving without ever losing its heart.

SONG-BY-SONG RATING

1. The Mountain (feat. Dennis Hopper, Ajay Prasanna, Anoushka Shankar, Amaan Ali Bangash, Ayaan Ali Bangash) (2/5)

2. The Moon Cave (feat. Asha Puthli, Bobby Womack, Dave Jolicoeur, Jalen Ngonda, Black Thought) (4.5/5)

3. The Happy Dictator (feat. Sparks) (4.5/5)

4. The Hardest Thing (feat. Tony Allen) (3/5)

5. Orange County (feat. Bizarrap, Kara Jackson, Anoushka Shankar) (4.5/5)

6. The God of Lying (feat. IDLES) (4.5/5)

7. The Empty Dream Machine (feat. Black Thought, Johnny Marr, Anoushka Shankar) (5/5)

8. The Manifesto (feat. Trueno and Proof) (5/5)

9. The Plastic Guru (feat. Johnny Marr and Anoushka Shankar) (4/5)

10. Delirium (feat. Mark E. Smith) (4/5)

11. Damascus (feat. Omar Souleyman and Yasiin Bey) (4/5)

12. The Shadowy Light (feat. Asha Bhosle, Gruff Rhys, Ajay Prasanna, Amaan Bangash, Ayaan Ali Bangash) (3.5/5)

13. Casablanca (feat. Paul Simonon and Johnny Marr) (4/5)

14. The Sweet Prince (feat. Ajay Prasanna, Johnny Marr, Anoushka Shankar) (3.5/5)

15. The Sad God (feat. Black Thought, Ajay Prasanna, Anoushka Shankar) (4/5)

RGM RATING

(B-)

The Mountain moves through multiple genres, cultures, and languages, including English, Spanish, Yoruba, Arabic, and Hindi. That diversity does not feel forced. It feels intentional, layered, and alive. With what feels like a million features, very on brand for Gorillaz, the album becomes a rotating door of voices and perspectives. Somewhere along the way, I realized this project quietly turned me into a fan of Black Thought too. His presence alone adds lyrical gravity that anchors the more experimental edges.

What truly pulled me in, though, were the themes. Faith. The occult. The afterlife. Big, heavy ideas wrapped in genre-bending production. The album explores spirituality without shrinking it down for comfort. It asks questions instead of handing out answers. That depth made the listening experience feel immersive and thought-provoking. For me, The Mountain is not just another chapter in Gorillaz’s catalog. It is a reminder of why they have lasted this long in the first place.

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