Photo by Jesse DeFlorio

“Until the Kingdom Comes” begins with a round of applause, and deservedly, as Sparta launch apropos positive reinforcement into its audience. The latest preview from the El Paso band’s forthcoming fifth full-length and self-titled effort is a grand anthem in their scheme of desert-tripped post-hardcore, tilting its head at the sun in godlike fashion. “I believe in the human race / That capsized in the cosmic chase / Hand-in-hand ‘til kingdom come,” proclaims Jim Ward in its opening moments. There’s every reason to be cynical these days, but you can also be or do anything you want to spite it all.

Sparta’s Sparta will be released October 14th on Dine Alone Records.