photo by Bill Sitzmann

"Motorcycles," the first taste of Back When's six-years-evolved sound, sounds like a heavy-hitting dirge hell-bent on reviving the dead — not mourning the deceased. The Omaha band's release of Champion Hologram Wednesday, Dec. 28 marks its first full-length since 2005. The Faint's Clark Baechle recorded the 12-song return at Enamel Studios near downtown Omaha. 

The band, featuring Aaron Broveak, Chris Kelley, Joe Mickeliunas and Jon Tvrdik, tapped a few friends for guest appearances, including Cursive's Ted Stevens, The Mynabirds' Laura Burhenn (who appears on "Motorcycles," and John Purcell (co-owner of Omaha's H-Minus Productions with Tvrdik).

Have a listen, and tell us what you think:

Motorcycles by Back When [Note: This show previews Back When's album release Wednesday, Dec. 28 at Slowdown, featuring Conduits, Noah's Ark Was a Spaceship and Honey & Darling. Tickets for the 9 p.m. show are $7. More info here.]

Steven is a Hear Nebraska editorial intern. Happy solstice, y'all. Reach him at stevena@hearnebraska.org.