Wednesday night, Rocks Off got our hands on the first fruits of the new Wild Moccasins album, Skin Collision Past. The title track finds the band trying out a new sprawling yet angular sound, with new strains of Britpop coursing throughout the tracks' three and half minutes. The new full-length is due to hit the streets on May 21.

[Ed. Note: We just listened for ourselves, and we think it sounds like a lost studio moment from 1983, when ZZ Top warmed up for another take of "Legs" by playing U2's "Gloria." Pretty awesome.]

Wild Moccasins, "Skin Collision Past"

Wild Moccasins, "Skin Collision Past"

Singer/guitarist Cody Swann pointed to the six months the Moccs spent in Sugar Hill Studios for the new intricacy. The band had a chance to workshop certain tones they may have not gotten to explore in the past recordings. It's definitely a stylistic leap forward. You can swatches of the Sundays, the Smiths and even a bite of some post-punk in some of the guitar lines.

The band will be debut the new Skin material April 1 with what is sure to be a near-sellout gig at Walter's on Washington; the Moccasins' last few headlining stands at the club have been stifling, packed affairs. The first 100 fans in the door will get a copy of the band's 2009 EP, Microscopic Metronomes, and a preview poster for Skin. This will also serve as the band's tour kick-off show before they go on a nationwide trek, with special guests Something Fierce and Ghormeh Sabzi.

But before that, the Moccasins will be guest-blogging from SXSW for us. We're happy to have them.