Mumford & Sons Returns—But First, Let's Look at How They Got Here

Tomorrow, March 28, 2025, Mumford & Sons is releasing a new album. The London-based band's last album, Delta, was released in November 2018, now nearly 7 years later, and we get to hear more from this legendary folk-rock band. With the pre-release singles Rushmere and Malibu, there's already a shift in the air. The sound? They are familiar yet different—textured and only getting better. The evolution has always defined Mumford & Sons, a band that refuses to stay in one lane, whether you like it or not.

Although the album has yet to be released, I'd like to look into Mumford & Sons's beginnings, previous albums, and the hits that have created this band's fan base.

The Rise of Mumford & Sons

Folk-rock emerged around the mid-1960s. Artists like Bob Dylan were the reason behind the genre's upcoming blending and incorporating rock elements into folk music. Nearly 50 years later, bands like Mumford & Sons came up in 2006, where the band would meet up, hang out, and play live at their local pubs. Marcus Mumford, Ben Lovett, and Ted Dwane built their sound around booming harmonies, raw energy, and a full-throttle approach to acoustic instruments.

By 2009, they dropped their debut album, Sigh No More, and just like that, they weren't just another band on the rock-folk circuit—they were leading it. Little Lion Man hit like wildfire, with 800 million listens on Spotify today; the band has all eyes on them. The album climbed the charts and secured a BRIT award, which earned them a Grammy Nomination. They weren't just reviving the folk-rock scene; they were reshaping it.

Babel was the album that proved Sigh No More wasn't just a fluke. Released in 2012, it was bigger, bolder, and unapologetically anthemic. Songs like I Will Wait and Babel had the emotional urgency of their debut but with an even grander scale.

The industry noticed, and Babel won Album of the Year at the 2013 Grammys, cementing Mumford & Sons as more than just a band.

Reinvention and Experimentation

In 2015, Mumford & Sons released Wilder Mind, a 12-track album featuring instruments like electric guitars and synths. It was divisive. Some fans called it bold; others called it a betrayal. Either way, it signaled one thing: this band wasn't about to play it safe. By the time Delta arrived in 2018, they were deep into experimentation. The album blurred the lines between folk, rock, and ambient textures, with songs like Guiding Light proving that Mumford & Sons were more interested in evolution than nostalgia. It wasn't just about where they came from but about where they were going.

A New Chapter

And now, here we are. Almost 7 years later. A new album, new stories, and a new sound waiting to unfold. Will this be a return to their roots, another turn into experimental territory, or maybe both? We'll find out soon enough.

One thing is for sure—Mumford & Sons is never static. Love them or question them; they keep moving forward. And that's precisely what makes their return worth the wait.