Pitchfork

They seem like such non-violent types, but Portishead will bring out the heavy artillery with the release of the first single from their much-anticipated new album, Third. "Machine Gun" is the tune the trio chose for the single, and it makes its radio and download debut today, March 18.

In a matter of minutes, at 7:30 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time, Zane Lowe will premiere "Machine Gun" on his BBC Radio 1 show, and it will simultaneously become available for download through the band's official website. The single will also be released in the UK on etched, one-sided 12" vinyl, April 14 via Island.

Third will be released on April 28 in the UK (via Island) and April 29 in the U.S. (via Mercury). A limited edition box set version of the album will also be available on April 28, to the first 10,000 people who order it from the Portishead website.

Here are the box set's contents:

- double vinyl copy of Third
- etched "Machine Gun" 12"
- limited edition art print by Nick Uff
- "P"-shaped USB stick featuring Third and four films (Ade's House, Machine Gun; The Rip Live @ Mr. Wolfe's; We Carry On; and The Truly Spectacular Universal Conference Film) and offering exclusive access to other extras to be unveiled throughout the year.

Portishead:

03-26 Porto, Portugal - Coliseum *
03-27 Lisbon, Portugal - Coliseum *
03-30 Milan, Italy - Alcatraz *
03-31 Florence, Italy - Sashall *
04-02 Munich, Germany - Tonhalle #
04-03 Berlin, Germany - Columbiahalle #
04-04 Copenhagen, Denmark - KB Halle #
04-06 Cologne, Germany - Palladium #
04-07 Amsterdam, Netherlands - HMH #
04-09 Manchester, England - Apollo *
04-10 London, England - Hammersmith Apollo *
04-12 Edinburgh, Scotland - Corn Exchange *
04-13 Wolverhampton, England - Civic *
04-17 London, England - Brixton Academy *
04-26 Indio, CA - Empire Polo Field (Coachella)
05-05 Paris, France - Zenith #
05-06 Paris, France - Zenith #
05-08 Brussels, Belgium - Forest National #
05-29-31 Barcelona, Spain - Parc del Fòrum (Primavera Sound)

* with A Hawk and a Hacksaw
# with Kling Klang