Those of us who were awaiting the Decemberists' forthcoming rock opera, Hazards of Love, with trepidation can stop worrying, cast our cynicism to the side and start getting excited at the prospect if "The Rake's Song" is anything to go by.

The track begins beguilingly over forcefully strummed guitar as Meloy narrates how the lecherous rake married at 21. A bit of reverb and hand/ thunder claps increase the tension as the rake's wrath mounts explaining how his wife's "womb started spilling out babies." As our "humble narrator" gets snider, the stomping drums and chanting chorus kick in. Leaving us with nothing short of an anthem and dying to hear the rest of the album.

"The Rake's Song" can be downloaded here, in exchange for your email address. Hazards of Love is set for release March 24.