Animals in the Dark is William Elliott Whitmore’s first release on ANTI- Records, and his first on a label other than Southern Records in roughly a decade. Focusing on themes ranging from the state of the nation to personal struggle, the Lee County, Iowa native projects Americana at its grittiest through his every howl and slur. Accompanied by his acoustic guitar and banjo, the singer grips folk-music by its soul with tracks including “Hard Times,” “Old Devils” and the album’s lead single “Mutiny.”