The Symbol Remains

"The Symbol Remains" is the fourteenth studio album by American rock band Blue Öyster Cult, released on October 9, 2020. The album title is derived from a lyric in the song "Shadow of California" from their 1983 album The Revölution by Night. This release marks the band's first studio album since 2001's Curse of the Hidden Mirror, making it their longest gap between studio albums. It features long-time members Jules Radino and Richie Castellano and is the first studio album since 1985's Club Ninja not to include Allen Lanier, who passed away in 2013. The album debuted at No. 192 on the Billboard 200, making it their first charting album in the U.S. since Imaginos in 1988.

The lack of sales from Curse of the Hidden Mirror contributed to the band’s hesitance to record new music. Frontman Eric Bloom mentioned in 2017 that producing an album required financial investment and suggested that touring might be a more beneficial use of their time. However, he did not entirely dismiss the idea of returning to the studio.

Lead guitarist Buck Dharma mentioned that there were tentative plans to record in 2017, emphasizing the talent of the current lineup. He intended to consult longtime manager Sandy Pearlman about the album, but Pearlman's death in 2016 affected those plans.

In April 2019, Bloom announced that a new album was forthcoming, and by July 2019, it was confirmed that the band had signed with Frontiers Records for a 2020 release. Bloom indicated that half the songs were already written, with the rest to be completed during production.

Several singles and music videos were released to promote the album. "That Was Me" and "Box in My Head" were released for streaming on August 28, 2020, with videos following shortly after. Other promotional videos included "Tainted Blood" and "The Alchemist."

Dharma described "Box in My Head" as exploring the complexities of the mind in the context of intrigue in relationships. "The Alchemist" references an H.P. Lovecraft story, while "Florida Man" draws from an internet meme. Castellano's contributions include "The Return of St. Cecilia," which alludes to earlier work under the band's original name, and "The Machine," a commentary on cell phones.

Additionally, a different version of "Fight" was released by Dharma as a solo track in 2015, and demo recordings of "Nightmare Epiphany" and "Secret Road" had been previously released. "Edge of the World" tackles themes of conspiracy theories, referencing alien abductions.