Heavy metal supergroup Elegant Weapons is back with not just the announcement of their sophomore album Evolution, but they’ve also dropped a new single titled “Bridges Burn” and announced that they’re now part of Exciter Records.
In truth, it’s a big day for a band that features Rainbow singer Ronnie Romero, Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner, Uriah Heep bassist Dave Rimmer, and Accept drummer Christopher Williams.
Starting with the single, “Bridges Burn” is a headbang-worthy track that while the lyrics are slightly cheese, the whole package harkens back to an older sounding form of heavy metal while bringing that sound to the modern age.
Speaking of the album itself, Faulkner said the band’s second shot at a studio release should prove to fans and the rest of the world that Elegant Weapons has leveled up.
“This record represents growth in every sense. When the four of us come together, we sound like Elegant Weapons. We’ve spent time on the road, we’ve developed a chemistry, and you can hear that evolution in the performances. I’m proud of what we’ve built, and I’m excited to begin this next chapter with Exciter Records.”
Michael Closter, founder and president of Exciter Records, said he was excited to have Faulkner and the rest of the group under the Exciter Records brand.
“Richie Faulkner is not only one of the most respected guitarists as a member of Judas Priest, but he is also a leader in forming and developing Elegant Weapons. Signing Elegant Weapons is a natural step for Exciter Records as we continue to honor metal’s heritage while investing in its future.”
Cardiacs have always done things their way, their willfully singular vision confounding many, but seeing them become one of the most cherished bands given the epithet of a ‘cult’ act. Whilst band leader Tim Smith passed away in 2020, bassist brother and co-founding member Jim has kept the flame burning, and when the band returned in 2024 after a sixteen-year hiatus, the news was welcomed in some quarters, like The Second Coming.
Whilst the band had seen line-up changes along with a dizzying career of ups and downs, what has remained true throughout has been their ability to make some of the most singular yet accessible music out there.
Last year’s LSD album was a mighty comeback, the bittersweet fact that this will be their last release bringing both joy and heartache. The chance to see these songs played live was one to be embraced fully, and so it was at a night of celebration and remembrance at a packed Brixton Electric.
Cardiacs – Electric Brixton, London – 11 March 2026. Photo: Gareth Dean
It is a warming sight to see so many squeezing into every inch of the south of the river venue, grey-haired long-term fans of the band standing shoulder to shoulder with many seemingly barely out of their teens.
This is some of the wonder of Cardiacs, though, their ability to intrigue and beguile anyone with an ear for something utterly unique and with no support act, this two-hour romp through their back catalogue was a truly wild ride.
To some here, the band are truly the most important in the world, an allegiance that has weathered the many storms and something that goes beyond the fleeting zeitgeist chasing fashions of popular culture.
The show itself is not something to be observed purely as a passenger. Instead, it is something to be experienced in a fully immersive way, and this connection between the intellectual and the visceral typifies Cardiacs’ approach to all they do as synaptic fireworks meet angular dancing.
Cardiacs – Electric Brixton, London – 11 March 2026. Photo: Gareth Dean
After the seemingly endless intro music fades, the eight band members troop onstage to rapturous reaction, kicking into the twisty anthem Ditzy Scene, vocalist/guitarist Mike Vennart indulging in some high kicks whilst Smith stands centre stage and static as he pumps out the fervent rhythms on his bass.
No Bright Side is a whirlwind of merry-go-round rock ‘n’ roll, its abrasive edges lifting it out of the norm and sees Vennart and fellow six-stringer Kavus Torabi backlit by spotlights as they stand on the monitors at the front of the stage.
With blasts of saxophone from Chloe Herrington and wild keys by Rhodri Marsden along with the percussive power of Bob Leith and Craig Fortnam and vocal touches of Sharron Fortnam, the bounce of toy town march Two Bites Of Cherry can sit comfortably next to the prog punk of Woodeneye and a manic Fiery Gun Hand. The set is a dizzying and heady run through their many moods as the band stretch out.
Cardiacs – Electric Brixton, London – 11 March 2026. Photo: Gareth Dean
The fact that Cardiacs never take the obvious paths makes them ever more endearing, each new number a wild ride of tone and the sheer wonderful mania of it all utterly intoxicating.
In a set that encompasses the delicate strains of Breed, the woozy fragility of Spell With A Shell, and the funk rush meets Queen of the mind-bending Dinnertime Is At Home (Not Here), nothing is linear, and you know Cardiacs would have it no other way.
Very little is said from the stage all evening, a more taciturn band it would be hard to find. But the music itself speaks volumes, and the whole is the antithesis of a big stadium show. Maybe things have calmed down a little over the years, the unpredictability of the live experience morphing into something a little more focused.
But this new line-up certainly cannot be faulted in their passion, the need to charge around the stage in the manner of bands like Iron Maiden eschewed for an intimacy that says more in a whisper than others can in a scream.
Despite this, though, Cardiacs can do anthemic. The closing salvo of Everso Closely Guarded Line finishes the main set with a gloriously extended instrumental section before two encores bring the mammoth set to a close.
Stripped back acapella and organ hymnals, Pink Floyd-ish flourishes and the Beatles style sweep of The Whole World Window unfurl as flowers are thrown into the audience, the masses demanding more and getting two last songs before the band take their bows, the love flowing both ways.
Emotions run high, and if this is to be their last hurrah, they have certainly done it in style. When Vennart poignantly holds a picture of Tim Smith aloft to an already passionate gathering, it is to a blend of grateful smiles and tears.
Few bands hold a place in the heart like Cardiacs, and the world is a much richer place because of them.
Midway through our February afternoon chat, Naomi Scott asks the sort of question that, frankly, should be unaskable: “What is she, where do we place her?”
The Pretty Reckless are back with their fifth full-length album and have shared a gritty new taste of it.
The record is going to be called ‘Dear God’ and will arrive on June 26 via Fearless Records.
The artwork is, obviously, iconic and looks like this:
Whilst the tracklisting is more like this:
01. Life Evermore Pt. 2 02. For I Am Death 03. When I Wake Up 04. Love Me 05. Dragonfire 06. Dear God 07. Life Evermore Pt. 3 08. About You 09. Spell On You 10. Rollercoaster Of Life 11. Eye Of The Storm 12. Devil In Disguise (Michelle’s Song) 13. Dark Days 14. Life Evermore Pt. 1
A brash, punk-speckled rock-and-roll raucousness, it showcases how the band are dealing in darker, grittier waters in this era.
The band will also be heading out on a tour across Europe and the UK at the end of 2026. Here are all of the dates:
NOVEMBER
09 – MADRID La Riviera 10 – BARCELONA Razzmatazz 14 – MILAN Fabrique 16 – PRAGUE Forum Karlin 18 – BERLIN Huxleys Neue Welt 21 – COLOGNE Carlswerk Victoria 23 – AMSTERDAM AFAS Live 24 – PARIS Zenith 26 – BRISTOL The Prospect Building 27 – WOLVERHAMPTON Civic Hall 29 – MANCHESTER O2 Victoria Warehouse
DECEMBER
01 – LONDON O2 Academy Brixton 03 – GLASGOW Barrowlands
Last month, country-rock rule-breaker Sturgill Simpson announced plans for Mutiny After Midnight, his second album under his Johnny Blue Skies alter-ego. (This one is credited to Johnny Blue Skies & The Dark Clouds.) Originally, Mutiny After Midnight was supposed to be only available on physical editions. Before the release, however, Simpson went ahead and posted the entire thing on YouTube, and we reviewed it. (He has since taken the original video down.) Mutiny After Midnight is officially out today, and Simpson has some things to say about the release.
What Do We Know About The Pretty Reckless Album Dear God?
The Pretty Reckless will release their fifth studio album Dear God on June 26, alongside a global headlining tour and the explosive new single “When I Wake Up.”
TL;DR
• The Pretty Reckless have announced their fifth studio album Dear God • The album arrives June 26 via Fearless Records • New single “When I Wake Up” introduces the band’s next era • A major 2026 world tour will support the release • The band continues one of modern rock’s most successful chart runs
For nearly fifteen years, The Pretty Reckless have built a reputation as one of the most dominant modern rock bands.
Now they’re entering a new chapter.
A New Era Begins With Dear God
Fronted by Taylor Momsen, The Pretty Reckless have officially announced their fifth studio album Dear God, arriving June 26.
The record follows the band’s critically praised 2021 album Death By Rock And Roll, which delivered multiple rock radio hits and drove home the fact that this badass band was among modern hard rock’s most reliable chart performers.
With Dear God, the group says they aimed to push themselves creatively.
The record reportedly embraces vulnerability and raw songwriting while still delivering the explosive guitars and massive choruses fans expect.
Momsen described the lead single as a story about the darker side of excess.
“When I Wake Up is the story of a dream becoming a nightmare,” she explained. “When a life of excess leads you on a rollercoaster that is doomed to crash but you just can’t see it.”
New Single “When I Wake Up” Kicks Off The Album Cycle
The band launched the album announcement alongside the new single “When I Wake Up.”
While longtime fans will recognize the band’s sound immediately, the single also hints at a slightly broader sonic palette heading into this album cycle.
The release marks the start of what is shaping up to be a massive year for the band.
Alongside the album announcement, The Pretty Reckless revealed plans for an extensive 2026 world tour.
The trek begins in North America before heading overseas to Europe and the UK.
Tour Dates:
U.S. Leg 1: Fri, July 10th – Ritz Raleigh, Raleigh, NC Fri, July 17th – Riviera Theatre, Chicago, IL Tue, July 21st – Midland, Kansas City, MO Thu, July 23rd – ACL Live at the Moody Theater, Austin, TX Sat, July 25th – House of Blues, Dallas, TX Fri, July 31st – Wiltern, Los Angeles, CA Sun, Aug 2nd – Van Buren, Phoenix, AZ Fri, Aug 7th – Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR Tue, Aug 11th – The Palace, Calgary, AB, CA Sat, Aug 15th – The Moore, Seattle, WA
U.S. Leg 2: Fri, Aug 28th – Avondale Brewery, Birmingham, AL Sat, Aug 29th – House of Blues, New Orleans, LA Thu, Sep 3rd – The Ryman, Nashville, TN Wed, Sep 9th – Egyptian Room, Indianapolis, IN Thu, Sep 10th – House of Blues, Cleveland, OH Sun, Sep 13th – History, Ottawa, ON, CA Sat, Sep 19th – The Fillmore, Detroit, MI Tue, Sep 22nd – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, Hampton Beach, NH Thu, Sep 24th – House of Blues, Boston, MA Sat, Sep 26th – The Fillmore, Silver Spring, MD
EU/UK Leg: Mon, Nov 9th – La Riviera, Madrid, ES Tue, Nov 10th – Razzmatazz, Barcelona, ES Sat, Nov 14th – Fabrique, Milan, IT Mon, Nov 16th – Forum Karlín, Prague, CZ Wed, Nov 18th – Huxleys, Berlin, DE Sat, Nov 21st – Carlswerk Victoria, Cologne, DE Mon, Nov 23rd – AFAS Live, Amsterdam, NL Tue, Nov 24th – Zénith, Paris, FR Thu, Nov 26th – The Prospect Building, Bristol, UK Fri, Nov 27th – Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, UK Sun, Nov 29th – O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester, UK Tue, Dec 1st – O2 Academy Brixton, London, UK Thu, Dec 3rd – Barrowland, Glasgow, UK
The tour then returns for a second North American leg before heading to Europe later in the year.
Fans interested in attending upcoming shows can find tickets at this location.
A Band That Keeps Breaking Records
The Pretty Reckless have quietly built one of the most impressive chart runs in modern rock.
Since their debut album Light Me Up, the band has achieved a remarkable milestone.
They became the first female-fronted band to score eight No. 1 songs on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart.
Over the years, they’ve also shared stages with legendary artists including:
• AC/DC • The Rolling Stones • Soundgarden
Most recently, the band spent two years touring globally with AC/DC on the PWR UP Tour, exposing them to massive arena audiences worldwide.
The past year has been especially high-profile for Taylor Momsen.
She performed at the 2026 MusiCares Person Of The Year Gala, honoring Mariah Carey alongside acts like Foo Fighters.
Momsen also appeared during the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame ceremony, performing with Soundgarden during their induction tribute.
The band also released a holiday EP titled Taylor Momsen’s Pretty Reckless Christmas, which revisited the song “Where Are You Christmas?” and reignited nostalgia among longtime fans.
Dear God Tracklist
The upcoming album features fourteen songs:
Life Evermore Pt. 2 For I Am Death When I Wake Up Love Me Dragonfire Dear God Life Evermore Pt. 3 About You Spell On You Rollercoaster Of Life Eye Of The Storm Devil In Disguise (Michelle’s Song) Dark Days Life Evermore Pt. 1
The title itself hints at a thematic arc running throughout the album.
Multiple “Life Evermore” entries suggest a larger conceptual thread connecting the songs.
Why This Album Could Be Their Biggest Yet
The Pretty Reckless have steadily expanded their audience over the past decade.
Their ability to bridge hard rock radio, festival crowds, and modern streaming audiences has made them one of the few rock bands still breaking through to younger listeners.
With a new album, a fresh single, and a global tour all arriving in the same year, Dear God could represent the band’s biggest moment yet.
For rock fans watching the genre’s evolution in 2026, this rollout feels like one of the year’s major stories.
FAQ
When does The Pretty Reckless album Dear God come out? The album will be released June 26.
What is the first single from Dear God? The band has released “When I Wake Up” as the lead single.
Will The Pretty Reckless tour in 2026? Yes, the band has announced a global headlining tour supporting the album.
About The Pretty Reckless
Formed in New York, The Pretty Reckless rose to prominence with their debut album Light Me Up. Led by Taylor Momsen, the band has become one of modern rock’s most successful acts, combining arena-sized hooks with dark, emotionally charged songwriting.
Last month London vocalist Ms Ray released a very good song “Miss You” with Nourished By Time. That song was a preview of her forthcoming EP Melt, which is out today. The five tracks are geometric pop song, drawing from R&B, dream-pop, and synth-pop. Some moments remind me of Cate Le Bon or Sade. Melt…
