Echo & the Bunnymen announce first new album in 12 years

The English rock band Echo & the Bunnymen will release their first album of new material in 12 years, titled "Apples for Isaac," on September 18. The announcement on July 16, 2026, marks the end of a long wait for fans following the group's last studio album, 2014's "Meteorites."

The 11-track album was produced by frontman Ian McCulloch and features the late Clem Burke, the legendary Blondie drummer, on 10 of its songs. The band confirmed Burke, a longtime friend of McCulloch, was integral to the recording but heartbreakingly passed away during its completion. The album is dedicated to him.

Alongside the album announcement, the band shared the lead single, "Brussels Is Haunted," a song that combines shimmering guitars and soaring melodies reflective of their signature atmospheric post-punk sound. McCulloch explained the track's origins, noting it started years ago and is packed with personal history. He described Brussels as the first place the band played abroad in 1980 and tied the song's themes to memories of friends and a sense of ancient sadness and impending doom.

In a recent interview, McCulloch addressed the lengthy gap between albums, citing the COVID-19 pandemic as a...