Skunk Anansie Announce Seventh Studio Album 'The Painful Truth' With New Single Cheers
Wednesday, 26 February 2025
Written by Jon Stickler
Photo: Rob O'Connor
Skunk Anansie have laid out plans for their first studio album in nine years.
'The Painful Truth' will arrive through FLG Records on May 23, following up 2016's 'Anarchytecture', though they put out the collection '25LIVE@25' in 2019 as part of their 25th anniversary celebrations.
With David Sitek of TV On The Radio on production duty, and taking a "fresh and forward thinking" approach to the recording process, it finds the London band facing up to themselves, guarding against complacency, and looking to what they want to become.
"I don’t care that we were big in the 90s," vocalist Skin said. "Creatively it’s irrelevant because in my rock bible the first commandment states, 'If thy rest on them laurels thy shall wither up and die artistically, musically, mentally. And then financially.'"
Discussing the recording process at a Devon farmhouse, Skin continued: "When we write it’s just the four of us in a room with no outside distractions or interference, getting to know each other again.
"We'd done the Greatest Hits tour and we realised that things needed to change. If we didn’t do something fresh and forward thinking, we couldn’t really be a band anymore. We’d just be doing Skunk karaoke."
On the inspiration behind the title, she added: "When I really think about it, yes, we have made some good records in our time, but it’s been a long time since we have made a great album. And that is the painful truth.
"Understanding that, led us to making what I genuinely think is our greatest record yet."
The band first teased the LP at the start of the year with An Artist Is An Artist, and have today shared a further preview in the form of Cheers, an urgent, defiant rocker. Head below to view the accompanying video, created by Miles Liverpool, the godson of bassist Cass.
The group have scheduled an outdoor show as part of the Good Times at The Ridings series in Chipping Sodbury on May 23, with support from Republica, RXPTRS and IDESTROY. The new date will follow their previously announced European tour, which includes shows across the UK between March 28 and April 16.
They'll also support The Smashing Pumpkins at shows in London and Colchester in the summer. Tickets are on sale now.
'The Painful Truth' tracklist:
1. An Artist Is An Artist
2. This Is Not Your Life
3. Shame
4. Lost And Found
5. Cheers
6. Shoulda Been You
7. Animal
8. Fell In Love With A Girl
9. My Greatest Moment
10. Meltdown
Skunk Anansie Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows
Fri March 28 2025 - LONDON Roundhouse
Sat March 29 2025 - LONDON Roundhouse
Mon March 31 2025 - CARDIFF Great Hall - Cardiff Uni
Tue April 01 2025 - BRISTOL Bristol Beacon
Thu April 03 2025 - NOTTINGHAM Rock City
Fri April 04 2025 - MANCHESTER O2 Apollo
Sat April 05 2025 - BIRMINGHAM O2 Academy Birmingham
Mon April 07 2025 - NORWICH Nick Rayns LCR
Tue April 08 2025 - CAMBRIDGE Corn exchange
Thu April 10 2025 - GLASGOW O2 Academy Glasgow
Fri April 11 2025 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE NX
Sat April 12 2025 - LEEDS O2 Academy Leeds
Mon April 14 2025 - BOURNEMOUTH O2 Academy Bournemouth
Tue April 15 2025 - BRIGHTON Brighton Dome Concert Hall
Wed April 16 2025 - GUILDFORD G Live
Fri May 23 2025 - CHIPPING SODBURY The Ridings
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