Manchester’s premier independent titans IST IST are back with their fifth studio album, DAGGER, set for release on 6th February 2026 via Kind Violence Records. Arriving hot on the heels of their 2024 Top 30 success, the new record represents a "braver and more brash" evolution for a band that has spent the last decade perfecting their shadowy, anthemic sound.
Captured Momentum
Produced by Joe Cross (The Courteeners, Hurts), DAGGER was written in the immediate wake of the band’s late-2024 European tour. "The momentum you carry from a tour into the studio is powerful," says guitarist Mat Peters. "What you end up with is a collection of songs already primed for the stage."
The record balances the band’s signature post-punk grit with skyscraping synths and luminescent melodies, evidenced by the electrifying lead single, "I Am The Fear." Despite their growing scale, IST IST remains fiercely independent, with DAGGER being completely self-funded and released via their own imprint.
UK Tour Dates: Spring 2026
To celebrate the launch, the band will embark on a series of intimate in-store performances in February, followed by a sweeping headline tour across the UK and Ireland in April and May. The run culminates in a "totemic" hometown performance at Manchester’s Albert Hall.
In-Store Album Launch Shows:
Feb 07: Leeds, Headrow House
Feb 08: Bury, The Met
Feb 09: Edinburgh, The Caves
Feb 10: Nottingham, Rough Trade
Feb 11: London, Rough Trade East
Spring Headline Tour:
April 09–12: Norwich, London (The Garage), Exeter, Oxford
April 16–18: Newcastle, Glasgow, Sheffield
April 23–25: Nottingham, Bristol, Brighton
April 28–29: Dublin, Belfast
May 01: Manchester, Albert Hall (with Desperate Journalist)
From the "rock swagger" of "Burning" to the sci-fi textures of "Encouragement," DAGGER is designed for the capacious spaces the band is now comfortably filling.
Reserve, book and buy tickets securely through the official site below.
