The XCERTS have returned to their rawest, most visceral roots with the announcement of their sixth studio album, i think i want to go home now. Scheduled for release on July 10, 2026, via FLG Records, the record arrives as a sonic testament to the resilience of a band that has spanned over two decades.
Accompanying the announcement is the blistering new single, "pretty ugly." Arguably the heaviest track in their catalog, the song is a fuzzed-out, high-velocity confrontation that draws inspiration from the UK post-hardcore scene. Vocalist Murray Macleod describes the lyrics as "comically brutal," lashing out at critics during a period of intense personal upheaval. The track also touches on deeply personal territory, specifically referencing his father’s cancer diagnosis and the emotional "internal meltdown" that followed.
i think i want to go home now. is more than just a new collection of songs; it is a manifestations of the mutual support that carried Macleod, Jordan Smith (bass), and Tom Heron (drums) through a turbulent few years. Between family illnesses and profound loss, the trio found themselves reconnecting with the same desperate urgency that defined their debut, In The Cold Wind We Smile.
“This really is the purest Xcerts record there's been since the first one,” says Macleod. “We dug really deep to discover what the defining sound of our band is and bled it all out.”
To celebrate the release, the band will perform a full album run-through during their set at 2000 Trees Festival on July 11. The festival has become a spiritual home for the group over the last 20 years, making it the definitive stage for this new chapter.
Leading up to the album launch, The XCERTS will join old friends Twin Atlantic for a run of high-energy Scottish dates in June, including stops in Stirling, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen. The summer schedule also includes an appearance at the Arbroath Music and Food Festival on August 1.
i think i want to go home now. is available for pre-order now.
