Northern Irish rock group Therapy? have finally announced their visceral new record, titled Hard Cold Fire. 

Set for release May 5th, the group promise "a spiralling, hypnotic melange of grunge-rock and towering melody" for their 16th album. Hard Cold Fire is a reinvigorated take on Therapy?, maintaining the group's classic stoicism and ferocity, but with a new found focus on catharsis and healing. The record seeks to be more approachable than the Therapy?'s previous work, uniting listeners after years in lockdown.

“When we began to rehearse the songs, we realised there was an empathetic quality to them," said vocalist and guitarist Andy Cairns. "We wanted to make something that was a bit more relatable, and less standoffish and claustrophobic - which we have a history of, and it stands in places - but we wanted to make something more approachable and open.”

Hard Cold Fire is coming!
Delighted to confirm our new album “Hard Cold Fire” will be released on 5th May!
10 brand new tunes, produced by Chris Sheldon & brought to you via @MarshallRecs
Pre-order now! https://t.co/bUjLhrHkKr
And here’s a taster, JOYhttps://t.co/ekHEtwV9Uv pic.twitter.com/h8R6XiUcCA

— THERAPY? (@therapyofficial) March 10, 2023

The band asserts that Hard Cold Fire is not a lockdown record. Produced by Marshall Records and Chris Sheldon, the new album hopes to inject hope into audiences amidst such turbulent times.

"We wanted this album to be one that felt good to play live, almost a release after this period of stasis, but then also not dwelling on the whole situation - we’re moving forward, and we wanted that energy to be there,” said bassist Michael McKeegan.

Along with the record announcement, Therapy? have shared 'Joy', a riotous first single from the album. 'Joy' is the embodiment of the band's new found sense of resolution and release, with churning rhythms, riffage and a sharp and accessible chorus that depicts life caught in routine.

“'Joy' started with a term from 'Waiting for Godot', by Samuel Beckett,” said Cairns. “This wonderful line: 'habit is a great deadener'. I just love that word, 'dead-en-er'. It's an amazing word. People get themselves into these habits, and the next thing you know, their life is over and they've only lived in a very small circle of experience, often through choice, which is scary.”

The corresponding video is a deeply cinematic and haunting reflection of these sentiments.

Hard Cold Fire Tracklist:

1. They Shoot the Terrible Master
2. Woe
3. Joy
4. Bewildered Herd
5. Two Wounded Animals
6. To Disappear
7. Mongrel
8. Poundland of Hope and Glory
9. Ugly
10. Days Kollaps