In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar is joined by Jason Williamson, the fiercely articulate frontman of Sleaford Mods, to explore the band’s most ambitious and unflinching record yet: The Demise Of Planet X, out 16 January 2026 via Rough Trade Records.
Created with long-time collaborator Andrew Fearn, the album expands the Mods’ sound both musically and emotionally, featuring rare and inspired guest appearances from Sue Tompkins (Life Without Buildings), Aldous Harding, Liam Bailey, and Nottingham grime MC Snowy. Their single “The Good Life” introduces a striking new dimension, with Gwendoline Christie (Wednesday / Severance / Game of Thrones) and Midlands duo Big Special lending their voices to its escalating inner monologue.
Blending vivid sonics, acerbic storytelling and pitch-black humour, The Demise Of Planet X imagines the end of the world not through catastrophe, but through the creeping mundanity and absurdities of modern life. It’s a ferocious, witty and deeply human response to cultural collapse across 13 tightly wound tracks.
Jason discusses the album’s creation, the increasing paranoia and vulnerability in the new material, and the band’s most varied musical palette to date. He reflects on the collaborations — from Aldous Harding’s feather-light touch on “Elitest G.O.A.T.” to Sue Tompkins’ beautifully raw presence on “No Touch”, from Liam Bailey’s soulful turn on “Flood The Zone” to Snowy’s razor-edged bars on “Kill List.”
At the centre of the conversation is “The Good Life”, where Andrew Fearn’s tense production meets Williamson’s rapid-fire delivery, while Christie and Big Special voice the inner turmoil triggered by Jason’s own outspoken moments within the music world.
“Planet X isn’t a concept — it’s the world we’re living in.” — Jason Williamson
A bold, biting statement from one of Britain’s most vital bands, The Demise Of Planet X captures Sleaford Mods at their sharpest and most emotionally exposed.
Join Jason Williamson as he takes us inside the making of The Demise Of Planet X — the chaos, the craft, and the catharsis — exclusively on the XS Noize Podcast.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Podcasts | YouTube
“Whether they’re middle class or working class — you can hear us in everything. That’s fucking us. You sound like me.” — Jason Williamson
‘The Demise Of Planet X’ track list is as follows:
The Good Life feat. Gwendoline Christie + Big Special
Double Diamond
Elitest G.O.A.T. feat. Aldous Harding
Megaton
No Touch feat. Sue Tompkins
Bad Santa
The Demise Of Planet X
Don Draper
Gina Was
Shoving the Images
Flood the Zone feat. Liam Bailey
Kill List feat. Snowy
The Unwrap
The band will play shows around the globe, including the following tour of the UK and Ireland, which takes place in February and March next year. Tickets are on sale now.
Glasgow Barrowland Ballroom (February 6)
Manchester Academy (7)
Leeds O2 Academy (12)
Liverpool O2 Academy, (13)
Cardiff Great Hall (14)
Dublin 3Olympia Theatre (19)
Belfast Limelight (20)
Cork Cyprus Avenue (21)
Oxford O2 Academy (26)
Nottingham Rock City (27)
Nottingham Rock City (28)
Bristol Beacon (March 5)
Brighton Dome (6)
London O2 Academy Brixton (7)
About The XS Noize Podcast
With over 250 episodes, the XS Noize Podcast has become a trusted home for music’s legends, innovators, and trailblazers — a place where real conversations meet real stories.
Hosted by Mark Millar, the show has featured an extraordinary lineup including The Charlatans, Gary “Mani” Mounfield, Glen Matlock, Miles Kane, Matt Berninger, Saint Etienne, D:Ream, Gavin Rossdale, The Farm, Snow Patrol, John Lydon, Will Sergeant, Ocean Colour Scene, Gary Kemp, Doves, Gavin Friday, David Gray, Anton Newcombe, Peter Hook, Razorlight, Sananda Maitreya, James, Crowded House, Elbow, Cast, Kula Shaker, Shed Seven, Future Islands, Peter Frampton, Bernard Butler, Steven Wilson, Travis, New Order, The Killers, Tito Jackson, Simple Minds, The Divine Comedy, Shaun Ryder, Gary Numan, and Michael Head — among many more.
Explore the complete XS Noize Podcast archive here.
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