THE ALARM release brand new album ‘Forwards’ on 2 June & announce Acoustic UK Tour

The Alarm

The Alarm’s Mike Peters returns to life after a year dominated by pneumonia and a serious leukaemia relapse, with the release today of the video to ‘Forwards’, the title track from their forthcoming album, out 2 June.

“I literally took my guitar into hospital with me,” says Peters. “I was on the ward for such a long time, I started writing these songs in between IV sessions and the first people to hear the music were the very people who were trying to keep me alive.”

In between hospitalisation periods, Peters took the band into the recording studio with producer George Williams and although barely able to speak due to the debilitating effects of chronic illness, Peters was able to focus the sessions on creating the music for ten new life-affirming Alarm songs.

“I’ve been to places only deep suffering can take the human spirit and, in the darkness, I clung onto every piece of light I could find to work my way back to life. This was the energy that drove me to write and record Forwards.”

Forwards is alive with melody and invention and destined to contend for a top place amongst The Alarm’s extensive discography, one that boasts over 17 Top 50 UK singles and over six million album sales worldwide. In fact, the previous three Alarm albums have all featured in the Top 10 of the British Rock Album Chart with Equals (number 2 in 2018), Sigma (number 1 in 2019) and Omega (number 8 in 2022).

“A lot of artists have to kill to make a record like Forwards and with the challenges that came my way in 2022, I certainly had to kill or be killed, to realise the ambition in these songs. It was literally life or death making this record.”

“I’ve already taken so much from life, that when I was in hospital stricken with chronic illness, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be spared another opportunity to live. Fortunately for me, I was granted more time on earth and the challenge remains as ever, to make the most of every single second – FORWARDS.”

Check out the video for the title track ‘Forwards’ – BELOW:

Tracklist:
1. Forwards
2. The Returning
3. Another Way
4. Love and Forgiveness
5. Next
6. Whatever
7. Transition
8. Love Disappearing
9. New Standards
10. X

FORWARDS is being released physically on both CD and Vinyl with the LP release featuring two different record sleeves / coloured vinyl configurations. A classic green/white star / white vinyl edition (Mike’s healing colour combo), is being made available to outlets everywhere along with a unique Metallic / Green vinyl limited edition available exclusively to independent record stores only.

Pre-order link: https://ingrv.es/thealarmforwards

FORWARDS

FORWARDS is also being released in all digital formats including Hi-Res and Dolby Atmos editions.
Described by Bono of U2 as “the second greatest rock and roll band in the world”, Mike Peters has been the driving force behind The Alarm for over forty creative years of new music making, and dedication to presenting the band’s classic songs in ways both imaginative and inventive.

To this end, prior to Forwards’ release in May, Peters will present The Alarm [Acoustic] Tour. This will be a dynamic ‘evening with’ concert tour featuring a unique one-man band electro-acoustic performance style, that has previously earned plaudits from fans and critics across the globe and a set list of songs from all eras of The Alarm discography.

The Alarm [Acoustic] UK Tour dates as follows:

May 24th LIVERPOOL Epstein Theatre TICKETS HERE
May 25th BRISTOL St. Georges TICKET LINK COMING SOON
May 30th NEWCASTLE The Cluny Theatre TICKETS HERE
May 31st TRING Court Theatre TICKETS HERE
June 3rd SALE Waterside Arts Centre TICKETS HERE
June 4th STROUD Subscription Rooms TICKETS HERE
June 6th LONDON Union Chapel, Islington TICKETS HERE
June 7th PORTSMOUTH Wedgewood Rooms TICKETS HERE
June 8th YORK The Crescent TICKETS HERE
June 9th HULL The Welly TICKETS HERE

Last month The Alarm began a series of one-off events, premiering some of the forthcoming new material at the 30th Anniversary Gathering at Venue Cymru Arena in Llandudno, North Wales. This long-running and unique Alarm fan interactive event was completely Sold Out, as is a special night at Cardiff’s St. David’s Hall on April 15th.

More dates and special one-off shows for later in the year are to be announced soon.

 

Xsnoize Author
Mark Millar is the founder of XS Noize and looks after the daily running of the website as well as hosting interviews for the weekly XS Noize Podcast. Mark's favourite album is Achtung Baby by U2.

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