Kneecap have announced their next album. Fenian arrives on April 24 via Heavenly Recordings, and features Kae Tempest, Ramallah-based rapper Fawzi, and Irish musician Radie Peat. A lead single that references British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, “Liars Tale,” is out now alongside a music video directed by Thomas James. You can watch it below.
Fenian, which Fontaines D.C. and Black Midi collaborator Dan Carey produced, follows the Irish rap trio’s 2024 album Fine Art. Since that release, the group—who have long used their platform to advocate for Palestine and critique Israel—have been banned from performing in Hungary and Canada, and removed from a Scottish music festival over “concerns expressed by the police about safety.” In May, bandmember Mo Chara was also charged with a terror offense for allegedly displaying the Hezbollah flag at a concert, leading the group to cancel a U.S. tour due to its proximity to his court date. Kneecap addressed the charge, which was ultimately thrown out, in the November song “No Comment” with the producer Sub Focus. Since releasing Fine Art, the group has also shared the tracks “Sayōnara” with Orbital’s Paul Hartnoll and “The Recap” with Mozey.
In a statement on Fenian, Kneecap said: “They tried to stop us by branding Kneecap ‘terrorists,’ with cancellations, with statements from the Prime Minister himself. We had all the motivation we needed…this isn’t a swift reaction, but a considered response to those that tried to silence us. And failed.”
Read more about Kneecap in Shaad D’Souza’s “Kneecap Live Review: Beer, Baggies, and a Little Revolution.”
Fenian:
01 Éire go Deo
02 Smugglers & Scholars
03 Carnival
04 Palestine ft. Fawzi
05 Liars Tale
06 Fenian
07 Big Bad Mo
08 Headcase
09 An Ra
10 Cold At The Top
11 Occupied 6
12 Gael Phonics
13 Cocaine Hill ft. Radie Peat
14 Irish Goodbye ft. Kae Tempest