The inimitable English duo Sleaford Mods, frontman Jason Williamson and producer Andrew Fearn, are gearing up to deliver one of their most forceful and ambitious records to date with their forthcoming album ‘The Demise of Planet X’, set for release on January 16 2026 via Rough Trade Records.
Their last album, ‘UK Grim’ (2023), looked closely at life in modern Britain – frustration, politics and daily struggle. This new record takes those ideas further, with Williamson describing it as “a life lived under immense uncertainty, shaped by mass trauma.” He says the world now feels “split open by war, genocide, and the lingering effects of Covid,” while social media has become “a grotesque, twisted form of digital engineering.”
The title, ‘The Demise of Planet X’, hints at something larger than just one country. Fans can expect the same raw honesty as before, but with a wider, more global focus.
The first track from the album, ‘The Good Life’, features Gwendoline Christie (from Game of Thrones and Wednesday) and the duo Big Special. The song talks about inner conflict, the mix of joy and guilt that comes with success. Williamson says it’s “about slagging bands off and the joy and misery that causes me.”
The music video, directed by Ben Wheatley, brings these feelings to life, showing Christie and Big Special as voices inside Williamson’s head. It’s a clever and funny take on self-doubt and identity, themes that fit perfectly with Sleaford Mods’ usual mix of humour and anger.
The new album features several guest artists, something rare for Sleaford Mods. Collaborators include Aldous Harding on ‘Elitest G.O.A.T.’, Sue Tompkins on ‘No Touch’, Liam Bailey on ‘Flood the Zone’, and Snowy on ‘Kill List’. The full tracklist has 13 songs, blending the duo’s minimalist beats with new textures and voices.
FULL TRACKLIST:
- 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 tour the UK, Ireland and other countries next year, bringing the new songs to the stage. With ‘The Demise of Planet X’, Sleaford Mods seem ready to turn their usual anger and wit into something even more powerful.
