He also announced his first solo full-length album “Fire“, seven years since “Angels & Devils” from 2014.

“‘Fire’ – the third exhilarating part of an incendiary urban triptych (…) is fourteen tracks that immolate the synapses, flail the body, that cinematically take you from arcing evocations of a bleak lockdowned city-scape to swooping deep-focus close-ups of Martin and his collaborator’s psyches at breaking point” – explains the press release.

The new album screams the unique style of The Bug, additionally, it’s more personal as a response to circumstances of the last year but also a reflection of his journey from “reclusive sound-obsessive to family man, and his thirst – in a period of enforced hermetic isolation – for contact, for the mayhem that can only happen between people, noise and bass“. 

I’ve always been addicted to the physicality and intensity of sound: I started The Bug because I wanted to make music for a soundsystem I had in storage, and the live experience of Bug has always been something I wanted to reflect on record – I’m always looking for fuel to the fire and live shows – and MISSING live shows in lockdown was a real impetus” Martin admits. 

“I’m always asking – how can I ramp this up MORE? How can I get people more out of control? For me a live show should be unforgettable, should alter your DNA, or scar you for life in a good way – that’s always been my goal, to set up shows that are unforgettable. I like friction, chaos, fanning the flames with sound, and this album is the most reflective of the live show in terms of intensity and the sheer fuck-off attitude of those shows. ‘WHAT the FUCK?’ is the reaction I want – insane is a good reaction especially at a time when there’s so much control in how people consume music and are pacified culturally”

‘Fire’ – The new album // Out 27 August
Listen to ‘Clash (Ft. @LOGAN_OLM )’ Now.

➜ https://t.co/KkircDQvcG

My first solo full-length album under The Bug moniker for seven years! pic.twitter.com/q0PdgvhfWX

— The Bug(official) (@thebugzoo) June 29, 2021

The “Fire” is The Bug’s possibly best album yet, a “HUNGRY record in all senses“. It combines 14 tracks and features musicians like Logan, Nazamba, Roger Robinson and more. The album is out on the 27th of August and can be preordered here.

See below the “Fire” album Tracklist: 

1. The Fourth Day (feat. Roger Robinson)
2. Pressure (feat. Flowdan)
3. Demon (feat. Irah)
4. Vexed (feat. Moor Mother)
5. Clash (feat. feat. Logan)
6. War (feat. Nazamba)
7. How bout dat (feat. FFSYTHO)
8. Bang (feat. Manga Saint Hilare)
9. Hammer (feat. Flowdan)
10. Ganja Baby (feat. Daddy Freddy)
11. Fuck Off (feat. feat. Logan)
12. Bomb (feat. Flowdan)
13. High Rise (feat. Manga Saint Hilare)
14. The Missing (feat. Roger Robinson)

Press Shot/Photo Credit: Caroline Lessire