The calendar has recently rolled to 2018, and that means a new year to look forward to a lot of new music.
Here are our 10 most anticipated alternative rock albums that are expected to be released sometime in the near future, listed alphabetically:
Alice in Chains – TBD, August
Last summer, Alice in Chains mastermind Jerry Cantrell revealed the band was working on a follow-up to 2013's The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here. He said, "We're in the process of cobbling together some tunes, and hopefully in the very near future we'll have something out for you guys." In March, the band said they were putting the finishing touches on the new record and that they expect it to be released this Fall. The single "The One You Know" debuted in May.
Arctic Monkeys – Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, May 11th
In September, Arctic Monkeys bass player Nick O'Malley revealed the band had been working on new material that would be released in 2018 and that "if it isn't, we've got problems." Drummer Matt Helder recently worked with Iggy Pop and Josh Homme on Post Pop Depression, which he says has given him a new musical perspective that could shape the sound of the upcoming record. Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino was announced on April 5th with a release date of May 11th.
Dashboard Confessional – Crooked Shadows, February 9th
Last November, Dashboard Confessional announced their first full-length album in over 8 years would come out in 2018 and debuted the song "We Fight." Speaking about the lead single, frontman Chris Carrabba says, "It's a song for people, who, in spite of their differences, can find common ground in their convictions and foster those into something bigger than themselves."
Florence + The Machine – High As Hope, June 29th
Florence + The Machine have released their first three studio albums with only a few years in between them and are about due to release their fourth. Last year, Florence Welsh revealed that the album was being worked on, and with the announcement of a few tour dates, the timing seems right to release new music. On May 3rd, High As Hope was announced alongside the new single "Hunger."
Greta Van Fleet – TBD, TBD
Greta Van Fleet made waves in 2017 with the track "Highway Tune" and is preparing to release their first full-length record in 2018. The band earned praise for reenergizing a classic rock vibe similar to Led Zeppelin, earning the praise of Robert Plant himself in the process. Greta Van Fleet has booked studio time early in 2018 and is hitting the road for their first headlining tour beginning in April.
Interpol – TBD, TBD
Having recently completed a 15th anniversary tour for their first album Turn On the Bright Lights, Interpol have their sights set on a new record in 2018. The band confirmed they had entered the studio to work on new material in October 2016, and eyed 2018 as the release date for the follow-up to 2014's El Pintor.
Jack White – Boarding House Reach, March 23rd
Jack White confirmed he was recording a new solo album last March in Nashville on a reel-to-reel tape recorder as only he would. This March, the fruits of his labor, Boarding House Reach, will be released. Speaking about the creation process, White said, "I want to write like Michael Jackson would write – instead of writing parts on the instruments or humming melodies, you think of them. To do everything in my head and to do it in silence and use only the room."
Smashing Pumpkins – TBD, Summer
Bill Corgan released a solo album late in 2017 but has gotten the old gang together for a new Smashing Pumpkins record. Corgan, along with original members Jimmy Chamberlin and James Iha were photographed together in the studio together during recording sessions. Rick Rubin is producing. A rumor has been circulating that the original lineup, minus D'Arcy Wretzky, would hit the road in the summer. In February, Corgan released the names of the tracks and alluded that the new music would be released as two separate EPs instead of a full album.
A Perfect Circle – Eat the Elephant, April 20th
Billy Howerdel, Maynard James Keenan and co. look poised to release their first record in 14 years following the band's regrouping in 2017 and release of two new singles, "The Doomed" and "Disillusioned." In January, Howerdel said, "I'd say in the next several weeks we will be done with this record." Eat the Elephant was announced in February.
Thirty Seconds to Mars – America, April 6th
Thirty Seconds to Mars returned to the scene last summer with the smash hit "Walk on Water" which peaked at #2 on the Billboard Alternative Rock Songs chart. The band released a second single, "Dangerous Night" in January and Jared Leto tweeted, "The longer you work on a song, the longer it takes to finish. New album coming soooooon!" The upcoming record will be the band's fifth and first in five years. America was announced on February 8th with a release date of April 6th.
Honorable Mention: Tool
Another year has passed without the new Tool record. But things are looking towards the brighter side. Both drummer Danny Carey and guitarist Adam Jones said musically the album is pretty much done, it's final completion rests on Maynard James Keenan doing vocals. Maynard recently said the album is not coming out this summer, so does that mean it could come out this fall? The band revealed in March that they had entered the studio to record the new album.