English art-rock outfit Squid is back with yet another album. Their debut record Bright Green Field brought the band onto the scene back in 2021. The band began to reinvent their sound on their 2023 record O Monolith, and appear to be doing the same on their brand new upcoming album, Cowards.

Out February 7 via Warp, Cowards features nine distinct tales of human evil punched by "vantablack comedy." Real and imagined characters wade into the dark ocean between right and wrong while protagonists reckon with cults, charisma, and apathy. The new album promises to be Squid's most courageous work to date, simultaneously expanding in scope and returning to what made them great back in 2021.

Squid is once again blending psychedelic rock, jazz, electronic, and krautrock on the first single – which also happens to be the opening track on the record – "Crispy Skin." Watch the video below:

Ollie Judge, lead singer and drummer for Squid, had this to say about the single:

“‘Crispy Skin’ was lyrically inspired by a dystopian novel 'Tender Is The Flesh' I read where cannibalism becomes the societal norm and humans are manufactured and sold in supermarkets. I think when most people read books like these they picture themselves as the sort of person that would take the moral high-ground within these narratives. The track was written about how the reality of having a moral-compass in these stories of desperation and horror would be extremely difficult. If I was actually in that world, I probably would be the coward in this instance.”

The music video for "Crispy Skin" is directed by Japanese experimental film legend, Takashi Ito. Ito adapted his 1995 short film Zone into a music video. The film is about a man without a face, whose arms and legs are bound by ropes, sitting completely still in a white room.

Ito elaborates on the character featured in the video:

"This man, enwrapped in wild delusions, is also a reconstruction of myself. A series of unusual scenes in this room that expresses what lies inside me. I tried to create a connection between memories, nightmares and violent images."

Squid reached out to collaborators and friends to flesh out the sound of the record and reach new heights incorporating additional vocals and instruments. Squid has acquired: Danish experimental songsmith Clarissa Connelly, composer, pianist and singer Tony Njoku, Rosa Brook from punk group Pozi, percussion wizard Zands Duggan, and Jonny Greenwood collaborators the Ruisi Quartet for violin, viola and cello.

Cowards was recorded at Church Studios in Crouch End and produced by Grace Banks as well as Mercury Prize-winning producer Marta Salogni. Additional production by long time collaborator Dan Carey, who recorded their other two albums. The record was mixed by John McEntire (Tortoise) and mastered by Heba Kadry.

Tonight, November 12, Squid will be playing a sold-out show in New York City where the band will debut material from the new album. Shortly after the album release, Squid will embark on a UK and EU headline tour. Those tickets will be available to purchase starting November 20.

Pre-order Cowards here.

Cowards tracklist :

1. Crispy Skin
2. Building 650
3. Blood on the Boulders
4. Fieldworks I
5. Fieldworks II
6. Cro-Magnon Man
7. Cowards
8. Showtime!
9. Well Met (Fingers Through The Fence)

The band will also be going out on tour. Check the dates below:

02/17 - Liverpool, UK @ Invisible Wind Factory
02/18 - Manchester, UK @ O2 Ritz Manchester
02/19 - Glasgow, UK @ Old Fruitmarket
02/21 - Newcastle, UK @ NSU Domain
02/22 - Sheffield, UK @ Leadmill
02/24 - Cambridge, UK @ Junction 1
02/25 - Norwich, UK @ The Adrian Flux Waterfront
02/27 - Oxford, UK @ O2 Academy Oxford
02/28 - Southampton, UK @ Engine Rooms
03/01 - Margate, UK @ Lido
03/02 - Brighton, UK @ Chalk
03/04 - Birmingham, UK @ XOYO
03/05 - Bristol, UK @ Bristol Beacon

European Dates:
04/09 - Paris, FR @ Cabaret Sauvage
04/10 - Cologne, DE @ Club Volta
04/11 - Dresden, DE @ Polimagie Festival
04/12 - Berlin, DE @ Lido
04/14 - Schorndorf, DE @ Manufaktur
04/15 - Amsterdam, NL @ Melkweg
04/16 - Antwerp, BE @ Trix
04/18 - Rotterdam, NL @ Motel Mozaique Festival
04/19 - Nijmegen, NL @ Doornroosje

UK (Final Show):
04/26 - London, UK @ Roundhouse