Gorillaz announce new album ‘The Mountain’ with UK and Eire tour and theatrical single ‘The Pleased Dictator’ that includes Sparks

Gorillaz have introduced new album ‘The Mountain’, alongside UK and Eire tour dates and shared new single ‘The Pleased Dictator’ that includes Sparks.

• READ MORE: Gorillaz – ‘Cracker Island’ evaluation: standard, however richly satisfying

It comes after the Damon Albarn-led animated band debuted their upcoming ninth LP throughout the last of 4 gigs at London’s Copper Field Enviornment earlier this month. Followers attending the present weren’t allowed entry to their cellphones, however many took to social media afterwards to share particulars of the album and the multitude of particular visitors included on it.

Now, Gorillaz have formally introduced the document, which is named ‘The Mountain’ and due out on March 20, 2026. It would mark the primary launch on the band’s personal new label KONG, and you may pre-order it right here.

In the present day (September 11), they’ve additionally shared the primary style of the document with ‘The Pleased Dictator’, a theatrical collaboration with Sparks that sees Albarn sing: “No extra unhealthy information, so you possibly can sleep properly at evening and the palace of your thoughts shall be vibrant.” Hear beneath.

Alongside the album, the band have additionally introduced a UK and Eire tour, set to kick off in March 2026. They’ll play in Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Cardiff, Nottingham, Liverpool, Belfast and Dublin, in addition to a one-off headline present at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with assist from Sparks and Trueno.

You could find a full record of dates beneath, and additional ticket data right here.

Gorillaz’ ‘The Mountain Tour’ dates are:

MARCH
21 – Co-op Dwell, Manchester
22 – BP Pulse Dwell, Birmingham
24 – OVO Hydro, Glasgow (assist from Trueno)
25 – First Direct Enviornment, Leeds
27 – Utilitia Enviornment, Cardiff (assist from Trueno)
28 – Motorpoint Enviornment, Nottingham (assist from Trueno)
29 – M&S Financial institution Enviornment, Liverpool (assist from Trueno)
31 – SSE Enviornment, Belfast

APRIL 
1 – 3Arena, Dublin (assist from Trueno)

JUNE
20 – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London (assist from Sparks and Trueno)

‘The Mountain’ consists of collaborations with Black Thought, Omar Souleyman, Asha Puthli, Asha Bhosle, Sparks, Gruff Rhys, Kara Jackson, Yasiin Bey, Paul Simonon, IDLES‘ Joe Talbot, Johnny Marr, Ajay Prasanna, Trueno and Anoushka Shankar.

The London Arab Orchestra, Demon Strings, Chris Storr, James Copus and Matthew Gunner additionally served as featured musicians, whereas deceased acts like Dennis Hopper, Bobby Womack, De La Soul‘s Dave Jolicoeur, Tony Allen, Proof and the late Mark E Smith of The Fall are billed as Voices from Elsewhere.

See the album cowl and full tracklist beneath.

Gorillaz’ ‘The Mountain’ tracklist is:

1. The Mountain (feat. Dennis Hopper, Ajay Prasanna, Anoushka Shankar, Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash)
2. ‘The Moon Cave’ (feat. Asha Puthli, Bobby Womack, Dave Jolicoeur, Jalen Ngonda and Black Thought)
3. ‘The Pleased Dictator’ (feat. Sparks)
4. ‘The Hardest Factor’ (feat. Tony Allen)
5. ‘Orange County’ (feat. Bizarrap, Kara Jackson and Anoushka Shankar)
6. ‘The God of Mendacity’ (feat. IDLES)
7. ‘The Empty Dream Machine’ (feat. Black Thought, Johnny Marr and Anoushka Shankar)
8. ‘The Manifesto’ (feat. Trueno and Proof)
9. ‘The Plastic Guru’ (feat. Johnny Marr and Anoushka Shankar)
10. ‘Delirium’ (feat. Mark E. Smith)
11. ‘Damascus’ (feat. Omar Souleyman and Yasiin Bey)
12. ‘The Shadowy Mild’ (feat. Asha Bhosle, Gruff Rhys, Ajay Prasanna, Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash)
13. ‘Casablanca’ (feat. Paul Simonon and Johnny Marr)
14. ‘The Candy Prince’ (feat. Ajay Prasanna, Johnny Marr and Anoushka Shankar)
15. ‘The Unhappy God’ (feat. Black Thought, Ajay Prasanna and Anoushka Shankar)

‘The Mountain’ options artists performing in 5 languages: Arabic, English, Hindi, Spanish and Yoruba.

Followers who attended the gig the place it was debuted additionally reported that the album was “heavy on Indian tunes”, whereas others on Reddit mentioned it additionally included different South Asian, Center Jap and world influences.

A leaked picture from the present additionally sees paintings of fictional character Murdoc now within the type of a Hindu deity with blue pores and skin, an extended beard and prayer beads hanging from his neck. See extra reactions beneath.

Per a press launch, ‘The Mountain’ finds fictional band members Murdoc Niccals, Russel Hobbs, 2D and Noodle – created by Jamie Hewlett – in India, having turned their backs on worldwide pop stardom, and now centered on “mystical music-making”.

The 4 limited-capacity stay exhibits on the Copper Field Enviornment in London marked Gorillaz’ twenty fifth anniversary. The primary present noticed them carry out their self-titled debut in full, taking part in ‘Double Bass’ and ‘Ghost Practice’ stay for the primary time ever. Final week, they shared an official video of the total gig.

The third present – the place they performed ‘Plastic Seashore’ in its entirety – additionally noticed Gorillaz shock audiences with ‘The Fall’ tracks ‘Phoner To Arizona’ and ‘California And The Slipping Of The Solar’ stay for the primary time ever throughout the encore.

The mini residency got here as a part of the band’s ‘Home Of Kong’ exhibition on the Copper Field. It ran from August 8 till September 3, and provided followers a glance behind the scenes of the digital band’s headquarters, and offered insights into the journey they’ve had since sharing their 2000 debut single ‘Tomorrow Comes In the present day’, up till the current day.

The band are now set to relaunch Kong Studios as a web-based online game.