As I Lay Dying has officially wrapped recording sessions for their ninth studio album, and the band is leaving a crucial tracklist decision in the hands of their fanbase.
Tentatively slated for an early 2027 release via Napalm Records, the upcoming record will serve as the follow-up to the group’s 2024 full-length, Through Storms Ahead. To finalize the album’s track sequencing, the metalcore veterans will release two contrasting new songs, “Polarized” and “Retribution“, on Tuesday, September 15, and open a public vote to determine if they make the final cut.
Frontman Tim Lambesis announced the interactive approach in a video message released earlier today (September 8), explaining that the band tracked a surplus of material in the studio.
“So we finally finished recording the new As I Lay Dying album, and we did 12 songs with the intention of keeping 10. We’ve had a lot of conversations amongst us trying to figure out what those 10 songs are, and we figured we should bring you guys in on the conversation,” Lambesis stated (as transcribed by Blabbermouth).
“So, we’re gonna show you little clips of two songs coming up called ‘Polarized‘ and ‘Retribution,'” he continued. “Over the next week, we’ll sort of introduce these songs, and then on September 15th, we’ll have both those songs come out fully, and we’ll open up some voting for you guys to tell us, do these polarizing two different ends of the album both belong on the As I Lay Dying album?
Lambesis detailed the stark sonic differences between the two tracks that prompted the debate:
“‘Polarized‘ is quite a bit more melodic, mid-tempo, a little bit more singing, but still very heavy and driving. And then ‘Retribution‘ is just fast, dark and heavy, no singing at all whatsoever,” Tim added. “So those are the two ends of the spectrum. We figured we’d start there, see what you guys thought, and most of the rest of the record lives somewhere in between. But we wanna bring you guys in to just give us your feedback so we can make these final decisions together.”
The upcoming album marks the first full-length effort to feature the band’s entirely overhauled lineup. Over the past eight years, the group has endured extensive roster turnover, leaving Lambesis as the sole remaining founding member. The current incarnation of As I Lay Dying introduced themselves last year with the standalone singles “Echoes” and “If I Fall“, bringing together bassist and clean vocalist Chris Clancy, guitarists Bill Hudson and Don Vedda, and drummer Tim Yeung.
Earlier this year, this new lineup completed the 2026 leg of a Russian tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of their breakthrough 2005 album, Shadows Are Security. The band initially launched the anniversary performances in Russia last fall and proceeded with the bookings despite ongoing international tensions stemming from the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, a region the majority of Western touring artists continue to avoid.
As I Lay Dying will also bring their 20th anniversary celebration for the album Shadows Are Security back to the United States this fall.
As I Lay Dying 2026 U.S. Dates:
- Nov 18 – Catalyst, Santa Cruz, CA
- Nov 19 – Cornerstone, Berkeley, CA
- Nov 20 – Goldfield Trading Post, Roseville, CA
- Nov 21 – The Whisky, Los Angeles, CA
- Nov 22 – Crescent Ballroom, Phoenix, AZ
- Nov 24 – 191 Toole, Tucson, AZ
- Nov 25 – Sunshine Theater, Albuquerque, NM
- Nov 27 – House Of Rock, Corpus Christi, TX
- Nov 28 – Trees, Dallas, TX
- Nov 29 – Come And Take It Live, Austin, TX
- Dec 1 – The Federal, Denver, CO
- Dec 2 – Black Sheep, Colorado Springs, CO
