Franz Ferdinand Confirms 1st Album In 6 Years ‘The Human Fear’ & Shares ‘Audacious’ New Single

Franz Ferdinand will return with The Human Fear, their first album of new material since 2018. The Scottish band’s fifth full-length will be released on January 10, 2025, through Domino and features the lead single, “Audacious.”

Franz Ferdinand’s last album was 2018’s Always Ascending. The Glasgow-native band recorded The Human Fear with producer Mark Ralph, who also produced their third album, 2013’s Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action.

Consisting of 11 new songs, The Human Fear was recorded at AYR studios in Scotland by co-founding members Alex Kapranos and Bob Hardy, with longtime member Julian Corrie taking a more collaborative role in songwriting. The pending release is the studio album to feature the newest Franz Ferdinand members, Audrey Tait and Dino Bardot.

Speaking about The Human Fear, Kapranos stated:

“Making this record was one of the most life-affirming experiences I’ve had, but it’s called The Human Fear. Fear reminds you that you’re alive. I think we all are addicted in some way to the buzz it can give us. How we respond to it shows how we are human. So here’s a bunch of songs searching for the thrill of being human via fears. Not that you’d necessarily notice on first listen.”

The album’s lead single “Audacious” arrived with an accompanying Andy Knowles-directed video captured at Barrowland in Glasgow, where the band has performed many hometown shows. Watch here:

Franz Ferdinand will perform in Europe, South America and Mexico over the coming months. Ticket for a batch of newly confirmed shows in the United Kingdom go on sale on Friday, September 20. View the band’s full touring schedule and ticketing links below.

The Human Fear Tracklist

1. Audacious
2. Everydaydreamer
3. The Doctor
4. Hooked
5. Build It Up
6. Night Or Day
7. Tell Me I Should Stay
8. Cats
9. Black Eyelashes
10. Bar Lonely
11. The Birds