WYWA: New Trash Boat, Refused’s New Jazz Band, Billy Idol And J. Ralph Team Up, And More
We are flying through November! Thanksgiving is a week away (for those in the States), meaning Christmas is just around the corner. Distract yourself from the quickening pace of time as you get older, with this week’s edition of While You Were Away. Refused’s new band, new music from Trash Boat, tours on sale, and more after the jump.
Trash Boat announce new EP ‘Even If I Never Get There’
Trash Boat have announced their new EP, Even If I Never Get There, out on January 30th, 2026. Luckily, you don’t have to wait til next year for new music. Stream new single “Get By Then Die” below.
Talking about the upcoming EP, vocalist Tobi Duncan says:
“Trash Boat have always been a risk taking band. Always experimenting and never wanting to release the same song twice. In this constant evolving flux, this EP was a chance to stop and reflect on everything we have done. Looking back with respect and love for everything we’ve been through and seeing how that will mould our future.
There’s something for every fan of every stage of this band, whether you’ve been with us since 2014 or 2024 you can check in on our story so far and hopefully be pumped for what comes next.”
Pre-order Even If I Never Get There here.
Billy Idol teams up with composer J. Ralph on ‘Dying to Live’
Billy Idol has shared a new song, “Dying to Live,” a collaboration featuring composer J. Ralph. The song is featured in the forthcoming documentary, Billy Idol Should Be Dead.
“It’s quite something watching a documentary about your own life,” stated Idol. “Seeing the landscape of my story all laid out inspired me to want to write a song for the end of the film that brings together what I saw in the film; all the strands of my life, really. It was thrilling to work together with J. Ralph. Symphonic music has a unique cinematic authenticity, we felt this was essential to capturing the range of emotions the climactic moment of the film called for.”
J. Ralph adds, “The vision was to create a cinematic finale for the film built around visuals and a thematic orchestral piece featuring Billy’s voice and a string quartet. Composing the song inside this sonic universe reveals every nuance and vulnerability of his vocals and lyrics in a way he had not yet expressed in his previous work. He was totally up for it and brought the same rebellious spirit and fearless energy that defines his life and the very essence of punk rock.”
Watch the official video below. Billy Idol Should Be Dead is set to hit streaming services next year.
Depeche Mode share live rendition of ‘Ghosts Again’ from new live LP
Depeche Mode have shared “Ghost Again,” taken from their upcoming concert film, Depeche Mode: M.
The film captures the band’s three sold-out concerts at Mexico City’s Foro Sol Stadium during their 2023 Memento Mori tour. Directed by award-winning Mexican filmmaker Fernando Frías is a mix of live footage, archival material, and interpretive interstitials.
Watch “Ghosts Against (Live from Mexico City)” below.
Depeche Mode: M will be released on Blu-Ray and DVD on December 5th. An accompanying live album entitled Memento Mori: Mexico City will be released at the same time. Bundles featuring the film and the live album will also be released. Pre-orders can be found here.
Refused members announce new band and debut album
Refused members Dennis Lyxzén, Magnus Flagge, and David Sandström have launched their new “free form death-jazz” group Backengrillen (Swedish for “back grill”) featuring Swedish free-jazz saxophonist Mats Gustaffson. They’ve already announced their self-titled debut album out on January 23rd via Svart Records.
“The basic idea is to take a death/doom metal, or noiserock riff and play it until it loses meaning and then break it apart like a ravenous cat would a tiny forest mouse,” they wrote, adding of the upcoming LP, “It’s filled to the brim with the self-hatred endemic to the province of Västerbotten from whence the member’s hail.
The music — understandably given the political background of Refused’s music — is also described as anti-fascist and anti-racist, and was inspired by “the Cramps, Little Richard, Albert Ayler, Polly Bradfield, Entombed, John Zorn, Misfits, Stooges, Lars Gullin, Can and much more.”
Hear lead single “A Hate Inferior” below. Pre-order Backengrillen here.
Tours on sale this week
Nova Twins will embark on a UK/European spring headline tour in support of their latest album, Parasites & Butterflies. The outing starts in Brighton on March 13th and wraps up with their appearance at Paaspop Festival on April 5th. Get all the details here.
Hayley Williams has announced her first-ever solo tour in support of her new album, Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party. The tour kicks off March 27th in Atlanta, Georgia, and concludes with a three-night stint in Los Angeles on May 12th, 13th, and 15th. Tickets are on sale now.
DRAIN are hitting the road next year in support of their new album, …IS YOUR FRIEND, featuring support from No Pressure, Haywire, and Secret World. The tour kicks off on March 19th in Dallas, Texas, and finishes with their performance at Coachella on April 19th. Get the details here.
Foo Fighters have mapped out a UK/European tour set for next summer. The tour starts June 10th in Oslo and wraps up July 10th at Portugal’s NOS Alive Festival. See all their dates here.
