Deep Purple have announced a new studio album titled Splat!, due out on July 3, 2026 via earMUSIC. The band says the record is the heaviest studio set they have made in many years, and the announcement comes from a group that has been active since 1968 and has sold more than 120 million albums worldwide.
Frontman Ian Gillan says the current lineup feels very much like a modern-day version of Deep Purple in the spirit of the band’s 1970s peak. He also said the new material is now closer to the classic era of “Highway Star,” “Smoke On The Water,” and “Lazy,” pointing to the balance, dynamics, and sense of fun that defined Deep Purple’s work from 1969 to 1973.
The album was made once again with producer Bob Ezrin, whose credits include KISS, Pink Floyd, Lou Reed, and Alice Cooper. Deep Purple say the project was recorded the way they have traditionally worked: together in the studio. The band’s statement frames Splat! as a record that keeps the classic Purple attitude intact while pushing the group forward.
Gillan’s comments also reveal that Splat! is built around a concept. According to the announcement, the album explores the end of humanity not as simple destruction, but as a kind of transformation beyond physical existence. The band says more of that concept will be revealed in the weeks leading up to release.
Deep Purple are also tying the album to a major touring year. The band says it will support the release with 86 shows across 28 countries on three continents during its 2026 touring schedule. New music from Splat! is also already on the way, according to the announcement.
As for the release package, Splat! will be available on CD, digital, and several vinyl configurations, including black 2LP, limited purple 2LP, limited transparent yellow 2LP, and a limited box set. The box set includes a 2LP gatefold, a 12-page booklet, a CD digisleeve, three exclusive 10-inch live records from the band’s 2024 tour, and a 7-inch single with the bonus track “Guinnesis,” which will not appear on the studio album itself.
The standard album track list runs across four sides and includes “Arrogant Boy,” “Diablo,” “The Rider,” “The Lunatic,” “The Only Horse In Town,” “Sacred Land,” “The Beating Of Wings,” “Guilt Trippin’,” “Scriblin’ Gib’rish,” “Jessica’s Bra,” “Third Call,” “My New Movie,” and the title track “Splat!”
Deep Purple also outlined a few limited extras through the official artist store, including a picture-disc edition, a cassette, and a canvas signed by all band members, limited to 199 copies worldwide. The group’s announcement positions Splat! as both a new chapter and a reminder of why Deep Purple remain one of hard rock’s most durable forces. Gillan summed it up simply: “DEEP PURPLE is in a great place right now.”
