Deep Purple fans have every reason to crank up the volume on June 24, 2026, as the hard rock legends have dropped their latest single “Guilt Trippin'” — a wild, unpredictable track from their eagerly awaited new studio album Splat!, set to explode onto the scene on July 3 via earMUSIC.
The song kicks off with a deceptively gentle piano intro before erupting into full-blown Purple chaos, showcasing one of Ian Gillan’s most memorable vocal performances on the record. The 79-year-old frontman didn’t hold back in the studio, delivering raw, screaming energy that defies his own past promises. “The song starts, and I’m in the studio. I don’t have any words for it yet. So I just start screaming,” Gillan shared. “It was the pure joy of yelling it. I vowed when I was 40 that I’d stop screaming by the time I was 60. Now I’m looking back and thinking, ‘Whatever happened to that?’ So we’ll give it a go.”
Lyrically, “Guilt Trippin'” dives into one of the album’s signature bizarre narratives: God and Charles Darwin sharing a pint in a pub, pondering where humanity went off the rails. The official video amps up the surrealism, following a fly and a sycamore-seed spaceship through an increasingly absurd, dreamlike journey that perfectly captures the album’s eccentric vibe.
A Heaviest-in-Years Return to Classic Purple Energy
Splat! marks Deep Purple’s 24th studio album and their sixth collaboration with legendary producer Bob Ezrin (known for his work with Kiss, Pink Floyd, and Alice Cooper). The band — featuring Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Ian Paice, Don Airey, and guitarist Simon McBride — recorded live together in the studio, channeling the dynamic spirit of their early ’70s classics like “Highway Star,” “Smoke on the Water,” and “Lazy.”
Gillan describes the current lineup as feeling like a modern version of the band’s iconic ’70s era. The album’s conceptual heart, also conceived by Gillan, reimagines the end of humanity not as apocalyptic destruction but as a transformative metamorphosis into something beyond physical existence. Early reactions from media outlets like Uncut and Classic Rock have been glowing, hailing it as “distilled, high-octane Purple at its finest” and praising its return to everything that makes the band legends.
Full Track Listing for Splat! (CD/2LP):
Side A
- Arrogant Boy
- Diablo
- The Rider
- The Lunatic
Side B 5. The Only Horse In Town 6. Sacred Land 7. The Beating Of Wings
Side C 8. Guilt Trippin’ 9. Scriblin’ Gib’rish 10. Jessica’s Bra
Side D 11. Third Call 12. My New Movie 13. Splat!
Special Releases and Live Treasures for Collectors
Music lovers can grab “Guilt Trippin'” on limited CD and 12-inch vinyl (silver and blue splatter editions), which include previously unreleased live recordings of “Portable Door” and “Anya” from the band’s 2024 tour supporting their chart-topping album =1.
The deluxe box set is a must-have for die-hards, featuring a 2LP gatefold, CD, a 12-page booklet, three exclusive 10-inch live vinyl records from the 2024 tour, and a special 7-inch single with the bonus track “Guinnesis” (not available on the standard album). Multiple colored vinyl options, picture discs, cassettes, and ultra-limited signed items are also available.
On Tour and Still Rocking Hard After Decades
With over 120 million albums sold since forming in 1968, Deep Purple’s place in rock royalty is secure — from their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction to being named one of the most influential bands ever. They are currently tearing through European summer dates and will launch the full Splat! world tour in North America soon after. Tickets are available now via the band’s official site.
At a time when many veteran acts slow down, Deep Purple continue to push boundaries with fresh creativity and raw power. Splat! promises to be one of their heaviest and most ambitious releases in years — proof that these icons still have plenty of fire left in the tank.
https://youtu.be/_G_OQYvuXzs
