Lagwagon Confirms New Album in the Works After Six-Year Hiatus

In the most exciting news for punk rock fans this decade, California skate punk legends Lagwagon have officially announced they are working on a brand-new studio album, their first since 2019’s Railer. Frontman Joey Cape broke the news during a surprise Instagram Live Q&A following their sold-out Tokyo performance on May 16 — the date famously referenced in their iconic track “May 16.”

“We’ve been writing and recording demos while on the road,” said Cape. “The spirit feels a lot like Hoss and Let’s Talk About Feelings — fast, emotional, but grown-up.”

The upcoming album, currently untitled, is said to be a return to Lagwagon’s melodic hardcore roots, but with a modern, introspective twist. Longtime producer Ryan Greene is rumored to be back in the studio with the band, further fueling excitement among fans longing for that vintage Fat Wreck Chords sound.

This marks the band’s first full-length studio effort in six years, and according to guitarist Chris Flippin, several tracks have already been road-tested during their current European festival run. “The crowds have been insane. Playing unreleased stuff and seeing mosh pits form — that’s when you know you’ve still got it,” he said in a backstage interview at Graspop Metal Meeting.

Fat Wreck Chords is expected to confirm a release date later this year, with the album tentatively slated for early 2026. A North American tour to support the record is also in the planning stages.

For fans who grew up screaming Lagwagon lyrics in garage bands and at skateparks, this news is more than just another release — it’s a nostalgic homecoming. And in true Lagwagon fashion, they’re making sure it hits hard, fast, and straight to the heart.