The Living End Secretly Record Country Album—Fans Divided

• The Living End Secretly Record Country Album—Fans Divided

In a move that has shocked their loyal fanbase, Australian punk rock icons The Living End have reportedly completed a full-length country album in secret. According to sources close to the band, the new record features stripped-back acoustic arrangements, slide guitar, and harmonies more akin to Nashville than Melbourne punk clubs.

The band, known for their fiery rockabilly-punk sound since the late 1990s, allegedly began work on the project over a year ago, recording tracks during breaks from touring. Frontman Chris Cheney is said to have spearheaded the idea, wanting to “explore new songwriting frontiers” and pay tribute to the classic country records he grew up on.

News of the album has divided fans across social media. While some have welcomed the band’s willingness to experiment, others feel betrayed by what they perceive as a turn away from the raw, rebellious energy that defined their early work.

“I don’t mind them trying something new,” wrote one fan on Facebook. “But a full country album? That’s not The Living End I fell in love with.”

Another countered: “Good on them. They’re artists, not a jukebox. Let them grow!”

Industry insiders speculate the band will officially announce the album in the coming weeks, possibly accompanied by a limited tour of intimate venues more suited to the country vibe.

Neither Cheney nor the band’s management have commented publicly on the rumors, but a cryptic post on the band’s official Instagram last week featured an image of an old barn with the caption “Sometimes you gotta head down a dirt road to find new horizons.”

If confirmed, this could be one of the boldest pivots by an Australian rock band in recent memor