Franz Ferdinand have announced their new new album The Human Fear will drop on January 10th 2025 via Domino Records. The LP was produced with Mark Ralph, who previously worked ond the band’s album Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action. The album announcement is accompanied by a video for lead-single “Audacious.”

from Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand:

“Making this record was one of the most life-affirming experiences I’ve had, but it’s called The Human Fear. Fear reminds you that you’re alive. I think we all are addicted in some way to the buzz it can give us. How we respond to it shows how we are human. So here’s a bunch of songs searching for the thrill of being human via fears. Not that you’d necessarily notice on first listen.”

The video for first single “Audacious” was directed by long-time Franz collaborator Andy Knowles and filmed at Barrowlands in Glasgow, over the years scene of many a celebratory homecoming gig for the band. Talking about the track Alex added:

“It’s about having an audacious response when you feel the fabric of existence come undone around you. Being bold, contrary. Peering over the edge into the eternity of non-existence and saying Aye! Fuck it! Not today thank you!”

Director Andy Knowles said about the video:

“After listening to “Audacious” for the first time it immediately felt like a song which needed a celebration of a video. I wanted to build on the jocular approach we took for ‘Curious’ in 2022, contrasting some of the more somber moments of life with an explosion of fun when you look at things through an ‘audacious’ lens.”

The first studio album to feature members Audrey Tait (drums) and Dino Bardot (guitar), the record also sees Julian Corrie step forward to collaborate with frontman Alex Kapranos and bassist Bob Hardy on songwriting and creative duties.

A band for whom the aesthetic and style is almost as important as the sound, as ever the importance of this is reflected in the cover artwork which was inspired by Hungarian artist Dóra Maurer’s self-portrait 7 Twists – Maurer’s work appealed because it does exactly what they want from their music: a striking immediacy that is impossible to ignore, but with a depth and vulnerability that bears many returns and satisfactory repetition.

Maybe this is a set of songs about fear, maybe this is a set of bangers from an era-defining band continuing their unquestionably living legacy. Is that something to be afraid of?

Franz Ferdinand
The Human Fear
Tracklisting
Domino Records

1. Audacious
2. Everyday Dreamer
3. The Doctor
4. Hooked
5. Build It Up
6. Night Or Day
7. Tell Me I Should Stay
8. Cats
9. Black Eyelashes
10. Bar Lonely
11. The Birds

Franz Ferdinand 2024-2025 tour dates

September 26, 2024 – Spa Pavilion – STRATHPEFFER – SOLD OUT
September 27, 2024 – Albert Halls – STIRLING – SOLD OUT
September 28, 2024 – The Venue – DUMFRIES – SOLD OUT
October 3, 2024– Estadio 3 de Marzo – GUADALAJARA *
October 5, 2024 – Foro Sol – MEXICO CITY *
October 6, 2024 – For Sol – MEXICO CITY *
October 9, 2024– Estadio Banorte – MONTERREY *
October 12, 2024 – Festival Pulso – QUERTARO, MEXICO
November 7, 2024 – Explanada del Parque de la Exposicion – LIMA
November 9, 2024 – Fauna Primavera – SANTIAGO
November 12, 2024 – Estadio Obras – BUENOS AIRES
November 14, 2024 – Tokio Marine Hall – SÃO PAULO
November 16, 2024 – Gran Carpal – BOGOTA
November 17, 2024 – Orquideorama – MEDELLIN
February 14, 2025 – Aula Magna – LISBON
February 15, 2025 – Sala Pelican – A CORUNA
February 17, 2025 – La Riviera – MADRID
February 18, 2025 – Razzmatazz – BARCELONA
February 20, 2025 – Fabrique – MILAN
February 21, 2025 – X-Tra – ZURICH
February 22, 2025 – Muffathalle – MUNICH
February 24, 2025 – Huxleys Neue Welt – BERLIN
February 25, 2025 – Progresja – WARSAW
February 27, 2025 – La Cigale – PARIS
February 28, 2025 – Die Kantine – COLOGNE
March 1, 2025 – De Roma – ANTWERP
March 3, 2025 – Paradiso – AMSTERDAM
March 5, 2025 – Shepherds Bush Empire – LONDON
March 7, 2025 – Barrowlands – GLASGOW

*with The Killers

Pre-order The Human Fear HERE