Outspoken Irish rap trio Kneecap have announced a new album, FENIAN, which will be out April 24 via Heavenly. They made it with producer Dan Carey (Fontaines DC, Wet Leg) and it features contributions from Kae Tempest, Fawzi, and Radie Peat.
Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí say the album was inspired by everything that happened to them in 2025, from their Coachella performance to being banned in Canada to Mo Chara being arrested on terrorism charges (which were later dropped). Here’s their statement on the album:
We had all the motivation we needed… this isn’t a swift reaction, but a considered response to those that tried to silence us. And failed.
Made with Dan Carey, a producer we are honored to have worked with.
It’s a more sinister sound… because these are sinister times. But also defiant and triumphant.
Inspired by, and proudly named, “Fenian,” who were warriors in Irish folklore, and later a derogatory term for the Irish.
Now we’re using it to name everyone speaking truth to power.
After 800 years of colonisation, they thought the Irish language would die. It didn’t.
Thanks to Muintir na Gaeltachta, and all the Gaels who refused to let their culture and language be destroyed.
And Kneecap is much the same… we haven’t gone away.
The Paddies are back.
The album doesn’t have any of Kneecap’s 2025 singles — “The Recap,” “Sayōnara,” or “No Comment” — but it does have “Liars Tale” which is the first single and finds them as fiery as ever and still loving ’90s electronica beats. What’s it about? They say: “Starmer is a scumbag, don’t accept it. There’s no good in their politics, and the belly of the beast is feeding overseas.”
The video was made by Thomas James who says, “For me, this needed to be punk, absurd, abrasive, and wild. An ugly reflection of the world we find ourselves in; utter fucking chaos…It’s not often you get to work with a band who have a genuine fire, and a selfless interest in trying to help people. And that, for all of us involved, was important. The video became a nightmarish fuck you to the powers that be, with a wry smile and a lubed-up prop selection.”
Watch the video below.
This summer, Kneecap will be on the festival circuit across Europe, including appearances at Primavera Sound, Reading/Leeds, and more. All dates are below.
FENIAN
1. Éire go Deo
2. Smugglers & Scholars
3. Carnival
4. Palestine (ft. Fawzi)
5. Liars Tale
6. FENIAN
7. Big Bad Mo
8. Headcase
9. An Ra
10. Cold At The Top
11. Occupied 6
12. Gael Phonics
13. Cocaine Hill (ft. Radie Peat)
14. Irish Goodbye (ft. Kae Tempest)
Kneecap 2026 Live Dates
May 29–30 – AVA Festival, Belfast, IE
Jun 6 – Primavera Sound, Barcelona, ES
Jun 11 – Primavera Sound, Porto, PT
Jun 13 – Festi’Neuch, Neuchâtel, FR
Jun 27 – Crystal Palace Park, London, UK
Jul 1 – Open’er Festival, Gdynia, PL
Jul 2 – Roskilde Festival, Roskilde, DK
Jul 4 – Rock Werchter, Werchter, BE
Jul 18 – PhilGood Festival, Plovdiv, BG
Jul 21 – All Together Now, Waterford, IE
Aug 12–16 – Boomtown, Winchester, UK
Aug 28–30 – Reading & Leeds Festivals, UK