SON OF BOAR – new single from upcoming second album

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SON OF BOAR – new single from upcoming second album

Bradford-based stoner/doom five-piece Son Of Boar return with their second studio album ‘The Hand That Reigns’, which arrives on November 20th 2026 via Pale Wizard Records.

Formed in 2018, Son Of Boar quickly became an integral part of the UK’s heavy underground scene, carving out a reputation as a formidable live act.  Their powerful, groove-laden, riff-heavy sound has seen them share stages with the likes of Conjurer, Sergeant Thunderhoof, Desert Storm, Nebula, Conan and Fatso Jetson while appearances at Bloodstock, Riffolution, Ruination, Hard Rock Hell Fest, Hammerfest, SOPHIE Fest and Masters Of The Riff have firmly established the band within the UK heavy-music circuit. 

Drawing influence from NOLA sludge pioneers Crowbar and DOWN, stoner-rock legends Kyuss, and UK heavyweights Black Sabbath and Paradise Lost, Son Of Boar combine slumberous riffs, harmonised twin guitars and vocalist Luke Oliver’s gravelly, roaring vocals. The band epitomise the ‘Grim North’ from which they emerged. Whether it is the green fields and rolling hills, or the harsh cold stone of their surroundings, Son Of Boar channel their landscape through groove, atmosphere and crushing heaviness, creating a soundtrack to their city and a reflection of the world that surrounds them.

Their self-titled debut album arrived in 2021, showcasing a band unwilling to be confined to a single corner of heavy music. The Hand That Reigns takes that approach further, pushing their sound into a darker, heavier and more aggressive territory.

Their forthcoming second studio album ‘The Hand That Reigns’, recorded at Corner House Studios in Yorkshire with Kurt Wood and mastered by Dave Draper (Ginger Wildheart) emerged during a period in which each member was collectively navigating difficult times. As riffs developed into songs, it became clear that those experiences were influencing the writing, and something darker was taking shape. Each track is infused with a personal honesty that moves fluidly from groove-metal to blasted desert rock and the deepest, darkest doom, showcasing the wide range to the band’s sound.

Reflecting on the creation of the album, vocalist Luke Oliver says, “At the time of writing the album, everyone seemed to be going through a dark time. It quickly became apparent that this batch was darker, heavier, and more aggressive than the previous set. There was no conscious push towards that – we just wanted to write better songs. They came out with all the previous aspects of our sound amplified. We’ve always worked in a cauldron of influences, mixing groove-led desert sounds with grim, heavy riffs and moving tonally from dark to light and back again. On these songs, the heavy sections got heavier, the slow sections got slower, but at the same time the groove got deeper, while the melodies and atmosphere became more developed.”

Across The Hand That Reigns, Son Of Boar draw together the elements that have defined their sound while pushing each one further: groove-metal weight, psychedelic desert-rock passages, deep sludge and the slow pull of doom. 

Lyrically the album explores themes of alienation, judgement, personal struggles and resilience, examining the barriers people encounter, the frustration and anger that can emerge from them, and the strength required to move beyond them.

“Lyrically the album covers themes of being an outcast in various forms. Drawing on inspiration from world events, personal experiences, documentaries, and life in a band, the songs talk to the barriers we hit in life, how people judge each other, and the frustration and anger that can come from that, but also about drawing on personal strength and inner belief to get past that and try to live a better life,” Oliver adds.

Ahead of the release of the album comes its final single ‘In The Eyes Of Hatred’, released today, a song for the ‘misfits’, the track serves as a call for unity and understanding in a divided world. 

Discussing the single, the band state, “‘In The Eyes Of Hatred’ is a mix of stoner groove and heavy doom that makes our brand of northern fuzz. It is a call to arms for all the misfits and people who ever felt like they don’t fit in, in a divided world its a call for unity and understanding.“

‘The Hand That Reigns’ is due for release November 20th 2026 and will be available on CD and all major streaming platforms. Album pre-save

TRACKLISTING:

  1. El Jefe
  2. In the Eyes of Hatred
  3. Lord Dope
  4. Warning of the Witch

SON OF BOAR ARE:

  • Luke Oliver – Vocals
  • Gareth Bates – Bass, Backing Vocals
  • Adam Waddell – Guitar, Backing Vocals
  • Lyndon Birchall – Guitar
  • Luke Doran – Drums

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