British alt-rock favourites ‘A’ return with PRANG, their first studio album in over 20 years, set for release May 22nd, 2026 via Cooking Vinyl. Sparked by the effervescent lead singles “Hello Sunshine” and “Walkover”, the album finds the band rediscovering their identity with the carefree spirit and stylish sloppiness that defined their earliest days — a vibrant reaffirmation of their enduring appeal and unmistakable personality.
Shifting gears on their third single, ‘Shit Summer’, ‘A’ reveal a more reflective and emotionally raw side of the band, trading their usual punch for something far more vulnerable and introspective. The track captures a moment of personal struggle with striking honesty, offering listeners a glimpse into the weight behind the music. As vocalist Jason Perry explains: “‘Shit Summer’ is the song from the album that I’m most proud of. I think it’s the best thing we’ve ever made. Ever. A heartbreaking reminder of a very difficult time for me. I had tears in my eyes singing this song. Reflecting on a rough period in my life. I’m blessed with so much. My kids, loved ones and music, but in those months it was hard to see the woods from the trees. I got help. I needed help. We all need a little help sometimes. Some hugs and honesty and love. Manning up doesn’t quite cut it when you’re down and out. This song is dedicated to anyone who’s going through it .. x”.
If you need to talk, please reach out to one of the following organisations
www.Iasp.info
www.Mind.org.uk
Watch The Video HERE
Pre-Order PRANG HERE
A’ will perform at the following in-store events to support PRANG. The band said, “Alright everyone, we’ve read your comments… we’re going to be taking PRANG on the road this May, playing some shows at some of the best record stores in the UK. We’ll be playing a set filled with songs, new and old, followed by a session meeting all of you, signing your records and taking photos… how ace is that? Honestly, the fact you’ve stuck with us and waited 21 years for a new record… means more than we can put into words. So it feels really important to get out there, do this properly, and thank you in person.”
May
LOW TICKET WARNING ON ALL IN-STORES
22nd Southampton, Vinilo Records (1:00 pm) (Stripped Back Show + Signing)
22nd Kingston, Kingston College (7:30 pm) (Album Release Show)
25th Bury, Wax & Beans (7:00 pm) (live show + signing) (live show + signing)
26th Leeds, Vinyl Whistle (1:00 pm) (Stripped Back Show + Signing)
26th Liverpool, Jacaranda (7:00 pm) (live show + signing)
27th Birmingham, HMV Vault (5:00 pm) (live show + signing)
28th London, Rough Trade East (7:00 pm) (live show + signing)
Tickets available from www.therockbandcalleda.com
Formed in Suffolk in 1993 by childhood best friends Jason Perry (vocals) and Mark Chapman (guitar), alongside Perry’s brothers Adam (drums) and Giles (keys), ‘A’ built a devoted following through cult favourite albums How Ace Are Buildings and A Vs Monkey Kong, before achieving chart success with 2002’s Silver-certified ‘Hi-Fi Serious’ which spawned the Top 10 anthem ‘Nothing’. Their last studio album, 2005’s Teen Dance Ordinance, marked the end of the band’s first chapter — until now.
Such has been the anticipation for new material that the long-rumoured follow-up had taken on near-mythical status among fans. With PRANG, the clock finally stops at more than two decades since their last release – a period that saw the band continue to appear on major festival stages while quietly questioning what the future of ‘A’ might sound like.
“It was hard to know what ‘A’ was,” says Perry, who in the intervening years has become a Grammy Award-winning producer known for his work with Don Broco, McFly and Kids In Glass Houses. “We needed to find out what ‘A’ looks like today.”
That discovery began not with industry planning, but with friendship — barbecues, dinners, and spontaneous jam sessions. A rough guitar idea from Chapman sparked what would become “Hello Sunshine,” a track that quickly emerged as the blueprint for the album and the catalyst for a new creative era. Completed by bassist Richard Trigg, the band built PRANG gradually over the following months and years, recording in downtime, free from deadlines or expectations.
PRANG Track Listing
Hello Sunshine
Walkover
Bring On The Likes
Shit Summer
All In
Techno Viking
Kings of Lowestoft
Comment Leaver
Back To The Shop
Lifeline
All vinyl variants of PRANG include a cut-out insert with a 3D Ice-Cream truck and lamp post for you to build and stage your own PRANG. Don’t miss out on the fun – pre-order PRANG HERE
Written and recorded with simplicity, speed and instinct at its core, PRANG balances punchy, riff-driven anthems with heartfelt, soul-bearing moments. Perry helmed production himself to preserve the band’s DIY ethos and singular vision, ensuring the record retained the messiness and personality that have always defined ‘A’.
“There’s a messiness to it that allows our personality to come through — which is where the magic really happens,” Perry explains. “I don’t want anyone to put on an ‘A’ record and think it sounds like it was hard work making it. Life’s hard enough – there has to be fun in making music.”
Musically, PRANG captures the vibrancy and vigour of the band’s back catalogue while exploring new territory – from nostalgic country-tinged textures to flamboyant guitar solos and gospel-inspired arrangements – creating a collection where, as Perry describes, “each song is its own little island.”
Lyrically, the album represents A’s most open and reflective work to date. Drawing on two decades of life experience, Perry explores gratitude, resilience, mental health and friendship with warmth and disarming honesty. A mental health advocate and ambassador for the International Association for Suicide Prevention, he channels personal struggles with depression, loneliness and recovery into songs that feel both intimate and universal.
“By the end of ‘A’ in 2005, I felt like we didn’t have anything to say anymore. Now, I really do,” he says. “We had to go and live a life. We’ve seen massive lows that we’ve helped each other through. This album is gratitude – gratitude for friendship, for still making music, for still being alive.”
Twenty years in the making, PRANG is more than a comeback; it’s a rebirth – cathartic, melodic and life-affirming, marking a bold new chapter for one of Britain’s most beloved rock bands.
Fans can catch the band live at this year’s Slam Dunk Festival, where ‘A’ will celebrate their return with new material alongside classic fan favourites. You can also catch the band at this year’s 2000Trees Festival and on tour with The Darkness on their arena tour this December
A ARE: Jason Perry (vocals), Mark Chapman (guitar), Richard Trigg (bass), Adam Perry (drums) and Giles Perry (keys)
