| Following the release of their latest single, ‘Signs’ ft. Matt Heafy, Defects have announced a September UK tour with Allegaeon and GOROD. The tour will kick off on 8 September at 1865 in Southampton and will call through Nottingham (Rescue Rooms), Manchester (Rebellion), Birmingham (O2 Institute3), Leeds (Boom) and finish in London on 13 September at The Underworld. Tickets are available HERE. Talking about the tour, vocalist Tony Maue says, “We’re absolutely buzzing to get out on this UK tour. This is a new chapter for Defects with the newly formed line-up, and it’ll be our first tour with Rowan and Orlando, so it really feels like the start of something exciting for us. Six shows, six chances to show people what this new version of Defects is all about. We’re ready to get out there, make some noise and give everything we’ve got every night. See you in the pit!” Defects have only recently announced their new album, Artificial Icons, due 16 October via Mascot Records, alongside the dystopian single ‘Signs’ featuring Matt Heafy. |
| Photo © Rob Blackham/Blackham Images |
| Artificial Icons—produced by Jim Pinder (Sleep Token, Bring Me the Horizon)—fizzes with anger, frustration, and the balance of survival. These songs aren’t just stories; they’re personal fights via homelessness and addiction, messed-up systems, and broken connections. One of the album’s standout moments is ‘Signs’ which places the listener in a war-torn setting. “I want to write songs that matter. To make people think,” he affirms. People are dying. This needs to be addressed. It’s about looking for meaning. Trying to find a place to belong. There’s frustration, but also determination, even when the world feels like it’s crumbling. I’m so excited that this one features Matt.” They hit the road hard in 2024-2025, sweeping across Europe with Trivium, Northlane, Of Mice and Men, Orbit Culture, and Funeral for a Friend. Their festival checklist was epic: Download, Slam Dunk (UK), Mystic (Poland), Rock Im Park, Rock Am Ring, Impericon, Rockharz, Summer Breeze (Germany), Rock For People (Czechia), Jera On Air (Netherlands), Graspop, and Parkpop (Belgium). The album careers through the socio-political ‘Artificial Icons’ and ‘Heresy’, a confrontation with blind faith and false hope. ‘All For Nothing’ is aimed inwards. Artificial Icons goes deeper than before, tethering itself to profound life experiences. 2026 offers Defects a bright light, as Tony Maue (vocals) and James Threadwell (guitar) welcome Rowan Jack (drums) and Orlando Morris-Winmill (guitar) to the journey. Tour Dates 08 Sept – 1854, Southampton 09 Sept – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham 10 Sept – Rebellion, Manchester 11 Sept – O2 Institute3, Birmingham 12 Sept – Boom, Leeds 13 Sept – The Underworld, London |
