Not Your Kingdom
| Not Your Kingdom | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | July 24, 2026 | |||
| Studios | The Boneyard Studios in Nashville, Tennessee | |||
| Genre | Hardcore | |||
| Length | 29:55 | |||
| Label | Nuclear Blast | |||
| Producer | Andrew Baylis | |||
| Madball chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Not Your Kindgom | ||||
| ||||
Not Your Kingdom is the tenth studio album by New York City hardcore punk band Madball, released on July 24, 2026, via Nuclear Blast Records.[1] It is their first album since Set It Off to not feature bass player Jorge "Hoya Roc" Guerra, who left the band in 2023.
Background and recording
Not Your Kingdom is Madball's first studio album since 2018's For the Cause, marking the longest gap between studio albums in the band's career. A large part of this was due to the departure of long-time bass player Jorge "Hoya Roc" Guerra, who wrote many of the band's riffs.[2] The album's release was also delayed from March 2026 due to multiple setbacks. Lead singer Freddy Cricien commented that "the album was done, but then we had to get it remixed, 'cause we didn't like the first mix. And then artwork got held up."[3]
Not Your Kingdom was recorded at the Boneyard Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, with additional recording coming from Jeff "Stress" Davis and Chuck Treece at Chop Shop Studios in New York. The album was produced and engineered by the group of Andrew Baylis, Aiden Thompson, and Grady Saxman, and mixed and mastered by Lee Rouse. The album's cover art was photographed by Cornell Capa.[4][5]
All four members of the band recorded together. During the recording process Cricien encouraged drummer Mike Justian to be more insistent with his riffs, justian had originally refrained from sharing riffs as he felt it wasn’t his place. Despite the eight year gab between Not Your Kingdom and their last album For the Cause Cricien noted the band did not feel any pressure to finish the album and get it out. Instead he stated the process was "a pleasure rather than being a stressful one."[6]
The album was worked on over a period of two years from 2024 to 2026. Cricien commented on the song "Rebel Kids", stating: "the first track written for this album and actually was completely put together probably two years ago ... or so."[7]
Musical style and themes
The album's lyrics touch on lead singer Freddy Cricien's perspective on the state of the world and human condition.[4] In an interview with Blabbermouth.net, Cricien commented on the album's style, stating:[3]
It's by far the most diverse Madball album, even more so than 'For the Cause', which I thought 'For the Cause', we did a lot of different stuff, which we were happy to do, because you can't just keep doing the same album over and over."
In a separate press release he noted:
Obviously, you wanna hear our sound, but I like that we were venturing out and doing different stuff on that one. And this one is — yeah, there's some songs that are reminiscent of 'Can't Stop, Won't Stop'. It's very eclectic in the best way, I think. It's gonna be for the people to judge. But I'm super proud of it. Writing with these guys was very natural. We all were hungry. It's been 2018 since we put out an album."[8]
Release and promotion
The albums first single "Rebel Kids" was released on May, 14, 2026, marking Madball's first release since 2018. The song was accompanied along with an official music video upon release.[9] The albums second single "Tethered" was released on June 10, along with an official music video. In an interview Cricien commented on the song stating "To my ears, it has a 'nostalgic' feel but still manages to come across as something new for us! Made sense for it to be the second single to demonstrate the diversity of the album - the whole thing is a story, a ride of sorts and this one as the opener really sets a good pace sonically and lyrically."[10] Upon the album’s release a third music video was made for the song "Don’t Missstep."[11]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Away From Life |  [12] |
| Blabbermouth.net | 8.5/10[13] |
| Kerrang! |  [14] |
| BrooklynVegan | Positive[15] |
| Metal.de | 8/10[16] |
| New Noise Magazine | Positive[17] |
| Ox-Fanzine | Mildly Positive[18] |
Upon release the album has been met with positive reception. Blabbermouth.net wrote "Freddie sounds monstrous throughout, too: his streetwise charisma and genre-defining voice reach a new level of potency here. From the opening, cut-throat intensity of "Tethered" onwards, MADBALL are on vintage form, and at a perfectly proportioned 30 minutes, "Not Your Kingdom" is arguably the most cohesive and complete record that they have made yet."[19] Howie Abram’s of New Noise Magazine stated "The guitar work of Mike Gurnari is high-powered, and the rhythm section of the other Mike (Justian) and Paul Delaney (of Black Anvil fame) is thunderous, to say the least. It goes without saying that vocalist Freddy Cricien walks it like he talks it with regard to lyrics."[20]
Metal.de wrote "Anyone who feared that MADBALL would surrender the mosh pit to younger bands without a fight following Hoya’s departure is proven wrong by *Not Your Kingdom*. The New York institution delivers not merely a rehash of their past work, but a multifaceted hardcore album that unleashes unbridled rage at just the right moments."[21] BrooklynVegan added "they do not fix what ain’t broke. Madball’s heavy, knuckle-busting approach to hardcore changed the game in the early ’90s and they remain one of the most influential bands in the hardcore scene today. When they stick to their guns and dish out ragers like the ones on this LP, there’s no denying them."[22]
Ox-Fanzine was slightly more critical of the album noting "Anyone expecting genuine surprises or experiments has come to the wrong place. Unlike many other bands in the genre—including their "brother band" Agnostic Front—Madball still sound urgent even after more than 30 years. An album that offers few surprises but is nonetheless convincing."[23]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Tethered" | 2:38 |
| 2. | "Flammable" | 0:59 |
| 3. | "Rebelude" | 0:47 |
| 4. | "Rebel Kids" | 3:17 |
| 5. | "Don't Misstep" | 1:34 |
| 6. | "What Say You" | 3:23 |
| 7. | "Stab Wounds" | 2:47 |
| 8. | "Sunrise" | 1:03 |
| 9. | "Life's a Mural" | 2:35 |
| 10. | "Family First" | 3:10 |
| 11. | "Clockwork" | 2:31 |
| 12. | "IWI" | 0:29 |
| 13. | "The Ride" | 2:16 |
| 14. | "Chase a Dream" | 2:26 |
| Total length: | 29:55 | |
Personnel
Madball
- Freddy Cricien – vocals
- Mike Gurnari – guitars
- Paul Delaney – bass
- Mike Justian – drums
Production
- Andrew Baylis – production, engineering
- Aiden Thompson – production, engineering
- Grady Saxman – production, engineering
- Lee Rouse – mixing, mastering
Charts
| Chart (2026) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| French Physical Albums (SNEP)[24] | 103 |
| French Rock & Metal Albums (SNEP)[25] | 31 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[26] | 36 |
| German Rock & Metal Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[27] | 4 |
| UK Indie Album Breakers (Official Charts)[28] | 10 |
References
- ↑ "Madball – Return With New Album "Not Your Kingdom" + Release Video For Single 'Rebel Kids'". Nuclear Blast. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
- ↑ "Madball Bassist To Leave The Band: "Right Now, Financially And Mentally, It Isn't Enough For Me"". Metal Injection. August 8, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
- 1 2 "Freddy Cricien On Upcoming Madball Album 'Not Your Kingdom': 'It's By Far' The Band's 'Most Diverse' LP". Blabbermouth.net. April 4, 2026. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
- 1 2 "Madball: Not Your Kingdom – On Your Markus". onyourmarkus.au. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
- ↑ Adams, Gregory. "Madball announce first album in 8 years with new song "Rebel Kids"". Revolver. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
- ↑ "In Depth With: Madball". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
- ↑ "Madball announce first LP since 2018, 'Not Your Kingdom' (new single & exclusive vinyl)". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
- ↑ Seneca (April 6, 2026). "Madball Announce New Album 'Not Your Kingdom' With May 2026 Release Planned". The Mosh Network. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
- ↑ "Madball Releases Single, "Rebel Kids," Announces New LP, 'Not Your Kingdom' Out On July 24". Metal Injection. May 14, 2026. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
- ↑ "Madball Shares 'Tethered' Single From Upcoming 'Not Your Kingdom' Album". Blabbermouth.net. June 10, 2026. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
- ↑ "MADBALL share music video for "Don't Miss Step" as tenth LP is released". lambgoat.com. July 24, 2026. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
- ↑ July 2026 "Not Your Kingdom - Madball".
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help) - ↑ July 2026 "Not Your Kingdom - Madball".
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help) - ↑ "Not Your Kingdom - https://www.kerrang.com/album-review-madball-not-your-kingdom/=27 July 2026".
{{cite web}}: External link in|title=|url=(help) - ↑ July 2026 "Not Your Kingdom - Madball".
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help) - ↑ July 2026 "Not Your Kingdom - Madball".
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help) - ↑ July 2026 "Not Your Kingdom - Madball".
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help) - ↑ July 2026 "Not Your Kingdom - Madball".
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help) - ↑ Blabbermouth (July 21, 2026). "Not Your Kingdom". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
- ↑ "Album Review: Madball - Not Your Kingdom". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
- ↑ sagt, Vinceprince1. "Madball – Not Your Kingdom Review • metal.de". metal.de. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ Sacher, Andrew. "Notable Releases of the Week (7/24)". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
- ↑ Deutschland, Ox Fanzine, Solingen. "Review". www.ox-fanzine.de (in German). Retrieved July 24, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ "Top Albums Physiques (Semaine du 7 août 2026)" (in French). Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
- ↑ "Top Rock & Metal Albums (Semaine du 7 août 2026)" (in French). Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
- ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Madball – Not Your Kingdom" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
- ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts: Top 20 Rock/Metal-Charts – 31 Juli 2026" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved August 3, 2026.
- ↑ "Official Independent Album Breakers Chart on 31/7/2026 – Top 20". Official Charts. Retrieved August 3, 2026.