THE MISSION, one of the most successful and influential British rock bands of the 1980s, will return next April with their first new studio album in more than a decade. ‘Songs For Kith And Kin’ is already one of the most eagerly anticipated releases of 2027. Originally planned for release in 2025, the album was delayed after frontman Wayne Hussey underwent open-heart surgery. The experience, along with the period of recovery that followed, has had a profound influence on the character of the new material.“The operation definitely had an impact on my lyrics, too: the word ‘heart’ appears in almost every song. It has also made me even less concerned about what other people think of me. With these new songs, I’m simply doing what I want to do and what feels right to me,” he explains. It becomes clear from the very first listen that ‘Songs For Kith And Kin’ ranks among THE MISSION’s outstanding albums - and undoubtedly stands as one of the strongest releases in their 40-year career.
With its expansive sound, the album recalls the grandeur of earlier internationally successful records such as ‘Children’ and ‘Carved In Sand’. At the same time, it reflects the wisdom and composure that come with years of experience, alongside a renewed zest for life. All these qualities come together in the first single, ‘Kindness Is A Weapon’: shimmering, fluid guitars that are unmistakably THE MISSION, an anthemic chorus packed with memorable hooks, a driving rhythm section and Wayne Hussey’s unmistakable voice. It is a song with all the makings of a classic.
However, choosing ‘Kindness Is A Weapon’ as the first single was not as straightforward for Wayne Hussey as it had been with previous albums. “In the past, there was always one song on every record that I immediately knew had to be the first single. It was obvious with ‘Wasteland’, ‘Tower Of Strength’ and ‘Butterfly On A Wheel’. With this album, I didn’t initially have one clear favourite, because there are seven or eight songs that could easily have been singles.”
“We had actually been playing an early version of the song live for about six months before we had to take a break because of my operation. So, some of our fans already knew it. I had the title first, but I continued working on the lyrics right up until the final recording in June this year. Kindness can be a weapon used for good - and at some point, you also have to learn to let things go. Musically, the song brings together many of the elements traditionally associated with THE MISSION and classic rock. In terms of sound, perhaps we’re taking things a little further than before, while still remaining true to ourselves. And there’s certainly no shortage of testosterone in this track.”
The first single, ‘Kindness Is A Weapon’, is available to stream now.
From the epic opening of ‘Kith And Kin’, with its atmospheric soundscapes, to the moving finale of ‘The Last Leaf On The Tree’, ‘Songs For Kith And Kin’ takes the listener on a multifaceted musical journey. At the heart of the 15-track double album is THE MISSION’s distinctive guitar sound. Although keyboards, orchestral arrangements, sitar, tambura and other instruments enrich the overall sound, its foundation remains the interplay of two perfectly complementary guitars.
“There is a chemistry between us that works instantly and sounds unmistakably like THE MISSION. You notice it particularly in the studio. I remember recognising that same connection during our very first rehearsals in 1985,” says lead guitarist Simon Hinkler. “Wayne and I have very different styles, which diverge in some respects and come together in others. When we play the same guitar line simultaneously, something special happens. Many people have noticed that. There is also a common thread running through THE MISSION’s music that has made our sound distinctive over the years. That’s something special, because many bands lack that kind of continuity.”
On bass is Craig Adams, who has been one of Wayne Hussey’s musical companions ever since their time together in THE SISTERS OF MERCY in the early 1980s. Meanwhile, drummer Alex Baum, who joined the band in 2022, makes his studio debut with this album. Hinkler particularly praises Baum’s energy and the fresh ideas he has brought to the group. Baum also contributed to the songwriting of ‘Roll With The Punches’, a standout track that closes the second side of the album.
Recorded by César Lamschtein at Faro House Studios in José Ignacio, Uruguay, with additional orchestral recordings in Montevideo, the album was produced in its entirety by Wayne Hussey. The result finds THE MISSION in outstanding form.
Musically, the album ranges from the fast-paced, hard-hitting ‘Operation Chaos’ and ‘Arrhythmia’ to the social and political observations of ‘Circle The Wagons’ and ‘Heavy (Is The Crown)’. More reflective and romantic moments emerge in ‘Diving For Pearls’, ‘A Soft Place To Fall’ and ‘My Very Favourite Life’, which are particularly prominent in the second half of the record. In this way, ‘Songs For Kith And Kin’ combines musical power with emotional depth.
“It was important to me that the album should have a clear sense of progression,” explains Hussey. “It begins with current issues - my health and physical well-being, but also the general state of the world. I’ve never really considered myself a political songwriter, but some of the new songs are politically motivated. So much of what is happening in the world at the moment weighs heavily on the soul. You can’t simply shut it out, so inevitably it finds its way into the music. Nevertheless, I’m an optimist. I believe that people are inherently good. As the album progresses, it turns towards family and the question of where we call home. Friends and family are invaluable to our lives.”
This emotional breadth, expressed both musically and lyrically, makes ‘Songs For Kith And Kin’ a special chapter in THE MISSION’s career. The album sees a band returning to the spotlight with unwavering confidence in its past and a strong belief in the music it is making today. It is an impressive work that brings together everything that makes THE MISSION such a distinctive band.
Tracklist
01. Kith And Kin
02. Operation Chaos
03. Arrhythmia
04. Never Say Never Say Die
05. Kindness Is A Weapon
06. Circle The Wagons
07. Heavy (Is The Crown)
08. Roll With The Punches
09. Unbroken (asongoflove)
10. Diving For Pearls
11. Cleansing The Wound
12. A Soft Place To Fall
13. My Very Favourite Life
14. Sanctuary
15. The Last Leaf On The Tree
German Tour Dates
4 May 2027 - Munich, Backstage Werk
25 September 2027 - Cologne, Live Music Hall
6 October 2027 - Hamburg, Markthalle Hamburg
7 October 2027 - Berlin, Columbia Theater
11 October 2027 - Leipzig, Felsenkeller
12 October 2027 - Frankfurt, Batschkapp
13 October 2027 - Bochum, Zeche
Source: Press Release
