Deep Purple’s 24th studio album, SPLAT!, lands with the force of a freight train. Released on July 3, 2026, and produced for the sixth time by Bob Ezrin, it is the heaviest record the band has made in decades. The current lineup — Ian Gillan, Simon McBride (guitar), Roger Glover, Ian Paice and Don Airey — recorded together in the studio, restoring the live-band chemistry that defined their classic era. The result is 13 tight, riff-heavy tracks (totaling just over 50 minutes) that recapture the dynamics, swagger and sheer fun of 1969–73 Purple without descending into nostalgia for its own sake.
The pseudo-conceptual thread—humanity’s “end” imagined as transformation rather than simple destruction—gives the lyrics a sly, philosophical edge. Gillan delivers his trademark mix of howl, snarl and dark humour, notably on the sprawling “Guilt Trippin’,” where God and Charles Darwin share a reflective pint. Opener “Arrogant Boy” barrels in with pounding drums and stabbing keys, while “Diablo” showcases McBride’s searing leads (with a guest appearance from Keith Urban). Standouts such as “The Only Horse in Town,” “Jessica’s Bra” and the title track balance muscular hard rock with unexpected prog flourishes and Airey’s expressive keyboard work.
McBride has fully settled into the role left by Steve Morse, bringing both technical fire and a Blackmore-esque sense of drama. Paice and Glover remain an unstoppable rhythm engine, and Ezrin’s production gives everything space and punch without sanitising the grit. If there is a minor complaint, it is that a couple of mid-tempo tracks feel slightly formulaic next to the album’s explosive peaks.
Overall, SPLAT! is a vital, energised statement from a band that refuses to coast. At a combined age well into their seventies and eighties, Deep Purple sound younger, heavier and more inspired than many groups half their age. A strong contender for one of their best albums of the 21st century.
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