The legendary Liverpool band is ending more than a decade of silence on the recording front with *Apples for Isaac*, an album set to be released on September 18. The first single, “Brussels Is Haunted,” already hints at the return of one of the essential names in British post-punk and takes on even greater significance as it features one of legendary drummer Clem Burke’s final collaborations.
There are bands whose influence transcends trends. Even if years go by without them releasing a new album, they remain an essential reference for entire generations of musicians. Echo & The Bunnymen belong to that exclusive group.
After twelve years without releasing a studio album, Ian McCulloch and Will Sergeant have confirmed the release of Apples for Isaac, their fourteenth album, scheduled for September 18, 2026. The announcement is accompanied by “Brussels Is Haunted, ” a lead single that recaptures the atmospheric, melancholic, and elegant essence that made the band one of the cornerstones of British post-punk and alternative rock.
A twelve-year wait for a highly anticipated album
Echo & The Bunnymen’s latest studio album was *Meteorites*, released in 2014. Since then, the band has remained very active on stage, but fans had been waiting more than a decade for new material.
There were several reasons for the long wait. In a recent interview with MOJO, Ian McCulloch acknowledged that the pandemic slowed down the creative process, although the real reason was much more personal.
“I wanted every lyric to make sense. Or, at least, to be cryptically significant. It’s a curious phrase, but it perfectly sums up this album.”
The lead singer also says that *Apples for Isaac* is the album that comes closest to the music he’d been hearing in his head for years.
“More than any other album I can remember, this one sounds exactly as I imagined it would.”
A statement that further heightens expectations surrounding the launch.
“Brussels Is Haunted” and the Return of the Most Elegant Melancholy
The first single from the album is titled “Brussels Is Haunted” and marks an immediate return to the soundscape of Echo & The Bunnymen.
Enveloping guitars, cinematic atmospheres, elegant production, and McCulloch’s unmistakable voice come together to create a song that seems to bridge the gap between classics like “The Killing Moon, ” “Lips Like Sugar, ” and “Nothing Lasts Forever” and a new creative phase.
Far from trying to sound modern at any cost, the British band does exactly what it does best: create songs where emotion always trumps artifice.
Clem Burke’s Last Gift
One of the most moving aspects of *Apples for Isaac* is the contribution of Clem Burke, Blondie’s legendary drummer, who passed away while the album was being finalized.
The band wanted to honor his memory with a heartfelt statement:
“The powerful and legendary Clem Burke, Mac’s lifelong friend, played a pivotal role during the recording of the album, and sadly, he passed away while we were finishing it. We love you, Clem.”
For decades, Burke had been one of the most admired musicians in international rock. His energy behind the drums shaped Blondie’s history, but he also collaborated with artists such as Bob Dylan, Pete Townshend, Iggy Pop, the Ramones, the Eurythmics, the Romantics, Nancy Sinatra, and the Split Squad.
His participation makes this new album by Echo & The Bunnymen an unintended tribute to one of the most influential drummers of the past five decades.
A legacy that changed alternative rock
To talk about Echo & The Bunnymen is to talk about one of the most important bands to emerge from Liverpool after the rise of The Beatles.
Formed in 1978 by Ian McCulloch, Will Sergeant, Les Pattinson, and Pete de Freitas, they played a leading role in the emergence of British post-punk alongside bands such as Joy Division, The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and The Teardrop Explodes.
Albums such as Crocodiles (1980), Heaven Up Here (1981), Porcupine (1983), or the essential Ocean Rain (1984) redefined 1980s alternative music thanks to a unique blend of psychedelia, immersive guitars, and an almost cinematic sensibility.
Songs like “The Killing Moon, “ “Bring On The Dancing Horses, ” “Seven Seas, “ “Silver, “ and “Lips Like Sugar” remain essential listening for any indie rock fan today.
The Return of the Great Legends of British Rock
The announcement of *Apples for Isaac* comes at a particularly prolific time for British rock.
In recent weeks, we’ve also heard new music from The Rolling Stones, Editors, Royal Blood, and Fat Dog, confirming that 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting years for guitar music in a long time.
Echo & The Bunnymen are now joining that list with an album that promises to recapture all the melancholic elegance that has always defined their sound.
Complete tracklist for *Apples for Isaac*
- Take Me By the Hand
- Can’t Be Sold
- Brussels Is Haunted
- I’ll Be Your Sunshine
- Hijacked
- The Honey
- Unstoppable Force
- The Light That Surrounds You
- Lab Rats Ran
- Asimov
- We Prayed in the Dark
LoffMusic’s opinion
There are comebacks that appeal solely to nostalgia.
This doesn’t seem to be one of them.
Everything suggests that Echo & The Bunnymen would rather wait twelve years than release an album that didn’t live up to their legacy.
If “Brussels Is Haunted” is truly representative of the rest of the album, Apples for Isaac could become one of the must-have releases of the fall.
What’s more, it will forever be remembered as one of the last projects featuring the unforgettable Clem Burke, whose talent continues to resonate far beyond Blondie.
