Gilla Band confirm new album Pugnello for September and share Placeholder
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Dublin noise-rock band Gilla Band have announced their new album, Pugnello, which is set for release on 25 September 2026 via Rough Trade. It marks their first full-length record in four years, following 2022's Most Normal, a period during which members pursued other projects such as guitarist Alan Duggan Borges' electronic venture the Null Club. The announcement follows May's comeback single "Giraffe" and is accompanied by a new single, "Placeholder".
The record was recorded and mixed by bassist Daniel Fox, and the new single leans further into a thumping, quasi-industrial sound that pairs the band's scratchy guitar work with booming electronic beats. Frontman Dara Kiely said the track explores his "comfort distractions" and childhood nostalgia as a means of examining his mental health, referencing outdated pop culture such as Davina McCall, Harold Lloyd and Power Rangers. The ten-track album includes both prior singles, and the "Placeholder" video was directed by Cuan Roche.
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Gilla Band are a five-piece from Dublin known for a noisy, abrasive sound that mixes distorted guitars with electronic elements, distinguishing them from more conventional rock acts. The band, previously known as Girl Band before a 2021 name change, have built a following through albums such as 2019's The Talkies and 2022's Most Normal. Since that last record, members have worked on side projects, meaning it has been four years since a new full-length release.
Pugnello is the group's upcoming fourth studio album, due out on 25 September 2026 through the independent label Rough Trade. It follows the same pattern the band used to build anticipation for Most Normal, with singles released ahead of the full record to give listeners a sense of its direction before it arrives.
Frontman Dara Kiely has previously been open about how his mental health experiences shape the band's lyrics and public profile, a theme that continues to inform the new material. The wider band lineup includes bassist and producer Daniel Fox, who also records and mixes their music, alongside guitarist Alan Duggan Borges, whose work outside the band includes electronic music under a separate name.
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Originally published by Stereogum as “Gilla Band Announce New Album Pugnello: Hear “Placeholder””.