Hard-Fi are back with a brand new album called ‘Sweating Someone Else’s Fever’ – check out the fiery lead single ‘They Ain’t Your Friends’ below.
The news of the new album was announced today (Wednesday March 4), and will mark the first new record from the indie giants in 15 years.
It was written and recorded throughout 2025 and produced by frontman Richard Archer alongside longtime collaborator Wolsey White, and is set for release on June 19 via V2. Pre-order it here.
The album is named after an El Salvador saying about not fighting other people’s ego-based battles and, like the title suggests, sees the band back together, harnessing the joy of making music again, and letting go of external pressure.
Lyrically, it will feature sharp reflections of the world around us, and showcase a social commentary alongside a new outlook, fresh musical avenues, and an underlying sense of freedom.
The first taster of the record arrives today in the form of ‘They Ain’t Your Friends’ – which takes aim at the fake allegiances of the online world and the hypocrisies of the modern music industry.
“At the beginning you could get out there and it was a meritocracy, whereas now it’s basically back to patronage where you have to suck up to the guy who’ll give you some money to write a waltz for his ball,” Archer said, adding that it was born by stitching two older demos together with the help of his 10-year-old son.
“They were in different tempos so a lot sounded like chaos, but every now and then it would be really cool,” the frontman added. “We did it all properly and suddenly it sounded really fresh. Now he’s going, ‘So where’s my cut?!’”
The album follows the band reuniting after the lockdown, and going on to play a comeback show at London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town, which sold out in minutes. Since then, they have also released the EP ‘Don’t Go Making Plans’ in 2024.
Elsewhere on the new record, collaborations come from the likes of UK-based Colombian rapper Mike Kalle and Olivier Award-nominated singer Krysten Cummings.
Hard-Fi have also shared details of three huge headline shows, taking place in the UK later this year.
These all take place in December, and include stops at the O2 Academy Brixton in London, the O2 Institute in Birmingham, and the O2 Ritz in Manchester.
Before then, the band will play at festivals including Stockton Calling, Y Not, Kendal Calling and more over the summer. Visit here for tickets and more information.
Hard-Fi’s 2026 UK headline shows are:
DECEMBER
3 – London, O2 Academy Brixton
4 – O2 Institute Birmingham
5 – O2 Ritz Manchester
At their peak, the Staines indie rockers sold over a million copies of 2005 debut ‘Stars Of CCTV’ and were nominated for the Mercury Prize, reportedly missing out by just one panel vote to ANOHNI’s ‘I Am a Bird Now’. They also equalled the record held by Bob Dylan, The Prodigy, The Clash and Massive Attack by playing five sold-out nights at Brixton Academy in 2006.
In 2023, they looked back at their huge accomplishments in an interview with NME, and recalled what it was like to be in the ‘00s indie scene.
“We were lucky in some ways because there were a lot of new British bands coming along and there was an ear for it,” they said. “People wanted to hear about it, they wanted to listen. I always had quite a lot of impostor syndrome but looking back at it now, it was really good and I should have enjoyed the moment a little bit more.”
“If you’re into indie music, it was a great time – there were so many good bands about, you could go and see us, Futureheads, Kaiser Chiefs, Kasabian, all in one week, all touring,” they added.
“Obviously, things are very different now. I know how difficult it is to be a new band or a new act. It should be really great with all the things open to you, but it’s just made it so much harder to be heard.”
Last year, Hard-Fi announced a deluxe reissue of their ‘Stars Of CCTV’ album to celebrate the 20th anniversary, and went on to launch a special-edition shirt with Brentford FC to mark the milestone.
