UK atmospheric doom/post-metal trio Matador announces new album »Above, Below And So«; first single »The House Always Wins« streaming now!

Brighton, UK based atmospheric doom/post-metal trio Matador has announced their new album, »Above, Below And So«, which will be released on February 27th, 2026 via Church Road Records.

Listen to the first single »The House Always Wins«, available now on all major streaming platforms! https://bfan.link/the-house-always-wins

Tracklist:
01. The House Always Wins
02. Glitter Skin
03. The Flood
04. O Suna
05. A Virus
06. Hooks

Courtesy of Church Road Records:

Matador return in 2026 with »Above, Below And So«, a towering new statement in epic psychedelic post-metal, slated for release on February 27th via Church Road Records. Expansive yet crushing, the album captures the band at their most ambitious, defined by moments of vast, foreboding atmosphere, cinematic scope and immersive sonic depth.

Originally conceived in 2019 by guitarist and vocalist James Kirk, Matador began as a largely solitary vision. Kirk wrote and produced the debut »They Were Here Before Us« almost entirely alone, enlisting outside help only for drum tracking. That foundation soon evolved into a full creative force when Kirk joined with drummer Scott Stronach and bassist Mark Ainsworth in 2020.

The trio’s chemistry was fully realised on their sophomore album »The Surge« (2021), recorded and engineered at Rain City Recorders by acclaimed producer Jesse Gander (Western Canadian Music Awards “Engineer of the Year”, two-time Juno Award recipient). The album struck a chord across the underground post-rock, post-metal and stoner scenes, earning features on influential discovery platforms such as Where Post Rock Dwells, 666MrDoom, Underrated Albums and Weedian.

With »Above, Below And So«, Matador push their sound further than ever before. The album sees the band diving deeper into technical, meticulously crafted compositions, blending delicate, haunting melodies with brutal doom-laden riffs and powerful, hypnotic rhythms. The result is a richly cinematic experience, both immersive and confrontational that draws the listener deeper into Matador’s evolving universe.

»Above, Below And So« stands as Matador’s most vivid and fully realised work to date: a formidable, atmospheric journey that cements their place at the forefront of modern psychedelic post-metal.

Pre-order »Above, Below And So« here:
churchroadrecords.com | matadorlives.bandcamp.com

All songs written by Matador, except words on »The Flood« written by Jayne Kirk and performed by Karen Wallace.
Mixed and produced by J Kirk.
Drums recorded at Head Gap Studios by Finn Keane, except »Glitter Skin«, recorded by Jim Rindleish.
Guitar, bass, and vocals recorded by J Kirk.
Bass on »The House Always Wins« and »A Virus« recorded by Mark Ainsworth at Howe Sound.
Mastered by Neil Pickles at Reveal Sound/Pierce Entertainment.
Cover art and layout by Spike Johnson.

Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well