Massive Attack release their first new song since 2016’s The Spoils EP (or if you are counting this 2023 release), a song and video that is informed by the final season of America, as it’s often dubbed, a time of Trump’s authoritarianism, domestic militarism, ICE raids and public resistance.
The song ‘Boots On The Ground’ which features Waits’ deep breathing as a stand-in for a country which metaphorically and sometimes literally can’t breathe, is accompanied by a film by Massive Attack featuring the work of US photographer thefinaleye.
“This montage work portrays a momentous American epoch that is yet to be named, and comes in the aftermath of the largest public protests in American history – focused on opposition to ICE raids, the militarisation of domestic forces, and state authoritarianism,” says the song’s description.
The song is also Waits’ first new recording since ‘Bad As Me’ in 2011. The track arrives with a vinyl B-side, ‘The Fly’ – a sardonic spoken word piece from Waits, featuring additional vocals from his son Casey.
Massive Attack on the release: “Across the western hemisphere, state authoritarianism and the militarisation of police forces are fusing again with neo-fascist politics. Seen within the American emergency, at home and overseas, this track contains pulses of callous impulse and abandoned mind.”
On Friday, novelist Omar El Akkad – author of American War and What Strange Paradise – will publish an exclusive written reflection on the themes of the work.
“One day many years ago I accepted an invitation from Massive Attack to collaborate,” Waits explains. “Way back then, we sent them “Boots on the Ground”. Their long release delay never worried me. Today, as in all of mankind’s yesterdays, guarantees this song will never go out of style. Man’s fiasco folly is a feast for the flies. Hence, the B side of Massive Attack’s upcoming 12 inch “The Fly” features my appreciation for the winged nuisance.”
“It’s a career honour to collaborate with an artist of the magnitude, originality and integrity of Tom, but this track is arriving in an atmosphere of chaos. Across the western hemisphere, state authoritarianism and the militarisation of police forces are fusing again with neo-fascist politics. Seen within the American emergency, at home and overseas, this track contains pulses of callous impulse & abandoned mind.”
The release is the first Massive Attack music distributed under a Spotify exemption policy. The vinyl is an EcoSonic pressing – manufactured from 100% recycled PET rather than PVC, fully recyclable, with packaging made from recycled FSC-certified paper. All profits from vinyl sales go to the American Civil Liberties Union and the US Immigrant Defense Project.
The film quotes statistics and research by the following sources: American Immigration Council, American Civil Liberties Union, Inside Higher Ed,National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, US National Library of Medicine, US National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Privacy International and FactCheck.org. Viewers seeking further information or wishing to take action are encouraged to visit aclu.org, veterans-aid.net, immigrantdefenseproject.org, and freedomforimmigrants.org.
- Visit the Official Massive Attack Store to pre-order the vinyl: a limited edition 180g ‘EcoSonic’ record, mixed at random in red, white and blue, housed in a full colour sleeve, with additional screen printing.
- Purchase links
- Massive Attack will be donating all profits from the sale of the vinyl edition to the American Civil Liberties Union and the US Immigrant Defense Project.
Further releases are scheduled around the band’s European tour and summer festival headlines, which include Primavera Sound in Barcelona on June 4th and Fuji Rock in Japan on July 26th.
Massive Attack Live
- 27.05.2026 — Helsinki, FI — Veikkaus Arena
- 30.05.2026 — Rättvik, SE — Dalhalla
- 01.06.2026 — Copenhagen, DK — Royal Arena
- 04.06.2026 — Barcelona, ES — Primavera Sound †
- 07.06.2026 — Berlin, DE — Zitadelle
- 08.06.2026 — Brussels, BE — Forest National
- 26.07.2026 — Niigata, JP — Fuji Rock Festival †
- † HEADLINE FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE
Full information and tickets can be found here
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
