Failure is announcing a new album called Location Lost, and it’s the kind of return that proves some bands never really go away they just take their time coming back. The alt-rock outfit’s seventh studio effort is due out April 24, 2026, arriving five years after their last album, 2021’s Wild Type Droid. That’s a significant gap, but the band clearly used that time wisely. The lead single “The Air’s on Fire” is out now, and it hits with the kind of atmospheric intensity Failure is known for. But the real headline is the collaboration with Paramore’s Hayley Williams on a track called “The Rising Skyline.”
The Failure-Paramore connection isn’t new, which makes this collaboration feel like full-circle vindication. Back in 2006, Paramore covered Failure’s “Stuck on You” on their Summer Tic EP. That’s not just a random cover choice. That’s a band taking a track from their influences and reinterpreting it. Now, two decades later, they’re collaborating directly on original material. Williams also appears in the 2025 Failure documentary called Every Time You Lose Your Mind, which suggests a deeper connection than just two bands acknowledging each other’s work. This collaboration isn’t transactional. It’s rooted in genuine artistic respect.
Location Lost represents Failure’s evolution after five years away from recording
The gap between Wild Type Droid and this new record gives the band time to recalibrate, experiment, and come back with material that reflects where they’ve landed creatively. Long gaps between albums can be dangerous sometimes bands lose momentum or audience interest. But Failure has built the kind of devoted fanbase that cares more about quality than consistency. Five years is acceptable if the material justifies it.
The release strategy is solid: lead single out now, full album in April, release show in Los Angeles on April 21, then a U.S. headlining tour starting in May. That’s the modern album rollout template that actually works. Get music in people’s ears. Build anticipation. Play a hometown show right before release. Immediately take it on the road. No wasted time, no extended waiting periods. The band is clearly confident in this material and ready to present it live.
What’s particularly appealing about Location Lost is that it’s not trying to reinvent Failure’s sound it’s just advancing it. The “Stuck on You” comparison is useful here: Paramore didn’t try to turn that song into something different. They just interpreted the existing foundation. Failure seems to be taking a similar approach with this album. They’re not chasing trends or trying to sound contemporary in a forced way. They’re just making the next Failure record with whatever that means in 2026.
The Hayley Williams feature suggests the album isn’t just Failure retreading familiar ground. Guest appearances can feel like placeholder moments or checkbox inclusivity. But given the genuine connection between these artists, “The Rising Skyline” probably represents something more intentional. Williams isn’t on this track because it was a booking decision. She’s there because the collaboration served the song.
Paramore’s cover of “Stuck on You” mattered because it validated Failure’s influence on bands that came after them. Now that influence is being reciprocated directly, which feels like proper recognition of a band that’s been consistently innovative without demanding mainstream attention. Location Lost arrives April 24. The release show is April 21 in Los Angeles. The tour starts in May.
For Failure fans who’ve waited five years, the band is finally back and they brought friends.
