Norwegian hard rock veterans Audrey Horne will return with their eighth studio album, Achilles, on September 4, 2026 through Napalm Records. Alongside the announcement, the band has released the album’s first single, “Insanity”, accompanied by a music video that matches the song’s energetic and unpredictable feel.
Over the years, Audrey Horne has built a strong reputation within the hard rock scene. Both Blackout and Devil’s Bellwere well received by critics around the world, while the band’s 2005 debut earned a Spellemannprisen, Norway’s equivalent of a Grammy Award. The group has also shared stages with major names including AC/DC and Mötley Crüe, while touring alongside acts such as Papa Roach and Backyard Babies, helping establish them as one of Norway’s notable rock exports.
Discussing the new single, the band said: “The first song that was written for the album. It’s a classic Audrey Horne tune that has the energy, the twin guitars, a big chorus, and a cool mid-section. The lyrics are inspired by ‘Hallowed be Thy Name’ by IRON MAIDEN. It is an attempt to say what might have happened prior to the story in that song.”
The new album contains 11 tracks and highlights different sides of Audrey Horne‘s songwriting. The lineup of vocalist Toschie, guitarists Ice Dale (Enslaved) and Thomas Tofthagen, bassist Espen Lien, and drummer Kjetil Greve moves between straight-ahead hard rock, melodic material, and more progressive arrangements.
Opening track “Achilles” sets the tone with driving guitars, a powerful rhythm section, and commanding vocals. The song also explores a more progressive direction, using contrasting musical passages to support lyrics inspired by today’s increasingly divided world.
Elsewhere, “God Damn Beautiful” delivers a groove-heavy approach influenced by Thin Lizzy, while giving bassist Espen Lien the spotlight on lead vocals. Album closer “New Star Falling” highlights the band’s melodic side and provides a fitting conclusion to the record.
According to the band, Achilles blends influences from classic ’70s and ’80s rock with lyrical themes that range from escapism to reflections on an increasingly unstable world. The result is an album designed for both rock radio and the live stage, while continuing the sound that has defined Audrey Horne throughout its career.
