During the making of “Rituals Of Shame,” filmmaker Geert Braekers spent time with Warning, documenting much of the creative process. The resulting short film is available now.
Warning return with “Rituals Of Shame,” their first new album in 20 years, out June 19, 2026 via Relapse Records on LP, CD, cassette and digital.
Watch “Warning’s Rituals Of Shame” by Geert Braekers via the YouTube player below:
As Warning prepares to release “Rituals Of Shame” — their first new music in twenty years, vocalist/guitarist Patrick Walker is self-effacing about what led to this moment. Over the last two decades he continued to write and release music, satisfied that he had achieved what he set out to do with Warning. In those intervening years, interest in Warning swelled, organically gathering an ardent fanbase. In particular, the 2006 album, “Watching From A Distance,” has gained a cult following.
In response to a transformative period in his life, Walker turned towards writing new songs, and it soon became apparent that these belonged to Warning. In early January 2025, he started with a completely blank canvas, and piece by piece, he started to fill it with ideas that evolved to become the songs that make up “Rituals Of Shame.” His immersion in the project became a full-time pursuit.
After successfully demoing the five songs, Walker retreated to a remote house on a hill outside Florence, Italy, to refine the lyrics. Recording took place at The Arch Studio, a 140-year-old former church in Southport, UK. Chris Fullard (Idles, Sunn O))), Ulver) handled the recording and mixing.
Walker’s lifelong musical inspirations can be traced through “Rituals Of Shame.” The ambitious structural arrangements harken to Marillion’s complex but soaring episodic songs. They retain a sparsity that is reminiscent of June Tabor’s economic arrangements; thick with melody but with a diaphanous air to them. Citing John Brenner of Revelation as an enduring inspiration, Patrick credits him with introducing the idea of how to infuse Heavy Music with significant emotional depth.
Often reluctant to discuss the minutiae of his lyrics, Walker does acknowledge that making this album was a direct response to the immediate concerns of his current life period. “Rituals Of Shame” also echoes the enduring themes and fixations that have marked most of his work: guilt, shame, personal failure, obsession, longing, and separation, but, most of all, he says, love.
Pre-Order “Rituals Of Shame” HERE
Tracklist:
01. Rituals Of Shame
02. Stations
03. Night Comes Down
04. Landing Lights
05. Teacher
Warning Live:
July 10 to 12 Pleszew, PL @ Red Smoke Festival
July 29 to August 1 Bergen, NO @ Beyond The Gates
August 13 to 15 Francavilla Al Mare, IT @ Frantic Festival
August 13 to 16 Carhaix-plouger, FR @ Motocultor Festival
September 3 Helsinki, FI @ KULT
September 4 Helsinki, FI @ KULT
September 12 to 13 Leon, MX @ Candelabrum Metal Festival
November 7 Nuremberg, DE @ Sonus Obscura Festival
November 13 Athens, GR @ An Club
The current Warning’s Lineup is:
Patrick Walker / Guitar and Vocals
Marcus Hatfield / Bass
Wayne Taylor / Guitar
Andrew Prestidge / Drums