GLAY Return with 18th Album "Tabisuru Riyuu wo Machininagara"
GLAY are back with fresh material. The legendary Japanese rock act has announced their 18th studio album, Tabisuru Riyuu wo Machininagara (Waiting for a Reason to Travel), arriving October 21, 2026—their first full-length release in roughly two years.
For those unfamiliar with GLAY: they’re one of Japan’s most enduring rock institutions, having defined the Visual Kei and rock landscape since the mid-1990s. After wrapping their 30th anniversary activities earlier this year, the band dove into the creation of what they’re calling a “next chapter” record, one that reconnects with their original impulses and raw creative energy.
The album’s genesis is fascinating. Rather than rushing into the studio, GLAY workshopped these 15 tracks live throughout 2026—debuting them at a special January performance at K Arena Yokohama, then road-testing them across their spring hall tour. Only after the songs were road-tested and refined did the band commit them to tape. That live-to-studio approach should give the record a matured, battle-hardened edge.
The tracklist spans GLAY’s signature palette: hard rock numbers, introspective mid-tempo pieces, and experimental terrain. Standout cuts include “Dead Or Alive” (opening theme for anime Record of Ragnarok III), a collaboration with Oda Kazumasa on “Kigan” (featuring world music vocalist Seita Yoshitake), and the latest single “Kitanai Eiyuu” (Dirty Hero), dropping September 23. Live favorite “EXOFIRE” also makes the cut.
The album artwork deserves mention too—a collage of photographs selected and arranged by the band members themselves, each image capturing a memory or feeling from the recording sessions. It’s a deeply personal visual statement.
GLAY will celebrate with exclusive release shows at SGC Hall Ariake (Tokyo) on October 22–23. Entry requires either purchase of their new single or album pre-order with a serial number. Arena tour dates follow this winter.
Three editions are available: G-DIRECT limited edition (CD + Blu-ray, ¥12,100), CD + DVD (¥6,710), and CD-only (¥3,850). Head to glay.co.jp for full details, and pre-order via GLAY’s official music partners.