ArtistDirect News
Chelsea Wolfe Unveils Two New Tracks Ahead of 2026 Album and Tour
On June 23, 2026, American singer‑songwriter Chelsea Wolfe released two new tracks, “The Dark” and “Death is Not the End,” through Loma Vista Recordings. The songs are the first original material Wolfe has issued since her 2024 studio album She Reaches Out to She Reaches Out to She. The release marks the start of a rollout that will culminate in Wolfe’s ninth full‑length album, expected later in 2026.
Both tracks feature a roster of well‑known collaborators. “Death is Not the End” includes guitarist Robin Finck, formerly of Nine Inch Nails and Guns N’ Roses, and drummer Matt Chamberlain, a veteran session musician who has recorded with Tori Amos, Fiona Apple, and Pearl Jam. “The Dark” was recorded with drummer Stella Mozgawa of Warpaint and Courtney Barnett, and bassist Justin Meldal‑Johnsen, who has played with Beck and Air. The combination of musicians brings a blend of industrial, folk, and heavy‑metal elements that have become a hallmark of Wolfe’s sound.
The songs were unveiled as part of a marketing campaign for Heretic Parfum, a fragrance brand that has partnered with Wolfe for its first musician collaboration. The brand’s campaign used the new tracks as a sonic backdrop, and the release was accompanied by cryptic visuals that generated speculation among Wolfe’s fan base before the official announcement. The campaign also highlighted Wolfe’s connection to the brand GHOSTS, which has used her music in its promotional materials.
Wolfe’s career has spanned more than a decade and has been defined by a willingness to blend genres. Her early releases, The Grime and the Glow (2010) and Apokalypsis (2011), combined gothic rock and folk elements. Subsequent albums—Pain Is Beauty (2013), Abyss (2015), Hiss Spun (2017), and Birth of Violence (2019)—expanded her palette to include electronic textures and heavier metal riffs. She has also collaborated with artists such as Chino Moreno, Xiu Xiu, and Converge, and her music has appeared in the television series Game of Thrones and on the soundtrack for the 2022 A24 horror film X, which she worked on with composer Tyler Bates.
The release of “The Dark” and “Death is Not the End” has already generated buzz. A secret pre‑order, available only to subscribers of Wolfe’s mailing list, sold out in under 30 minutes. The pre‑order did not disclose the exact contents, but it is understood to include the new tracks and possibly additional material related to the forthcoming album. Wolfe has announced that she will continue to release new songs throughout the northern summer, leading up to a 43‑date headline tour that will cover venues in the United States and Europe and conclude in late 2026.
The two new songs showcase different facets of Wolfe’s evolving style. “Death is Not the End” opens with a delicate piano line and hushed vocal passages before building into a heavier, emotionally charged climax. “The Dark” presents a contrasting atmosphere, with a more grounded rhythm section and a focus on the interplay between drums and bass. Both tracks maintain Wolfe’s signature use of atmospheric production and lyrical themes that explore transformation and tension.
Industry observers note that the collaboration with high‑profile musicians and the partnership with a fragrance brand represent a strategic expansion of Wolfe’s brand beyond traditional music channels. The release also aligns with Loma Vista Recordings’ broader strategy of supporting artists who cross genre boundaries. The label, founded by former Warner Bros. executive Tom Whalley, has a history of working with artists who blend rock, electronic, and experimental sounds.
As Wolfe prepares to launch her new album and tour, the music community will be watching to see how the artist’s latest work builds on her established legacy. The release of “The Dark” and “Death is Not the End” confirms that Wolfe remains an active and innovative presence in the alternative music scene, and the forthcoming album and tour are expected to solidify her position as a key figure in the genre.
The current status is that the two tracks are available for streaming and purchase on major platforms, and the 43‑date headline tour is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2026. Fans and industry analysts alike are anticipating the full album release later that year, which will provide a broader context for the new songs and Wolfe’s continued artistic evolution.
Both tracks feature a roster of well‑known collaborators. “Death is Not the End” includes guitarist Robin Finck, formerly of Nine Inch Nails and Guns N’ Roses, and drummer Matt Chamberlain, a veteran session musician who has recorded with Tori Amos, Fiona Apple, and Pearl Jam. “The Dark” was recorded with drummer Stella Mozgawa of Warpaint and Courtney Barnett, and bassist Justin Meldal‑Johnsen, who has played with Beck and Air. The combination of musicians brings a blend of industrial, folk, and heavy‑metal elements that have become a hallmark of Wolfe’s sound.
The songs were unveiled as part of a marketing campaign for Heretic Parfum, a fragrance brand that has partnered with Wolfe for its first musician collaboration. The brand’s campaign used the new tracks as a sonic backdrop, and the release was accompanied by cryptic visuals that generated speculation among Wolfe’s fan base before the official announcement. The campaign also highlighted Wolfe’s connection to the brand GHOSTS, which has used her music in its promotional materials.
Wolfe’s career has spanned more than a decade and has been defined by a willingness to blend genres. Her early releases, The Grime and the Glow (2010) and Apokalypsis (2011), combined gothic rock and folk elements. Subsequent albums—Pain Is Beauty (2013), Abyss (2015), Hiss Spun (2017), and Birth of Violence (2019)—expanded her palette to include electronic textures and heavier metal riffs. She has also collaborated with artists such as Chino Moreno, Xiu Xiu, and Converge, and her music has appeared in the television series Game of Thrones and on the soundtrack for the 2022 A24 horror film X, which she worked on with composer Tyler Bates.
The release of “The Dark” and “Death is Not the End” has already generated buzz. A secret pre‑order, available only to subscribers of Wolfe’s mailing list, sold out in under 30 minutes. The pre‑order did not disclose the exact contents, but it is understood to include the new tracks and possibly additional material related to the forthcoming album. Wolfe has announced that she will continue to release new songs throughout the northern summer, leading up to a 43‑date headline tour that will cover venues in the United States and Europe and conclude in late 2026.
The two new songs showcase different facets of Wolfe’s evolving style. “Death is Not the End” opens with a delicate piano line and hushed vocal passages before building into a heavier, emotionally charged climax. “The Dark” presents a contrasting atmosphere, with a more grounded rhythm section and a focus on the interplay between drums and bass. Both tracks maintain Wolfe’s signature use of atmospheric production and lyrical themes that explore transformation and tension.
Industry observers note that the collaboration with high‑profile musicians and the partnership with a fragrance brand represent a strategic expansion of Wolfe’s brand beyond traditional music channels. The release also aligns with Loma Vista Recordings’ broader strategy of supporting artists who cross genre boundaries. The label, founded by former Warner Bros. executive Tom Whalley, has a history of working with artists who blend rock, electronic, and experimental sounds.
As Wolfe prepares to launch her new album and tour, the music community will be watching to see how the artist’s latest work builds on her established legacy. The release of “The Dark” and “Death is Not the End” confirms that Wolfe remains an active and innovative presence in the alternative music scene, and the forthcoming album and tour are expected to solidify her position as a key figure in the genre.
The current status is that the two tracks are available for streaming and purchase on major platforms, and the 43‑date headline tour is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2026. Fans and industry analysts alike are anticipating the full album release later that year, which will provide a broader context for the new songs and Wolfe’s continued artistic evolution.