Orange County’s punk rock band return louder, leaner, and lit from within. Social Distortion will unleash their long-awaited eighth studio album, Born To Kill, on May 8, 2026 via Epitaph Records, closing a 15-year chapter of silence with 11 tracks of unfiltered rock ’n’ roll conviction.
The hard-charging title track, already a live-wire staple in recent sets, arrives as the first official release.
Born To Kill marks the band’s first album since frontman Mike Ness overcame cancer, an experience that bleeds into the record’s spirit of defiant resilience. This isn’t nostalgia. It’s rebirth.
Across the album, Ness tips his hat to rock’s renegade lineage:
- A snarl toward Lou Reed
- A street-fight salute to Iggy Pop and The Stooges
- A glam-tinged nod to David Bowie
But make no mistake, this is unmistakably Social Distortion: equal parts grit, melody, heartbreak, and hard-earned truth.
Tracks like “Tonight” and “The Way Things Were” channel the emotional gravity of “Story Of My Life” and “I Was Wrong”, proving the band hasn’t lost its ability to turn scars into anthems.
Co-produced by Ness and Dave Sardy, the record features appearances from:
- Benmont Tench (of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)
- Lucinda Williams
The cover art is a collaboration between Ness and iconic visual artist Shepard Fairey, a fitting visual punch for a record this bold.
The band hits the road August 25 in Phoenix, carving through 23 shows across 21 cities before closing October 3 in San Diego with support from Descendents and The Chats.
Fifteen years in the making. A battle fought and won.
Born To Kill isn’t just a return, it’s a reminder.
Social Distortion never left. They just sharpened the blade.
Stream it socialdistortion.ffm.to/borntokill