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Jan 28, 2026 By Mark Redfern Photography by Tom Beard

Politically charged Belfast hip-hop trio Kneecap have announced a new album, FENIAN, and have shared a new song from it, “Liars Tale,” via a music video. FENIAN is due out April 24 via Heavenly Recordings. Below, check out the new single, followed by the album details and their upcoming tour dates.

FENIAN follows their acclaimed 2024 album, Fine Art, and the film about them, simply titled Kneecap and also released in 2024. The band have been outspoken about the genocide in Palestine.

The band features Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí. Collectively they had this to say about the new album in a press release:

“They tried to stop us by branding Kneecap ‘terrorists,’ with cancellations, with statements from the Prime Minister himself.

“We had all the motivation we needed…this isn’t a swift reaction, but a considered response to those that tried to silence us. And failed.

“Made with Dan Carey, a producer we are honored to have worked with. It’s a more sinister sound…because these are sinister times. But also defiant and triumphant.

“Inspired by, and proudly named ‘Fenian’, who were warriors in Irish folklore, and later a derogatory term for the Irish.

“Now we’re using it to name everyone speaking truth to power.

“After 800 years of colonisation, they thought the Irish language would die, it didn’t. Thanks to Muintir na Gaeltachta, and all the Gaels who refused to let their culture and language be destroyed.

“And Kneecap is much the same…we haven’t gone away.

“The Paddies are back.”

Of “Liars Tale,” Kneecap simply say, referencing the current British Prime Minister: “Starmer is a scumbag, don’t accept it. There’s no good in their politics and the belly of the beast is feeding overseas.”

Thomas James directed the song’s video and had this to say:

“For me, this needed to be punk, absurd, abrasive and wild. An ugly reflection of the world we find ourselves in; utter fucking chaos. We talked around the idea of a ‘carnival of distraction’—and for me, this meant as many ideas as would squeeze into the three minutes, that embody the 2+2=5 hell-scape we seem to be surrounded by.

“A whirlwind of Irish mythology, of satire, of anger. A vehicle for what the boys have been through, but likewise, for what everyone is witnessing. It’s not often you get to work with a band who have a genuine fire, and a selfless interest in trying to help people. And that for all of us involved, was important.

“The video became a nightmarish fuck you to the powers that be, with a wry smile and a lubed up prop selection.”

Last September Kneecap released “Sayōnara,” a new song featuring Paul Hartnoll of Orbital. It landed on our Songs of the Week list, but didn’t make the album’s tracklist.

FENIAN Tracklist:

1. Éire go Deo
2. Smugglers & Scholars
3.Carnival
4. Palestine (ft. Fawzi)
5. Liars Tale
6. FENIAN
7. Big Bad Mo
8. Headcase
9. An Ra
10. Cold At The Top
11. Occupied 6
12. Gael Phonics
13. Cocaine Hill (ft. Radie Peat)
14. Irish Goodbye (ft. Kae Tempest)

Kneecap Tour Dates:

May 29-30 – AVA, Belfast, IE
Jun 6 – Primavera, Barcelona, ES
Jun 11 – Primavera, Porto, PT
Jun 13 – Festi’Neuch, Neuchatel, FR
Jun 27 – Crystal Palace Park, London, UK
Jul 1 – Open’er Festival, Gdynia, PL
Jul 2 – Roskilde Festival, Roskilde, DK
Jul 4 – Rock Werchter, Werchter, BE
Jul 18 – PhilGood Festival, Plovdiv, BG
Jul 21 – All Together Now, Waterford, IE
Aug 12-16 – Boomtown, Winchester, UK
Aug 28-30 – Reading & Leeds Festivals, UK

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