Blood of Your Empire
2026 studio album by President
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Blood of Your Empire is the debut studio album by English metal band President. It was released on 4 September through Atlantic.[1] The album's ten tracks were both written and produced by the band themselves. Blood of Your Empire was supported with the release of four singles, including "Angel Wings", "Mercy", "Doom Loop", and "Dark Heaven". "Angel Wings" peaked at number 99 on the Official Charts Company's UK Singles Sales chart and number 17 on the Billboard Hot Hard Rock Songs chart, while "Doom Loop" and "Dark Heaven" peaked at number 8 and 10, respectively, on the latter.
| Blood of Your Empire | ||||
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Standard edition cover | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 4 September 2026 | |||
| Length | 37:16 | |||
| Label | Atlantic | |||
| Producer | The President | |||
| President chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Blood of Your Empire | ||||
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| Deluxe edition cover | ||||
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The album's artwork features the band's logo and depicts a painting of the Battle of Poitiers by the French painter Eugène Delacroix,[1] while the album's title itself appears in the lyrics for the song "Mercy".[2]
Background
In an interview published on 17 September 2025 in Kerrang!, the band confirmed they were working on their debut studio album, which would further expand the narrative and mythology surrounding the President character.[3] A month later, President's frontman confirmed that the band four songs already written.[4] He described the record as an evolution of their EP, King of Terrors, expanding on its sound while retaining select elements from it.[4] Following the release of the album, President's frontman revealed that it was largely written and self-produced while the band toured with Architects and Bad Omens, using a mobile recording setup that allowed material to be developed on the road.[2]
Musical style and themes
Similar to King of Terrors, the album further explores themes of existential crisis, morality, and humanity's complicated relationship with religious faith.[1] In a statement released by the band, The President had the following to say about what the album represents:
"Blood [o]f Your Empire was born out of my own struggle with existential crisis and trying to make sense of belief, mortality, and humanity’s relationship with faith. Religion has inspired incredible compassion, purpose, and beauty in the world — but it has also been responsible for unimaginable suffering and bloodshed throughout history. This album lives in the tension between those two truths. Writing it became a way for me to confront the fear, confusion, and questions I’ve carried for years, and turn them into something I’m truly proud of."
Musically, the album combines heavier influences with elements inspired by electronic artists such as Four Tet, Jon Hopkins, Bicep and Hot Chip.[2]
Release and promotion
Prior to the album's announcement, the band released the singles "Angel Wings" and "Mercy" in February and March, respectively. Their release coincided with growing speculation surrounding an imminent album announcement, fueled in part by the group's signing with Atlantic,[5] and the announcement of a North American headlining tour that kicks off on 4 September.[6] On 17 May, the band announced that a new single, "Doom Loop", would be released.[7] The album's title, artwork, and track listing were unveiled alongside the single's release on 21 May.[1]
Blood of Your Empire is scheduled for release on 4 September.[1] In addition to their North American headlining tour, the band announced a headlining tour of the United Kingdom and Europe, scheduled to begin in Stockholm, Sweden, on 1 November and conclude in London, United Kingdom, on 24 November.[8] The band also announced their first Australian headlining tour, scheduled to begin on 19 February 2027 and conclude on 27 February.[9]
Blood of Your Empire is released digitally and on limited-edition vinyl and cassette variants.[10] On 7 September, an iTunes-exclusive deluxe edition of the album was released, featuring ten bonus tracks recorded live at Rockfield Studios.[11] The live performance was described by Rock Sound as "punishing, powerful and poignant."[12]
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Blabbermouth.net | 8.5/10[13] |
| Distorted Sound | 4/10[14] |
| Kerrang! | 4/5[15] |
| Metal Hammer |   [16] |
| NME |  [17] |
| Reckless Press | 8.5/10[18] |
Critical
Upon its release, Blood of Your Empire received generally positive reviews from critics. Blabbermouth.net gave the album 8.5/10, praising President's confident blend of metalcore, electronica and cinematic atmosphere, as well as its exploration of faith, mortality and humanity.[13] Kerrang! awarded it 4/5, highlighting its mix of heavy guitars, electronics and emotional intensity, while describing the debut as ambitious, if occasionally uneven.[15] Metal Hammer similarly praised the album's bleak, deeply personal themes, modern metal influences and memorable songwriting, concluding that it justified the hype surrounding the band,[16] a sentiment that was shared by Reckless Press, as they awarded the album 8.5/10 concluding, "The hype got people looking. Blood [o]f Your Empire gives them a reason to stick around."[18] NME gave the album 3.5/5 stars, describing it as an eclectic and ambitious debut that pushes beyond modern metal conventions, though noting that its experimentation could feel uneven at times.[17] A more negative assessment came from Distorted Sound, which rated the album 4/10, criticizing its lack of memorable songwriting and a distinct identity, despite noting some stronger electronic and vocal moments.[14]
Commercial
In the midweek UK Albums Chart update, Blood of Your Empire was positioned at number two, trailing Kasabian's Act III by fewer than 900 chart units in the race for the number-one spot.[19]
Track listing
All tracks are written by The President unless otherwise noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Angel Wings" | 3:52 | |
| 2. | "Doom Loop" | 4:00 | |
| 3. | "Dark Heaven" | The President, Vice | 3:32 |
| 4. | "Pink Noise" | The President, Vice | 4:04 |
| 5. | "Mercy" | 3:49 | |
| 6. | "Sleepwalker" | The President, Vice | 3:48 |
| 7. | "Dionysus" | 2:58 | |
| 8. | "This Will Divide Us" | 4:03 | |
| 9. | "Hate Figure" (featuring Ando San) | 2:48 | |
| 10. | "White Devil" | 4:23 | |
| Total length: | 37:16 | ||
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Fearless (Live from Rockfield Studios)" | |
| 12. | "Dionysus (Live from Rockfield Studios)" | |
| 13. | "Mercy (Live from Rockfield Studios)" | |
| 14. | "Angel Wings (Live from Rockfield Studios)" | |
| 15. | "Doom Loop (Live from Rockfield Studios)" | |
| 16. | "Conclave (Live from Rockfield Studios)" | |
| 17. | "Destroy Me (Live from Rockfield Studios)" | |
| 18. | "White Devil (Live from Rockfield Studios)" | |
| 19. | "Dark Heaven (Live from Rockfield Studios)" | |
| 20. | "In The Name of The Father (Live from Rockfield Studios)" |
Notes
- Track listing adapted from Deezer.[20]
- Deluxe edition track listing adopted from iTunes.[11]
- "Doom Loop" is stylised in all caps.[20]
- "Dark Heaven" is stylised in all lowercase.[20]
- "Dionysus" is a re-recorded version of a track that appeared on King of Terrors.[21]
- "Hate Figure" features Ando San, who has opened for President in the past, and is signed to their management company, Future History.[22]