Splat! (album)

Described as "the heaviest Deep Purple album in many years" by the band,^[4] Splat! is a hard rock,^[5][6] heavy metal^[5] and progressive rock album,^[6] combining the blues influence of their Mark II output with the more mature songwriting of its predecessor, =1. It marks the first time Deep Purple has used amp modelers instead of tube amps, with McBride comparing the album to a "freight train."^[7]

Unlike their earlier collaborations, producer Bob Ezrin is not credited as a composer on the songs. This marked the first time Purple had written without additional input since Rapture of the Deep in 2005.

A pseudo-concept album, Splat!'s lyrics explore an end-of-humanity concept. "Not in any crude apocalyptic sense but as a metamorphosis beyond physical existence," lead vocalist Ian Gillan explains in the liner notes.^[6]

The song Guilt Trippin' was written from the perspective of God and Charles Darwin in reflective conversation regarding the seemingly bleak fate of the world, and which of the two is most to blame.^[8] The song features Gillan's original screaming vocal style of delivery, which had not been used for a number years.^[9]

• The lead single "Arrogant Boy" was released on 12 May 2026, along with an accompanying music video.^[10]
• The second single "Diablo" was released on 5 June 2026, along with an accompanying music video releasing on 7th June 2026.
• The third and final single "Guilt Trippin" was released on 23 June 2026 with an accompanying music video.

More information Review scores, Source ...

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Clash Magazine	7/10[11]
Classic Rock	[12]
Record Collector	[13]

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According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Splat! received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 79 out of 100 from four critic scores.^[14] The review aggregator gave it a weighted average score of 6.9 out of 10 from five critic scores.^[15]

All songs written by Don Airey, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Simon McBride, and Ian Paice.^[16]

1. "Arrogant Boy" – 3:18
2. "Diablo" – 3:16 (Vinyl & Japanese CD 4:00)
3. "The Rider" – 3:56
4. "The Lunatic" – 3:47
5. "The Only Horse in Town" – 4:41
6. "Sacred Land" – 3:32
7. "The Beating of Wings" – 4:00
8. "Guilt Trippin'" – 4:52
9. "Scriblin' Gib'rish" – 3:34
10. "Jessica's Bra" – 3:45
11. "Third Call" – 4:19
12. "My New Movie" – 3:45
13. "Splat!" – 3:39

Japanese bonus track

14. "Highway Star" (live in Dresden) – 6:27

Personnel adapted from Splat! liner notes.^[16]

Deep Purple

• Ian Gillan – vocals
• Simon McBride – guitars
• Roger Glover – bass guitar
• Ian Paice – drums
• Don Airey – keyboards

Additional musicians

• Keith Urban – guitar on "Diablo"
• Bob Ezrin – background vocals

Technical personnel

• Bob Ezrin – producer, mixing, additional arrangements
• Justin Cortelyou – engineer (Nashville)
• Anthony Yordanov – additional recording engineer (Toronto), mix engineer
• Tate Sablatura – additional engineer
• Jake Smith-Rex – additional engineer
• Piers Mortimer – additional keyboard recording engineer (Harston)
• Simon McBride – additional guitar recording engineer (SMB)
• Eike Freese – additional vocal recording engineer (Hamburg)
• Denny Meißner – additional vocal recording engineer (Hamburg)
• Julian Shank – mix engineer
• Robert Vosgien – mastering