HomeEF CountryWard Thomas release new album 'Music in the Madness' on Friday

Ward Thomas release new album ‘Music in the Madness’ on Friday

Ward Thomas are back! After the brilliant lockdown album release of ‘Invitation’ the Hampshire-duo return with ‘Music In The Madness’ – their fifth studio album – out March 10th, 2023.

The record’s first offering is ‘Justice & Mercy’ which was revealed in full by Bob Harris on his infamous Radio 2 show. Begun on a Nashville trip, the creepy country corker is a fictional tale, inspired by the pair’s shared love of true crime podcasts.

“It’s a fun story song about a wrong ’un who ruins lives on his travels and meets a sticky end,” says Lizzy. “I imagine it set in the ‘20s Western States, although we partly based the psychopath on Putin. There are two outcomes when you listen to true crime – one merciful, one justice-driven. Either the perpetrator has to die or his soul can be saved. There were some deep discussions in that writing session. If one of us was murdered, would the other be team justice or team mercy?’

”Music In The Madness is both a harmony-soaked balm for shattered souls and an uplifting reminder of what really matters. Love, family, unity and the healing power of music are recurrent themes on an album begun as war broke out in Ukraine and the world went into a post-Covid tailspin.

One of the album’s key tracks from a Nashville trip is the acoustic spine-tingler ‘Love Does’, on which unusually the duo harmonise from start to finish and the lyrics will bring you to tears.

Co-written and produced by former Cage The Elephant guitarist Lincoln Parish, ‘All Over Again’ is an emphatic ode to no regrets steeped in synths and shimmering guitars. ‘Next To You’ the sisters call Carry You Home 2.0, a follow-on from the lead single from 2016’s chart-topping ‘Cartwheels’, which could be about their own bond or a romantic relationship.



‘Joan of Arc’ is a battle anthem co-written with Ed Harcourt, about fighting back and standing up for yourself, while the closer of Side A on the vinyl is a spectacular reworking of Razorlight’s ‘America’ drenched in the twins’ trademark harmonies.

Still only 28, Catherine and Lizzy are on a roll and already working on a sixth album which they plan to release before they turn 30.

“We look up to artists like Brandi Carlile, whose career has grown organically. Of course, we love success, but the artists we admire are the ones who keep showing up and don’t sell out. We do what we do because we love music and we have something to say.”

Ward Thomas hit the road in March & April and will play the following headline dates. Tickets on sale HERE

March 2023
Thu 30th                     Glasgow, Old Fruit Market
Fri 31st                         Gateshead, Sage

April 2023
Sun 2nd                      Liverpool, Olympia
Tue 4th                       York, Barbican
Wed 5th                     Manchester, Albert Hall
Thu 6th                       Birmingham, Town Hall
Mon 10th                   Cambridge, Corn Exchange
Tue 11th                     Cardiff, St. David’s
Thu 13th                     Bexhill, De La Warr Pavilion
Fri 14th                        London, Barbican
Sat 15th                      Southampton, Central Hall
Mon 17th                   Reading, Hexagon
Tu 18th                       Bath, Forum

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