Social Distortion has announced a new album titled Born To Kill, marking the punk band's first release in 15 years. The album is set for release on May 8th, with the title track now available alongside an official music video. This follows the band's recent tour announcement and comes after frontman Mike Ness's recovery from cancer.
Social Distortion revealed details of their upcoming album Born To Kill on February 25th, 2026. The record serves as a follow-up to their 2011 release Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes and is the band's first since frontman Mike Ness's 2023 diagnosis with tonsil cancer.
A press release describes the album as brimming with aggressive optimism. It states: “The first Social Distortion album since Ness’ recovery from a bout with cancer, Born To Kill brims with aggressive optimism. The album wastes no time letting the listener know where its heart is, with its title track and mission statement dropping nods to Lou Reed (‘Rock ’n’ Roll Animal gonna come your way!’) and Iggy and the Stooges (‘The agenda is yeah to Search and Destroy’) and an homage to David Bowie (“It’s a Rock ’n’ Roll Suicide”) following a few songs later on ‘Partners in Crime.'”
The title track "Born To Kill" has been performed live by the band in recent years and now receives its studio recording, featured as the opening song on the 11-track album. The full tracklist is:
- Born To Kill
- No Way Out
- The Way Things Were
- Tonight
- Partners in Crime
- Crazy Dreamer
- Wicked Game
- Walk Away (Don’t Look Back)
- Never Going Back Again
- Don’t Keep Me Hanging on
- Over You
This announcement arrives one day after Social Distortion revealed a headlining 2026 North American tour with special guests Descendents, beginning in late August. Artist pre-sales for the tour started on February 25th at 10 a.m. local time using the code BORNTOKILL, with general sales on February 27th via Ticketmaster. Fans can pre-order Born To Kill on vinyl and CD through the band's official merch store.