Social Distortion announce first album in 15 years, ‘Born To Kill,’ share title track (exclusive vinyl)

Orange County punk veterans Social Distortion have announced a new album, Born To Kill, due May 8 via Epitaph. It’s their eighth album, first in 15 years, and first since Mike Ness successfully underwent cancer treatment. Ness co-produced the album with veteran producer Dave Sardy, and it features appearances by Lucinda Williams and Benmont Tench (of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers). The album artwork was made by Ness and Shepard Fairey.

Pre-orders are up now, including our exclusive clear w/ pink & yellow splatter vinyl variant, which is limited to 500. Get yours in the BV shop while they last. It looks like this:

Along with the announcement, the band have shared the title track and its video, and you can check that out below. It’s a punked-up boogie rocker with lyrical nods to Iggy Pop, David Bowie, and Lou Reed, and Mike Ness’ voice sounds as gritty and unmistakable as ever.

The album announcement comes one day after Social Distortion announced a tour with fellow Cali punk vets Descendents and Australian punks The Chats, and that includes NYC-area shows at Asbury Park’s Stone Pony Summer Stage on September 5 and Brooklyn Paramount on September 11 & 12. Tickets go on sale Friday (2/27) at 10 AM local. All dates are listed below.

Descendents also just announced a reissue of 1986’s Enjoy! and you can pick that up on limited “bubblegum” vinyl in the BV shop.

Social D pre-order is here.

Social Distortion — 2026 Tour Dates
August 25 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre *
August 28 – Austin, TX – Moody Amphitheater *
August 29 – Dallas, TX – The Bomb Factory *
August 31 – Nashville, TN – The Pinnacle *
September 1 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy *
September 3 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz *
September 4 – Washington, DC – The Anthem *
September 5 – Asbury Park, NJ – The Stone Pony Summer Stage *
September 8 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark *
September 9 – Boston, MA – Roadrunner *
September 11 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount *
September 12 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount *
September 14 – Toronto, ONT – HISTORY *
September 17 – Detroit, MI – The Filmore Detroit *
September 20 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory *
September 22 – Denver, CO – The Mission Ballroom *
September 23 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Union Event Center *
September 25 – Las Vegas, NV – The Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas *
September 26 – Reno, NV – Grand Sierra Resort – Grand Theatre *
September 2 -8 San Francisco, CA – The Masonic *
October 1 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium #
October 2 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium #
October 3 – San Diego, CA – Gallagher Square at Petco Park *

# The Descendents support
* The Descendents and The Chats support