Brand New Will Not Release A New Record This Year, Speak Of 'Strange Demise'

Every time Brand New make announcement these days, there seems to be a tinge of bittersweetness. And, if it seemed as though their long-touted break-up was imminent before, today's message isn't going to make it any less likely, as the band have revealed they will not be releasing a new album this year.

The news comes after months — actually, years — of speculation (and first-hand confirmation) to the contrary, with the band offering an apology to their fans (well, "to whom it may concern") in a letter on Facebook.

"At some point previous, we, Brand New, admitted our plans to release a record this year," they wrote. "These plans were authentic, but we are changing them. While there exists a collection of songs that, right now, some would call fit to be an album, to us it is not complete enough, refined enough, or edited thoroughly enough to be something we would call finished or essential. Brand New will not release a record in 2016."

In lieu of the new album, they continued, fans headed to their fall tour in the United States will instead be treated to a 10th-anniversary retrospective of acclaimed third album The Devil & God Are Raging Inside Me, "in its entirety … included within a larger set of songs".

However, it's the last part that's most concerning, as the band conclude:

"What's left should be a strange demise, but hopefully one as loud and as fun as the rest of our time together has been. All are invited. Please send flowers."

Sure. That bodes well.