Black Doldrums return with Compulsion, the second single from their forthcoming third album, Repetition Compulsion, out November 13th, 2026 via Fuzz Club. Building on the hypnotic momentum of previous single Repetition, the London trio push toward something more pressing and explosive, combining chorus-drenched guitars, analogue synths and driving bass with an insistent rhythm.
Blending post punk, darkwave and goth sensibilities, Compulsion captures the feeling of an impulse tightening its grip until resistance becomes impossible. The album completes Black Doldrums’ interconnected “State of Mind Trilogy,” following 2022’s Dead Awake and 2024’s In Limerence in examining the psychological forces behind identity, memory and human connection.
The band’s Kevin Gibbard says of the single: “I wrote ‘Compulsion’ as the second part of our first single, ‘Repetition’. It originally started life as one piece of work, but naturally split into two separate songs. That gave us the opportunity to directly reference ‘Repetition; while continuing the central themes of the album and reinforcing the idea that all of the songs are connected in some way. The opening line, “Here we are again, repetition once more”, immediately brings the two songs together. Where ‘Repetition’ has a more dirge-like feel that literally reflects the idea of repetition, ‘Compulsion; has a greater sense of forward motion, building in intensity as it develops. We’re really proud of how the track fits within the wider concept of the album. We wanted to take a considered, interconnected approach, and I think ‘Compulsion’ really captures that idea. It feels like a natural progression from ‘Repetition’, while also taking the story and the sound somewhere new.”
UK and European tour dates for spring 2027 have also been announced.
ALBUM TOUR-DATES
26/02 - London, UK @ St Pancras Old Church (Launch Show)
27/02 - Margate, UK @ Where Else?
03/03 - Bristol, UK @ Exchange Basement
04/03 - Birmingham, UK @ Hare and Hounds
05/03 - Glasgow, UK @ Old Hairdresser's
06/03 - Nottingham, UK @ The Old Bus Depot
14/04 - Maastricht, NL @ 043 Muziekgieterij
15/04 - Groningen, NL @ Vera
16/04 - Venlo, NL @ Kalt & Duuster Grenswerk
17/04 - Siegen, DE @ Beautiful Vortex Festival
18/04 - Berlin, DE @ Urban Spree
19/04 - Kusel, DE @ Kinett
20/04 - Hannover, DE @ Cafe Glocksee
21/04 - Copenhagen, DK @ Råhuset
22/04 - Malmö, SE @ Plan B
23/04 - Stockholm, SE @ Klubb DÖD
24/04 - Jönköping, SE @ The Hush Hush Club
27/04 - Bielefeld, DE @ Freak Culture Club
28/04 - Kronach, DE @ Tiger Lounge
30/04 - Vienna, AT @ Lot
01/05 - Heidenheim, DE @ TBA
More to be announced.
Photo courtesy of Fuzz Club Records
ZR