Glasgow-based British-Canadian synth auteur Soft Riot returns with Crux, a new album arriving May 15, 2026 that further sharpens Jack Duckworth’s singular blend of darkwave, synth-pop, EBM, minimal wave and post-punk. Across the last fifteen years, the project has built a devoted underground following through relentless European touring and a catalogue that channels the spirit of acts like Fad Gadget, Skinny Puppy and early Simple Minds while remaining firmly rooted in the modern coldwave circuit.
Duckworth’s roots trace back to the mid-90s North American art-punk and hardcore underground, with previous projects including first-wave post-punk revivalists Radio Berlin and industrial synth-punk outfit A Luna Red. Decades immersed in evolving post-punk subcultures have allowed Soft Riot to refine a sound that feels both referential and forward-looking, balancing dancefloor mechanics with experimental textures and understated melodic hooks.
On Crux, that evolution leans into space and restraint more than ever before. The album cruises through minimalist rhythms, layered sound design and subtle psychedelic touches while maintaining the tension and emotional pull that define Soft Riot’s output. Having shared stages with legends and contemporaries alike — from Front 242 and Absolute Body Control to Drab Majesty and Lebanon Hanover — Soft Riot continues to stand out as one of the underground synth scene’s most distinctive and quietly enduring voices.