Published: March 26, 2026 · 10:50 AM EDT
The Philadelphia band expand their mythic punk vision with “Hymns from the Hills”, blending aggression, fantasy imagery and experimental textures
Philadelphia-based band Poison Ruin continue to develop their distinct identity within modern punk and extreme music with the release of “Guts (Lay Your Self Aside)”, the latest single from their upcoming album “Hymns from the Hills”. Known for blending raw aggression with mythic and symbolic storytelling, the band pushes further into a more expansive and textured sound.
Set for release on April 3, 2026 via Relapse Records, the album represents a continuation of the band’s evolving artistic direction. Across its thirteen tracks, Poison Ruin expand their sonic palette while maintaining the core elements that define their sound, including driving rhythms, abrasive textures, and a strong narrative framework.
“Guts (Lay Your Self Aside)” reflects the band’s ability to combine immediacy with atmosphere, moving between energetic, punk-driven passages and slower, more immersive sections. The track also introduces lyrical themes centered on self-preservation, internal conflict, and the rejection of moral rigidity, reinforcing the album’s broader conceptual direction.
With “Hymns from the Hills”, Poison Ruin move beyond the more grounded allegories of their earlier work into a darker, more abstract landscape. Their songwriting draws on medieval and fantasy-inspired imagery, not as historical representation, but as a symbolic language used to explore contemporary emotional and existential states.
Musically, the album integrates influences that range from punk and proto-metal to experimental and ambient elements. The band incorporates analog textures, synthesizers, and shifting structures, creating compositions that resist predictability while maintaining a cohesive identity.
The album was largely self-recorded, continuing the band’s independent approach to production. To support its broader sonic ambitions, the band worked with Jonah Falco on mixing and Arthur Rizk on mastering, resulting in a sound that balances raw intensity with clarity and depth.
Hymns from the Hills TRACKLIST
Intro
Lily Of the Valley
Hymn from the Hills
Eidolon
Howls From the Citadel
Pilgrimage
Guts (Lay Your Self Aside)
Turn To Dust
Puzzle Box
Serpent’s Curse
Sleeping Giant
Crescent Sun
The Standoff
LIVE 2026
April 11, 2026 — New York, NY — Bowery Ballroom
April 12, 2026 — Medford, MA — Deep Cuts
April 13, 2026 — Portland, ME — Geno’s
April 14, 2026 — Portsmouth, NH — Press Room
April 15, 2026 — Brattleboro, VT — The Stone Church
April 16, 2026 — Montreal, QC — Petit Campus
April 17, 2026 — Toronto, ON — The Garrison
April 18, 2026 — Detroit, MI — Edgeman
April 19, 2026 — Muskegon, MI — Rake Beer Project
April 21, 2026 — Cincinnati, OH — Northside Tavern
April 22, 2026 — Chicago, IL — Subterranean
April 23, 2026 — Minneapolis, MN — Zhora Darling
April 24, 2026 — Milwaukee, WI — Quarters
April 25, 2026 — St. Louis, MO — The Sinkhole
April 26, 2026 — Indianapolis, IN — Healer
April 28, 2026 — Cleveland, OH — Happy Dog
April 29, 2026 — Pittsburgh, PA — 222 Ormsby
April 30, 2026 — Richmond, VA — Cobra Cabana
May 1, 2026 — Baltimore, MD — Ottobar
May 2, 2026 — Philadelphia, PA — First Unitarian Church
With “Hymns from the Hills”, Poison Ruin expand their artistic vision beyond traditional genre boundaries, combining aggression, atmosphere, and symbolic storytelling into a cohesive and evolving sound. The album reflects a band pushing forward while maintaining a strong sense of identity within the underground music landscape.
Written by Gino Alache – Music Journalist
Photo Credit: Kat Bean
Watch the official video for “Guts (Lay Your Self Aside)” below:
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