Soft Riot returns with new album, Crux , invoking early '80s DIY synth, new wave & post-punk

The early '80s DIY synth spirit comes alive with the work of SOFT RIOT, who is back with a fresh full-length offering, 'CRUX.' Dive into his ever-evolving take on synthesizer post-punk, taking in elements of darkwave, new wave, post-punk, Italo, and EBM.

Crux is the latest, forthcoming album to be released on 15 May 2026 by Glasgow-based, British-Canadian synth auteur Soft Riot, who over the past fifteen years has toured Europe regularly and has released dozens of releases which feature his unique and ever-evolving take on synthesizer post-punk, taking in elements of darkwave, new wave, post-punk, Italo and EBM with a sound that brings to mind artists such as Fad Gadget, Prince, early Simple Minds, Skinny Puppy, Bill Nelson as well as the current wave of underground bands working in this overall genre.

With origins in the mid-1990s art-punk/hardcore scene dominating the West Coast American/Canadian underground at the time, Soft Riot’s Jack Duckworth (JJD) has clocked in a few decades of musical output in various bands and projects while being continually active in the musical underground, including first-wave post-punk revivalists Radio Berlin (1998-2005) and industrial synth-punk collective A Luna Red (Gold Standard Labs, 1999-2003) and a myriad of others.

On the surface Crux is a continuation of Soft Riot‘s evolution — a singular and intriguing take on elements of classic synthesizer music that seems familiar on the surface, pulling in elements of synth pop, minimal wave, darkwave, new wave, Italo, EBM and post-punk by an artist who has been active in many different guises of the ongoing “post-punk revival” since the eve of the turn of the millenium. With that much time involved in an overarching sub-genre and seeing many trends and styles come and go, it has allowed the artist to fine-tune his craft.

Overall, the songs on Crux are given space to cruise more, and dip into more minimalism than previous albums — an aspect of the music the artist had struggled with in the past but was crafted into place after years of experience. The whole album works out a strategic balance of space, rhythm, sound design, subtle humor, lyrical interplay, mild psychedelia, and an enhancement of the aspects of the music that make Soft Riot unique within the current underground synth scene.

Soft Riot has toured Europe numerous times over the years, with stages shared with such peers as Absolute Body Control, Front 242, Parade Ground, She Past Away, Test Department, Selofan, Section 25 (Factory Records), Ausgang, Linea Aspera, Kontravoid, Buzz Kull, Drab Majesty, Uncanny Valley, Lebanon Hanover, Qual, Noi Kabát, Robert Görl of Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft and many more, as well as appearances at a number of essential festivals in scene including Gothic Pogo (DE), Ombra Festival (ES), BIM Fest (BE), Waveteef (BE), Synth Frequency (FR), Verboden (CA), Kalabalik På Tyrolen (SE) and Weird Science (DE).

A follow-up extended EP called Alter — set for release on 29 June 2026 — will contain exclusive, alternate and extended versions of tracks relating to Crux. Streaming audio, expanded information, press images, video, press links and a full length filmed interview with the artist about the album can be found at softriot.com/preview/crux/