Social Distortion are officially back in motion, and the second preview of their long-awaited new album is here. “Partners In Crime” arrives as another glimpse into Born To Kill, the band’s first full-length release in over a decade, due out May 8 via Epitaph Records.
The track leans into everything that has defined Social Distortion for more than 40 years. Grit, melody, and a sense of lived-in truth. It’s loud, anthemic, and rooted in the kind of unity that has always powered the band’s message.
Frontman Mike Ness puts it plainly: the song is about finding your voice, especially if you never felt heard, and finding strength in the people who share that same frustration and fire. That idea of connection sits right at the center of the band’s DNA, and “Partners In Crime” feels like a direct extension of it.
Born To Kill marks the end of a 15-year gap between albums, but it doesn’t sound like a band easing back in. It sounds urgent. Eleven tracks built on raw energy, reflection, and the same defiant spirit that made Social Distortion a cornerstone of punk and alternative rock.
The title track already made noise on release, pulling in millions of streams while nodding to legends like Lou Reed, Iggy and the Stooges, and David Bowie. “Partners In Crime” continues that thread, blending influence with identity in a way that feels both nostalgic and forward-looking.
Elsewhere on the record, songs like “Tonight” and “The Way Things Were” tap into the emotional weight fans know from classics like “Story of My Life,” while still pushing into new territory.
The album was co-produced by Ness alongside Dave Sardy and features contributions from Benmont Tench and Lucinda Williams. Visually, the project also carries weight, with cover art created in collaboration with Shepard Fairey.
Taken together, Born To Kill feels less like a comeback and more like a continuation of a catalog that has stretched across generations, from Mommy’s Little Monster to Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes.
Social Distortion will support Born To Kill with an extensive North American tour, featuring support from The Descendents and The Chats. The tour kicks off August 25 in Phoenix and plays a total of 25 shows in 22 cities before concluding October 3 in San Diego. For support on specific dates, tickets and further information, see below or go to https://www.socialdistortion.
SOCIAL DISTORTION
North American Tour
Fall 2026
August 25 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre *
August 28 – Austin, TX – Moody Amphitheater *
August 29 – Dallas, TX – The Bomb Factory *
August 31 – Nashville, TN – The Pinnacle *
September 1 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy *
September 3 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz *
September 4 – Washington, DC – The Anthem *
September 5 – Asbury Park, NJ – The Stone Pony Summer Stage * (SOLD OUT)
September 8 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark *
September 9 – Boston, MA – Roadrunner *
September 11 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount *
September 12 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount *
September 14 – Toronto, ONT – HISTORY * (SOLD OUT)
September 15 – Toronto, ONT – HISTORY *
September 17 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore Detroit * (SOLD OUT)
September 20 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory *
September 22 – Denver, CO – The Mission Ballroom *
September 23 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Union Event Center *
September 25 – Las Vegas, NV – The Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas * (SOLD OUT)
September 26 – Reno, NV – Grand Sierra Resort – Grand Theatre * (SOLD OUT)
September 28 – San Francisco, CA – The Masonic * (SOLD OUT)
September 29 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater *
October 1 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium # (SOLD OUT)
October 2 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium # (SOLD OUT)
October 3 – San Diego, CA – Gallagher Square at Petco Park *
Support comes from The Descendents and The Chats, making this one of the strongest punk lineups of the year.
Several dates are already sold out, including stops in Asbury Park, Toronto, Detroit, Las Vegas, Reno, San Francisco, and both nights in Los Angeles, signaling just how much demand there is for the band’s return.
More than four decades in, Social Distortion aren’t trying to reinvent themselves. They’re doubling down on what they’ve always done best. Honest songs, big hooks, and a perspective shaped by time, struggle, and survival.
“Partners In Crime” makes it clear. This isn’t just a nostalgia run. It’s a band still writing their story in real time.
