Gen and the Degenerates announce explosive second album Earthly Delights alongside defiant new single ‘Sex Symbol’

North-west indie art-punk trio Gen and the Degenerates have officially announced their second studio album, Earthly Delights, which will be released on 8 October through Marshall Records.

Alongside the announcement, the band have unveiled their latest single, Sex Symbol, a sharp, synth-driven dance-punk anthem that tackles the objectification and fetishisation of women’s bodies with equal measures of humour, honesty and defiance.

Produced by Michael Champion, whose previous work includes Wet Leg and Swim School, alongside Paul Whalley, the new record marks a significant step forward for the trio. Following a refreshed line-up, Earthly Delights promises a broader and more cohesive sound while continuing the band’s trademark mix of biting social commentary, infectious hooks and playful energy.

The album explores themes including identity, grief, sexuality and the contradictions of modern life, balancing moments of vulnerability with the band’s unmistakable wit. According to vocalist Genevieve Glynn-Reeves, the title was inspired by Hieronymus Bosch’s famous 15th-century painting The Garden of Earthly Delights.

“This album isn’t about anything new,” she explains. “It’s about the same things humans have always made art about; sex and death and love and power.”

The newly released single, Sex Symbol, is perhaps the clearest example yet of the band’s fearless songwriting. Glynn-Reeves says the track was inspired by the assumptions people make based purely on her appearance.

“People make strange assumptions about my personality and morality based on my body,” she says. “They think because I’m overtly feminine and curvy that I must be flirtatious or highly sexual, when in reality it’s them who are sexualising something that I have no control over.”

The song also examines the wider issue of how marginalised bodies are often both stigmatised and fetishised, while challenging society’s often contradictory expectations placed on women. Despite tackling serious subject matter, the track delivers its message through an irresistibly danceable, tongue-in-cheek punk sound.

The band say Sex Symbol came together almost instantly during a drive home before being completed in a single evening, quickly becoming one of their favourite songs on the album.

Gen and the Degenerates have built a reputation as one of the UK’s most exciting live acts, combining chaotic performances with clever songwriting and a distinctly British sense of humour. Their sound draws influence from New York art-punk alongside dance-pop, with comparisons ranging from Talking Heads and LCD Soundsystem to the infectious pop energy of Chappell Roan.

Their relentless touring schedule has seen them headline across the UK, appear at festivals including Truck Festival, YNOT Festival, The Great Escape, 2000 Trees, Sziget and Reeperbahn Festival, while recent support slots in the United States helped establish an international following. The band were also widely praised following appearances at SXSW in 2025.

Before the album arrives in October, Gen and the Degenerates will head out on a run of live dates across the UK and Europe, including support shows with Canadian punk favourites PUP and appearances in London, Sheffield, Brighton, Wigan and Bristol.

Earthly Delights is released on 8 October 2026 via Marshall Records. Sex Symbol is available to stream now, with album pre-orders open ahead of release.

Earthly Delights track listing:

1. I Used To Be Charming
2. Hotter On The Internet
3. Rich Boyfriend
4. It’s A Lot
5. It Can Always Get Worse
6. Party At The End Of The Universe
7. Favourite Jumper
8. Sex Symbol
9. We Should Do This Again Sometime
10. Honey You’re Still In The Game

Topics