Legendary punk rockers Social Distortion have finally announced their long-awaited eighth album, Born To Kill, which will be released on May 8, 2026 via Epitaph Records.

This highly anticipated follow-up to their critically-acclaimed 2011 release Hard Times And Nursery Rhymes comes with a lot of expectations attached, given the band's storied history and consistent output over nearly four decades.

The album's lead single, also titled "Born To Kill", has already been lighting up crowds at Social Distortion's recent live shows.

A short documentary about the making of Born To Kill has been directed, filmed and edited by Josh Roossin and can be seen below.

The band will support their new release with an extensive North American tour kicking off on August 25 in Phoenix, Arizona.

In a December 2025 interview with Kevin Ryder at KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas, Social Distortion's founder Mike Ness shared an update on his recovery from tonsil cancer surgery.

In June 2023, Ness revealed he had been diagnosed with the illness and underwent a complex operation which required him to relearn how to eat and talk.

The band was formed in the early days of punk rock in Fullerton, California, with Social Distortion emerging as rebellious teenage punks in the working-class suburb.

The band has since released seven studio albums and countless electrifying live shows have earned them a dedicated worldwide fanbase and catalog of timeless anthems.

The official music video for the title track can be seen below.

Social Distortion's Born To Kill will feature guest appearances from Benmont Tench of Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers and Lucinda Williams, with co-production handled by Ness and Dave Sardy.

The collaborative cover art has been created by Ness and Shepard Fairey.