Russian Circles are back with new music, and if the first taste is any indication, 2026 is shaping up to be a big year for the Chicago instrumental trio.

The band has officially announced its ninth studio album, currently titled Nine, scheduled for release on August 28, 2026 via Sargent House. The record will serve as the long-awaited follow-up to 2022’s Gnosis, an album that showcased some of the darkest and heaviest material in the band’s catalog.

Alongside the announcement, Russian Circles unveiled the album’s first single, “Empath,” offering fans an initial glimpse into the trio’s next sonic chapter. While the band remains characteristically reserved about revealing details ahead of a release, the new track appears to continue their trademark blend of towering riffs, atmospheric tension, and cinematic songwriting.

The upcoming album will feature seven tracks and arrives nearly four years after Gnosis. Hints about new material had already surfaced in 2025, with drummer Dave Turncrantz confirming that the band was working toward its next full-length release.

Over the years, Mike Sullivan, Brian Cook, and Dave Turncrantz have proven that words are optional when it comes to storytelling. If “Empath” is any indication of what lies ahead, Nine could easily become another essential entry in the Russian Circles discography.