The Alarm announces new “life or death” album “Forwards” — hear the title track

Mike Peters and The Alarm

Mike Peters of Welsh rockers The Alarm celebrated his medical recovery and return to music with the new single “Next” earlier this month, and now he’s announcing a whole new album — called Forwards — to be released in early June.

You can hear the title track of The Alarm’s new album via the music video posted below.

The 10-track Forwards will be released June 2 in all digital formats — including hi-res and Dolby Atmos editions — and on both compact disc and LP, with the vinyl release featuring two different sleeves and colored-vinyl pressings. A “classic green-and-white star white” pressing will be sold everywhere, while a limited-edition “unique metallic green vinyl” pressing will only be sold through independent record stores.

Peters, who was initially diagnosed with leukemia in 2005, spent much of the last year in hospitals, receiving chemo treatments and battling a life-threatening pneumonia brought on by his relapse, according to The Alarm’s publicist — who added that Peters is now “newly energized from a healthy prognosis.”

The frontman recorded with producer George Williams in between hospitalization periods, calling the process “life or death” for him. At times, according to the band’s publicists, Peters was barely able to speak due to the affects of his chronic illness.

Peters, in a press release announcing the album, says:

“A lot of artists have to kill to make a record like Forwards and with the challenges that came my way in 2022. I certainly had to kill or be killed to realize the ambition in these songs. It was literally life or death making this record. I’ve already taken so much from life, that when I was in the hospital stricken with chronic illness, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be spared another opportunity to live. Fortunately for me, I was granted more time on earth and the challenge remains as ever, to make the most of every single second — forwards.”

Peters will bring The Alarm to New York City for two “Gathering” concerts at the Gramercy Theatre on June 23 and 24; tickets for both are now on sale via Live Nation.

Check out the new song below and the album’s tracklist:

The Alarm, Forwards

1. “Forwards”
2. “The Returning”
3. “Another Way”
4. “Love and Forgiveness”
5. “Next”
6. “Whatever”
7. “Transition”
8. “Love Disappearing”
9. “New Standards”
10. “X”

PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS

• The Alarm returns with triumphant new single “Next,” sets NYC Gathering shows
• The Alarm, members of The Damned, Blondie, Sex Pistols set for new David Bowie tribute LP
• Watch: Billy Corgan joins The Alarm for ‘Rain in the Summertime’ in Cleveland
• Premiere: The Alarm debuts video for ‘Thirteen Dead Reindeer’ off new album ‘Equals’
• The Alarm to tease upcoming album with Record Store Day vinyl EP featuring Billy Duffy
• Watch: Trailer for ‘Man in the Camo Jacket’ — documentary about The Alarm’s Mike Peters