Austin’s TEAR DUNGEON are turning the volume all the way up ahead of the arrival of their new album, Squirm, with the release of their latest single, “Red Flag.” The track serves as the final preview of the record, which lands October 2, 2026, via TODO Records, and captures the band’s chaotic, confrontational approach in its rawest form.
“Red Flag” doesn’t ease listeners into the world of Squirm. It charges forward almost immediately, driven by a punishing rhythm and an abrasive sense of momentum that mirrors the physical intensity of the band’s live performances. The track feels less like something to simply listen to and more like something to be thrown into.
TEAR DUNGEON describe the song as a reflection of the strange relationship between a band and the audience watching it unfold; a sweaty, volatile exchange where performer and crowd become part of the same uncontrolled environment. Their description of the song paints a picture of flushed faces, screaming bodies, blood, exhaustion, and the unmistakable warning sign represented by its title.
The single arrives after a series of increasingly unhinged previews of Squirm. In August, the band introduced the album with “I’m Not Dead Yet,” a track built around a monstrous riff and an irreverent confrontation with mortality. Its accompanying video was captured during one of TEAR DUNGEON’s notorious performances at the now-closed DIY space The Ghost Cat Lounge, where the show descended into complete destruction as musicians and audience members tore through the venue.
That chaos continued with “Freak Flag,” a grimy, distorted blast that further established the sonic territory of the upcoming record. The release also coincided with the announcement of the band’s UK/EU booking partnership with Pitch and Smith.
Squirm follows TEAR DUNGEON’s 2022 album Carl, expanding on the band’s sludge-heavy attack while turning its attention toward subjects including police violence, religious hypocrisy, and the decay embedded within contemporary American life. Songs such as “Shame” and “God Is Winning” continue that confrontational approach, refusing to soften the band’s perspective or slow the record’s relentless momentum.
Behind the scenes, the album was recorded by Stuart Sikes, mixed by John Michael Landon at Estuary Recording, and mastered by Greg Obis at Chicago Mastering Service. The record was created as a full-band effort, preserving the collective aggression and immediacy that have become central to TEAR DUNGEON’s identity.
And if the singles are any indication, Squirm was made for the same environment that helped shape it: a packed room, bodies moving in every direction, and a band pushing its audience toward the edge.
TEAR DUNGEON have already shared stages with acts including Amyl and the Sniffers, Snooper, High on Fire, Osees, and Negative Approach, while making an appearance at Sled Island in Calgary earlier this summer. The band will follow the album’s release with its largest North American tour to date, beginning with an album release show at 29th Street Ballroom on October 9.
With “Red Flag” now completing the preview, Squirm is ready to arrive in full and TEAR DUNGEON have made it clear that they’re not interested in making the experience a comfortable one.
★ TEAR DUNGEON LIVE 2026 — SQUIRM TOUR ★
OCTOBER
9 – Austin, TX – 29th Street Ballroom
18 – Albuquerque, NM – Juno Brewery
19 – Highland Park, CA – Oblivion LA
20 – San Francisco, CA – Kilowatt
22 – San Diego, CA – TowerBar
23 – Santa Cruz, CA – TBD
24 – San Luis Obispo, CA – TBD
25 – Pioneertown, CA – Pappy & Harriet’s
27 – Denver, CO – Larimer Lounge
28 – Omaha, NE – The Sydney
29 – Minneapolis, MN – TBD
31 – Milwaukee, WI – The Cooperage
NOVEMBER
2 – Madison, WI – The Bur Oak
3 – Chicago, IL – The Empty Bottle
4 – Toronto, ON – The Dance Cave
5 – Montreal, QC – Toscadura
6 – New York, NY – Alphaville
7 – New Haven, CT – Cafe Nine
8 – Baltimore, MD – Ottobar
9 – Philadelphia, PA – Kung Fu Necktie
10 – Charlotte, NC – Snug Harbor
11 – Asheville, NC – Static Age
12 – Atlanta, GA – Drunken Unicorn
13 – Nashville, TN – TBD
14 – Fayetteville, AR – Punk Truck Stop
15 – New Orleans, LA – Siberia
17 – Corpus Christi, TX – Studio B
19 – San Antonio, TX – Paper Tiger
20 – Dallas, TX – TBD
21 – Austin, TX – Central Machine Works
22 – Houston, TX – White Oak Upstairs
* with Gus Baldwin & The Sketch, Throat Piss, Flags
CONNECT WITH TEAR DUNGEON:
INSTAGRAM | BANDCAMP | YOUTUBE
CONNECT WITH TODO RECORDS:
Leave a Reply