GLAY Releases 18th Album 『旅する理由を待ちながら』

GLAY's 18th original album overall, 『旅する理由を待ちながら』, was released on October 21, 2026. Arriving roughly two years after their previous work, Real Sound published an interview with TAKURO on the release date, in which he spoke about the band's stance now that they have passed their 30th anniversary.

Details

On October 21, 2026, GLAY's 18th original album overall, 『旅する理由を待ちながら』, was released. It marks their first original album in about two years.

The tracklist includes the collaboration 「悲願 GLAY×世武裕子 feat.小田和正」 with Kazumasa Oda, 「Dead Or Alive」, the opening theme for the anime 『終末のワルキューレⅢ』, 「NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN」, the opening theme for the second cour of the TV anime 『ダイヤのA actⅡ -Second Season-』, and the single 「汚れた英雄」. Some of these songs were first performed live at 『LAWSON 50th Anniversary presents GLAY Special LIVE』 in January 2026, and were further refined through performances on the hall tour 『HIGHCOMMUNICATIONS TOUR 2026 “GLAY complete BEST”』, which began that March, before being recorded.

To coincide with the release, Real Sound published an interview on the same day titled 「GLAY TAKURO、30周年後の迷いから取り戻したバンドの衝動と純度『成長という幻想にGLAYを晒したくない』」, in which TAKURO discussed the band's current state of mind now that they have passed the milestone of their 30th anniversary. His words, 'I don't want to expose GLAY to the illusion of growth,' convey a desire to put their present impulses directly into music, unbound by titles or narratives.

Connections to Their Journey So Far

GLAY made their major debut with the single 「RAIN」 in 1994, and their 30th anniversary year opened with a special guest appearance at the QUEEN+ADAM LAMBERT concert at Sapporo Dome in February 2024. After milestone activities including the 『GLAY EXPO』 series, this 30th anniversary year came to a close with concerts at Tokyo Dome on May 31 and June 1, 2025.

Projects related to the 30th anniversary of their fan club HAPPY SWING continued afterward as well. In 2016, at the fan club's 20th anniversary commemorative live at Makuhari Messe, TERU spoke of his wish to hold a concert ten years later, for the fan club's 30th anniversary, at Piazza San Marco in Venice, often called the most beautiful square in the world. That wish came true exactly ten years later in June 2026, as the band's first-ever concert in Venice, Italy.

This album can be seen as a record of GLAY's 'now,' captured after passing this major milestone of their 30th anniversary.

One More Thing

The single 「汚れた英雄」 included on the album was released on September 23, 2026, with lyrics and composition by HISASHI. Inspired by the inner conflict of the protagonist in the film 『汚れた英雄』, the song was first performed live at the Kアリーナ横浜 concert on January 27, 2026. Comparing the recorded version with the song as it was honed on stage should be one of the unique pleasures of this album.

Starting in November 2026, the arena tour 『GLAY ARENA TOUR 2026-2027 “EXOFIRE”』, comprising 22 performances across 11 venues nationwide, awaits. Fans will be eager for further news on how the new album's songs will sound live.