Out of nowhere and with zero chill, Black Country duo BIG SPECIAL have surprise-released their new album ‘NATIONAL AVERAGE.’ via SO Recordings. After a cryptic teaser campaign featuring projected artwork across London landmarks—from the Tate Modern to, yep, even Buckingham Palace—the record is officially here and ready to wreck you in the best way.
Alongside the drop, the band unveiled the raw and resonant lead single GOD SAVE THE PONY. Complete with a brand new video, the track tackles the emotional weight we all drag behind us, digging into the invisible burdens and moral battles of modern life. As frontman Joe Hicklin puts it:
“It’s about reckoning with change. Reflecting on the moral obligations we have to ourselves and others… The weight of following a personal moral line is heavy on everyone’s shoulders.”
No strangers to mining existential dread and political disillusionment for poetic gold, BIG SPECIAL’s latest chapter builds on the fiery foundations of last year’s breakout ‘POSTINDUSTRIAL HOMETOWN BLUES’. But instead of repeating themselves, they’ve cracked open the palette—infusing this album with swaggering funk, gritty soul, and that signature black humour that cuts as deep as it makes you smirk.
What is ‘NATIONAL AVERAGE.’ about?
It’s about brotherhood. About pressing through the chaos, big changes, small battles, and everyday contradictions. It’s about the hum of normal life as it twists and turns.
“It’s about the stages of reflection on an average life as it moves further away,” says Hicklin. “Where POSTINDUSTRIAL… was about desperation and hope, this one charges forward with a snarky smile and gritted teeth.”
Hear new album ‘NATIONAL AVERAGE’ now HERE.
Catch BIG SPECIAL Live — Instores + Tours Incoming
The band aren’t just dropping albums—they’re hitting the road. A string of intimate UK instore performances kicked off on July 4 at Rough Trade East in London and runs through mid-July, making stops in Bristol, Brighton, Nottingham, Liverpool and more.
Then in 2025 and 2026, they’re going wide with a heavy-hitting run across the UK, Europe, and Ireland. Yes, the lads are taking this one international.
Instore Dates
- Jul 9 – Eclipse Records, Walsall – 1pm
- Jul 14 – Resident, Brighton – 6:30pm
- Jul 15 – Rough Trade, Nottingham – 6pm
- Jul 16 – Rough Trade, Liverpool – 7pm
UK + EU Tour Dates 2025
Jul 9 – Wolverhampton, KK’s Steel Mill
Jul 10 – 2000 Trees Festival, UK
Jul 12 – Cactus Festival, Bruges, BE
Jul 25-28 – Deer Shed Festival, UK
Oct 8-31 – Full European run including Amsterdam, Berlin, Warsaw, Vienna, Milan, Paris, Barcelona & more
UK & Ireland Headline Tour 2026
Feb 13 – Norwich, The Waterfront
Feb 14 – Nottingham, Rescue Rooms
Feb 15 – Newcastle, Digital
Feb 18 – Leeds, University Stylus
Feb 19 – Glasgow, SWG3 Warehouse
Feb 20 – Manchester, New Century Hall
Feb 21 – Birmingham, O2 Institute
Feb 24 – Bristol, Electric
Feb 25 – Southampton, The 1865
Feb 27 – London, Roundhouse
Mar 6 – Dublin, The Workman’s Club
Mar 7 – Belfast, Ulster Sports Club
Support comes from GANS, Liz Lawrence, and Good Health Good Wealth on select dates.
‘NATIONAL AVERAGE.’ track list
- THE MESS.
- GOD SAVE THE PONY.
- HUG A BASTARD.
- SHOP MUSIC.
- PIG’S PUDDIN.
- PROFESSIONALS.
- GET BACK SAFE.
- YES BOSS.
- DOMESTIC BLISS.
- JUDAS SONG.
- THE BEAST.
- I ONCE HAD A KESTREL.
- THIN HORSES.
This one’s got everything: the pain, the punchlines, the poetry—and a few danceable breakdowns too.
Stream the full album now, catch them in a record store or sweaty venue near you, and let ‘NATIONAL AVERAGE.’ drag your soul through the mud and lift it back up again.
Follow BIG SPECIAL:
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Spotify | YouTube
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