20 Active Bands That Haven’t Released an Album in 5 Years

Have you ever noticed that it’s been a long time since you heard new music from a particular artist?

We’ve clearly lived through very special times over the last few years, with a global pandemic bringing normal life to a halt for months. While many artists used their downtime to work, others used it to relax and spend time with their families. Back in the studio and on tour, it’s hard to do.

But 2018 was a full five years ago, so it feels like a pretty long time for a band that hasn’t released an album since then. Plus, with the pandemic right in the middle of it, it feels like a lifetime ago.

Some bands go on tour without releasing a new album, releasing one-off songs here and there. Other artists are working on multiple projects and need to distribute their time evenly. The rest of the band probably don’t have any plans to release new music anymore.

read more: 30 Huge Rock + Metal Bands Played Live Only Once

We’ve compiled a list of active bands that haven’t released an album in over 5 years. In other words, they are still active and doing shows. So bands that are about to leave for their final tour, like KISS and Aerosmith, don’t count, nor does Pantera. That’s because their current tour plans are seen as a “celebration” rather than a reunion. Likewise, artists who announce the title and release date of their next record are not counted. Because it’s clear that it means new songs are in the works.

Surprisingly, Tool is also out of scope this time.

Scroll through the gallery below to see active rock and metal bands who haven’t released an album in over five years.