Blue Öyster Cult announce first album in 19 years, 'The Symbol Remains'

It's coming out this autumn

Blue Öyster Cult
Author: Scott ColothanPublished 17th Aug 2020

New York rock icons Blue Öyster Cult will release their first new studio album in almost two decades this autumn, entitled ‘The Symbol Remains’.

The follow-up to June 2001’s ‘Curse of the Hidden Mirror’, ‘The Symbol Remains’ is the band’s 15th album in total and it will see the light of day on Friday 9th October 2020 via Frontiers Music Srl. It’s the longest gap between albums in Blue Öyster Cult’s distinguished 53-year history.

‘The Symbol Remains’ also marks the recording debut of drummer Jules Radino and keyboardist/guitarist Richie Castellano, who both joined Blue Öyster Cult in 2004.

Boasting 14 all-new Blue Öyster Cult compositions, ‘The Symbol Remains’ is billed by Frontiers as one of their “most spirited, diverse and inspired efforts to date.”

They add: “As the old saying goes, ‘good things come to those who wait,’ and the fourteen new songs on display here certainly embody that.

“BÖC’s fans will be delighted that they have delivered an extremely inspired album which ultimately sounds like a band looking back at their storied catalogue and giving the fans a bit of everything they’ve ever loved about the group, while simultaneously continuing to evolve.”

Blue Öyster Cult ‘The Symbol Remains’ album cover:

Blue Öyster Cult 'The Symbol Remains'

Guitarist and sole constant member Buck Dharma said when Blue Öyster Cult first signed to Frontiers Music Srl last summer: "The current band is GREAT and has never been recorded other than the live concerts, so we feel now is the time for new songs to be written and recorded. About half of the songs for the new record exist and the rest will be finished during the process.”

Frontman Eric Bloom also said at the time: “It's been a long time since BÖC's last studio album. Our biggest question from fans is 'when are we going to do some new music?' So we are ready to take this journey again.

“Recording with Danny, Richie and Jules should be a great experience as we've been touring together for years and Buck and I are looking forward to including them in the creative and recording process.”

Blue Öyster Cult ‘The Symbol Remains’ track-listing:

1) That Was Me

2) Box In My Head

3) Tainted Blood

4) Nightmare Epiphany

5) Edge Of The World

6) The Machine

7) Train True (Lennie’s Song)

8) The Return Of St. Cecilia

9) Stand And Fight

10) Florida Man

11) The Alchemist

12) Secret Road

13) There’s A Crime

14) Fight

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