Kula Shaker have never been a band at the very forefront, preferring to operate on the fringes of a revival or a reinvention, and “Be Merciful”, their brand new single, lifted from their forthcoming album Wormslayer, out January 30th through their self-established label encapsulates this signature quality with perfect clarity. A lo-fi acoustic original written nearly two decades ago, this song was produced by Mark Pritchard, a man known for electronic pioneers Jedi Knights (with Tom Middleton) and Harmonic 33. It is now fully revitalised as part of this psychedelic evolution.
Starting with Pritchard’s spooky mellotrons drifting like moorland mist. Crispian whispers a weary prayer over swirling, sitar-laced dronespure Govinda trance. Then the switch flips, Mills, Bevan, and Winterhart slam into a driving, ragtag rhythm, summoning djinns with the chant “Be merciful, be kind.” A Sabbath-sized riff erupts amid the psychedelia, Crispian’s banshee wail leading the charge. It’s Peasants, Pigs & Astronauts reborn Nick Drake’s ghost nodding along as the band rides a raga-fueled rocket, never thrash, always trance.
It doesn’t feel like psychedelia as throwaway fun, but rather as a song with a history attached to it. The original demo was a lo-fi demo that became a cult rarity among die-hard fans, something fans prized enough to corner Mills for signings years later. The decision to reinterpret this for Wormslayer, an album that promised “forays into ‘gothic crooning, pastoral folk, and expansive mantra-metal,’” is rather like digging out an artefact and foisting it into a newfound superweapon. It slots in seamlessly with the other singles, “Good Money” and “Charge of the Light Brigade,” ratcheting up anticipation for an album that refuses to stay stuck in a single rut.
Live, this is going to be dynamite stuff. Kula Shaker are easily one of the UK’s most thrilling live acts, and “Be Merciful” is designed to maximize those communal moments of release, which you can witness at an Inner Circle Show this month, starting at Liverpool Cavern, as they lay a brick on the Wall of Fame, or residing as part of The Mad Alchemist Liquid Light Show, as they tour the UK and Europe in 2026. Designed as a “celebration of connection, spirit, and song” focusing on close fan interaction with favorites, new tracks from Wormslayer, deep cuts, anecdotes, and a spontaneous “by request” section. It’s their most personal shows yet, building hype for the 2026 tour, with one live bootleg track recorded per night for a special album edition.Either way, this is a statement that Kula Shaker are not just returning, but are actively evolving, slaying worms with colourful aplomb as ever. You should now pre-order Wormslayer, as this is what a group can achieve at new heights.
Upcoming Tour Dates
November 2025
23rd – Liverpool, Cavern Club (SOLD OUT)
24th – Wrexham, The Rockin’ Chair
30th – Stoke, Sugarmill (LOW TICKETS)
December 2025
1st – Carlisle, Old Fire Station (SOLD OUT)
February 2026
7th – Brighton, Concorde 2 (SOLD OUT)
8th – Cambridge, Junction
9th – Holmfirth, Picturedrome
11th – Glasgow, Old Fruitmarket
12th – Manchester, O2 Ritz
13th – London, Islington Assembly Hall (SOLD OUT)
February 2026 (Europe)
22nd – Nijmegen, Doornroosje
23rd – Den Haag, Paard van Troje
25th – Cologne, Bürgerhaus Stollwerck
26th – Paris, Cafe Dé La Danse
28th – Hamburg, Gruenspan
March 2026
2nd – Berlin, Heimathafen Neukölln
3rd – Munich, Technikum1.3sFast
RACHEL BROWN
About the Author
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