Return, Righteous, Fury, Political.
Fishbone’s Stockholm Syndrome arrived on June 27, 2025, marking the band’s first full-length release in nearly two decades. The album was self-released and co-produced with Aryon Davis and Chris McGrew, with physical, digital and vinyl editions available worldwide. Stockholm Syndrome is the eighth studio album by the Los Angeles genre-defying group known for blending ska, punk, funk, soul and metal influences.
Fishbone formed in 1979 in Los Angeles. The group’s sound fuses ska, punk rock, funk, metal and reggae into a dynamic hybrid that has influenced countless artists. Angelo Moore (vocals, saxophone, theremin), a founding member, has been a constant presence, guiding the band’s musical evolution. Christopher Dowd (keyboards, trombone, vocals) also returns for Stockholm Syndrome, adding his long-standing creative voice to the mix.
Stockholm Syndrome comprises twelve tracks that harness Fishbone’s signature genre fluidity while pushing their sound into sharper social commentary. The song “Racist Piece of Shit,” released as an advance single in late 2024, delivers unflinching political critique with bracing punk energy. The track’s raw production and direct lyrical approach set the tone for the record’s confrontational perspective.
“Last Call in America,” featuring funk pioneer George Clinton, channels gritty grooves and reflective lyrics about economic disparity. The layered structure balances heavy rhythmic foundations with swirling horns and Dowd’s keyboards, illustrating Fishbone’s ability to merge danceable music with pointed thematic content.
Other tracks such as “Dog Eat Dog,” “Adolescent Regressive Behavior” and “Living on the Upside Down” blend ska rhythms, punk aggression and funk grooves in rapid succession, showcasing fractured song structures that jump between tempos and styles without losing cohesion. Fans on Bandcamp have highlighted standout pieces like “Gelato the Clown” for its New Orleans jazz influences and the Beatlesque tenderness of “Love Is Love” (via Fishbone).
Fan response has been largely positive. On social platforms, many listeners praised the album’s energy and political honesty, with comments recognizing its bold sonic variety and thematic relevance. Some fans described Stockholm Syndrome as reminiscent of the band’s peak artistic moments while still feeling contemporary and urgent (via Reddit).
Others acknowledged mixed reactions; a few expressed that without the classic lineup, the album feels different, though many still appreciated the musical craftsmanship and lyrical assertiveness (via Reddit).
Critics and music publications have generally greeted Stockholm Syndrome with enthusiasm. In Spite Magazine describes the album as “unblinking, unrelenting and unwilling to pull punches when it comes to the state of the world, politics and the suffocating realities that surround us.” Punk Rock Mag hailed it as “a triumph—an album that doesn’t just live up to Fishbone’s legacy but expands it.” Spill Magazine noted that by embracing the band’s classic sound, Fishbone delivers one of their most exhilarating efforts in decades.
Out of the Blue Magazine observed that Fishbone remains “just as full-force as ever before… explorative and dynamic and youthful without fear of showing age.” With Guitars Magazine commented that the album tackles weighty issues such as racism, economic disparity, state violence and media manipulation with “fearless lyrics and feral energy.”
Stockholm Syndrome is a compelling voice in contemporary music. With driving rhythms, genre-bending arrangements and politically charged songwriting, the album honors the band’s legacy while pushing into new creative territory. Its bold fusion of ska, punk, funk and soul, paired with incisive commentary on societal issues, makes the record a standout release in 2025 and an essential addition to Fishbone’s influential catalog.
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