Iguana Death Cult Photo credit: Siem van Woerkom
Dutch garage rock band Iguana Death Cult have announced the arrival of their fourth studio album, Guns Out, due out April 10th via Greenway Records and The Reverberation Appreciation Society. Alongside the announcement, the Rotterdam outfit has shared the album’s focus track, “Heavyweight,” a thunderous and groove-laden single that captures the record’s central themes of unease, introspection, and resilience.
“Heavyweight” arrives as one of the band’s most urgent offerings to date, pairing gritty instrumentation with pointed social commentary. The track reflects a growing discomfort with both personal identity and the broader global climate, as the band confronts what they see as an increasingly divided and unstable world. In their own words, the song grapples with the psychological toll of modern life, where algorithm-driven polarization and rising geopolitical tensions contribute to a pervasive sense of disillusionment.
Yet the band stops short of nihilism. Instead, “Heavyweight” pivots toward a message of grounded optimism, urging listeners to find strength in their immediate communities. By reframing the idea of a “heavyweight champion,” Iguana Death Cult emphasize empathy, mutual support, and everyday acts of care as meaningful forms of resistance in uncertain times.
The forthcoming Guns Out signals a stylistic shift for the band, marking a return to the punchy garage rock sound that defined their earlier work. In contrast to the art-punk and indie-funk leanings of 2023’s Echo Palace, the new record strips things back to a more direct and visceral approach. The album is driven by Tobias Opschoor’s sharp-edged guitar riffs, Uri Rennert’s relentless drumming (Rennert is also known for his work with Häxxan and The Brian Jonestown Massacre), Jimmy de Kok’s propulsive basslines, and Jeroen Reek’s raw, emotive vocals.
Across its runtime, Guns Out explores themes of escapism, mental strain, and creative renewal, presenting a band reckoning with both its own evolution and the turbulence of the present moment. The result is a record that feels as confrontational as it is cathartic, capturing Iguana Death Cult at a point of reflection and reinvention.
“Heavyweight” is out now, with Guns Out set for release April 10th via Greenway Records and The Reverberation Appreciation Society.
Guns Out is a raw, self-reflective album exploring both your experiences as a band and the world around you. Was being this vulnerable challenging, or did the process feel more cathartic?
IGUANA DEATH CULT: To do it any other way wasn’t even an option really. After we nearly broke up the band two years ago, after ten years of hard work and dedication, the band being the center point in all of our lives, we decided to push through. We reached a somewhat manic state in which we were very open and we managed to keep it open for the duration of writing the album. Like tearing the scab off a healing wound. We laid down a couple of basic rules and wrote fast and decisively. Lyrics spewed out as the brain was open. Speaking for myself I can definitely say that writing this album healed a part of me and changed me for the better.
What do you hope listeners take away from the album, and what did you learn while making it?
IGUANA DEATH CULT: First and foremost I hope that people listening to this record feel a sense of connection and that they feel seen and understood. You’re not the only one that feels a little deflated, looking at the state of the world today. You’re not the only one that feels a little lost at sea. I hope that people that struggle with mental health issues find the courage to be open and vulnerable to their surroundings so they can get the help they need. I hope that young men don’t fall victim to the toxic lies of these self-proclaimed alpha males and that they find better role models to look up to. One of the things I’ve learned writing this album is that vulnerability does not equal weakness. In fact it can be a truly powerful thing and in a way it’s even a crucial factor in strength.
Iguana Death Cult is a striking name. How does it connect to the chaos, intensity, or evolution of your music on Guns Out?
IGUANA DEATH CULT: While we don’t believe in “death cults,” we’re firm believers in The Iguanas. Not the animal. Iggy Pop’s first band. Guns Out brings out the evolution and perspective of our little cult. The album features elements from all of our records combined while taking a trip back to our core, which is energetic rock n roll. Without looking back or to the sides, keeping our energy glued on what brought us here in the first place, which is chaos, intensity and passion.
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