Swedish Hard Rock Trio THE GEMS Drop Their Second Album ‘Year Of The Snake’ on March 13, 2026
Swedish hard rockers THE GEMS are back, and they mean business. The trio – frontwoman Guernica Mancini, guitarist Mona Lindgren, and drummer Emlee Johansson – are set to release their sophomore album Year Of The Snake on March 13, 2026, and if the hype is anything to go by, this one is going to hit hard.
For the uninitiated: THE GEMS burst onto the scene with their debut record Phoenix (2024), and their very first single “Like A Phoenix” shot straight to #2 on the German Rock Radio Airplay Charts. Not bad for a band that didn’t even exist three years ago. Since then, they’ve been tearing up stages and winning over fans and critics alike. Year Of The Snake is the logical – and electrifying – next step.
Packed with 14 new tracks, the album wastes absolutely no time making its intentions clear. Opener “Walls” kicks the door down with the proclamation “The time to change is now!”, and from there, the title track rolls in like a freight train – Guernica’s powerhouse vocals, Mona’s crushing riffs, and Emlee’s rock-steady drumming forming a trio that is, frankly, unstoppable.
Standout moment “Gravity” brings in guest vocalist Tommy Johansson (of Majestica and ex-Sabaton fame) for a glorious 80s-flavoured detour that takes the album up yet another gear. “Diamond In The Rough” packs a bluesy punch that the title barely does justice to, and previously released single “Live And Let Go” is exactly the kind of catchy, radio-ready anthem that THE GEMS seem to conjure effortlessly.
The album keeps the energy flowing through the uplifting one-two of “Clout Chaser” and “Hot Bait”, before slowing things down with ballad “Forgive And Forget” – a moment where Guernica’s vocal range really gets its chance to shine. Then it’s back to the fire: “Math Ain’t Mathing”, the mighty “Firebird”, and “Stars” with its jaw-dropping guitar solo all reinforce the sense of a band breaking free and coming into their own. The album wraps up with the groove-heavy “Buckle Up” and “Happy Water” – leaving you on a massive high and immediately reaching for the repeat button.
In less than three years, THE GEMS have carved out a place for themselves in modern hard rock that most bands spend a decade trying to find. Year Of The Snake is a bold, confident, and downright fun record – 14 tracks of anthems, hooks, and riffs that demand to be heard loud.
‘Year of the Snake’ Tracklisting
- Walls
- Year Of The Snake
- Gravity
- Diamond In The Rough
- Live And Let Go
- Clout Chaser
- Hot Bait
- Forgive And Forget
- Go Along To Get Along
- Math Ain’t Mathing
- Firebird
- Stars
- Buckle Up
- Happy Water
‘Slithering Through Europe’ Spring Tour
w/ Special Guests: King Zebra
21.03.25 DE – Lingen / Alter Schlachthof
22.03.25 DE – Cologne / Helios 37
24.03.25 DE – Hanover / Lux
25.03.25 DE – Aschaffenburg / Colos-Saal
27.03.25 CH – Oberentfelden / Böröm Pöm Pöm
29.03.25 DE – Munich / Backstage
30.03.25 DE – Nuremberg / Hirsch
31.03.25 DE – Dresden / HD – Die Rock & Metal Bar
01.04.25 DE – Berlin / Frannz Club
02.04.25 DE – Hamburg / Knust
Year Of The Snake drops March 13, 2026. Are you adding this one to your pre-order list? Drop a comment below and let us know!
