Neil Young announces new album Second Song for September 2026
Published on 08/21/2026 at 20:56 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Neil Young is once again turning to new music with his band The Chrome Hearts. According to a Reprise Records announcement carried by Eventim and SPIN, his studio album Second Song is slated for release on September 18, 2026, as a digital-first outing.
New album Second Song and its release details
Second Song will be released digitally on September 18, 2026, followed by physical editions on October 30, 2026, via Reprise Records and Neil Young Archives.
The album comprises seven tracks, including five new songs and two reworked older compositions, as described in an Eventim feature and a SPIN news item on the announcement. SPIN’s report on Second Song notes that the record was tracked earlier this year at Rick Rubin’s Shangri-La Studios in Malibu and is positioned as the second full studio effort with The Chrome Hearts.
Chart momentum and German market context
The new album follows closely on the live release As Time Explodes – Live Album, which entered the Official German Album Charts at number 63 after its full release on May 29, 2026, while hitting number 37 in the Swiss charts according to German-language coverage summarizing Offizielle Deutsche Charts and Schweizer Hitparade data.
That live set documents stops from the 2025 Love Earth Tour in Europe and North America and underscores Young’s continued resonance in Germany, where classic albums like Harvest previously reached top-five positions and achieved high cumulative certifications. Earlier German chart entries such as Oceanside Countryside and Coastal in 2025 show that Young’s newer work still finds an audience in the country, even if Second Song itself has yet to appear on the lists.
More background and news on Neil Young
Fans who want a broader view of Neil Young’s recent releases, tour history and collaborations can find further reporting and analysis in our archive.
How the new work fits Neil Young’s sound
Neil Young’s work with The Chrome Hearts carries his familiar mix of folk rock, electric distortion and country-tinged songwriting into a band setting that emphasizes live interplay.
On recent releases and tour recordings Young has juxtaposed acoustic staples such as Heart of Gold and Old Man with electric pieces like Love Earth and deeper cuts drawn from his archives, tying the environmental themes of the Love Earth Tour to his long-standing interest in social and personal reflection. Second Song, with its blend of newly written material and revisited older songs, is positioned as an extension of this approach rather than a stylistic departure.
Where Neil Young stands now
Neil Young is currently focused on releasing Second Song on September 18, 2026, with The Chrome Hearts via Reprise Records; no future concert date beyond late-September festival appearances like Farm Aid has been firmly listed for Germany at this time.
Neil Young at a glance
- Act: Neil Young
- Genre: Rock, folk rock, country rock
- Origin: Toronto, Canada
- Active since: 1960s
- Lineup: Solo artist; recent band projects with The Chrome Hearts
- Label: Reprise Records
- Key works: Harvest (1972), After the Gold Rush (1970), Rust Never Sleeps (1979), Greatest Hits (2004)
- Current album/single: As Time Explodes – Live Album, released May 29, 2026; Second Song announced for September 18, 2026
- Charts / certifications: German entries such as As Time Explodes – Live Album debuting at number 63 on the Official German Album Charts in 2026; earlier successes including Harvest reaching the German top 5 and BVMI certifications for classic releases
- Next live date: currently no officially announced future live date for Germany
Frequently asked questions about Neil Young
When will Neil Young’s album Second Song be released?
Neil Young’s studio album Second Song, recorded with The Chrome Hearts, is scheduled for digital release on September 18, 2026, with physical formats following on October 30, 2026, according to label and media reports.
How many tracks are on Second Song and what is its concept?
Second Song contains seven tracks, including five newly written pieces and two older songs in new versions, framed as a bridge between Young’s early writing and his current band sound with The Chrome Hearts.
What was Neil Young’s most recent chart entry in Germany before Second Song?
In May 2026 the live release As Time Explodes – Live Album entered the Official German Album Charts at number 63, while also appearing in the Swiss album rankings, underscoring his ongoing presence in central European markets.
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by editors. Sources are linked in the text. Dates, chart positions and certifications may change at short notice; we welcome correction notes via the editorial contact on our imprint/contact page.
