I have never been a massive fan of Michael Monroe, but having seen him live a few times over the years, there is no doubt that he is one of rock’s true talents. We all know the history of Hanoi Rocks, and I recall dabbling in Self Destruction Blues and Two Steps From The Move in the early ’80s. There is so much more to him than that seminal band, though. He has been a constant performer over the years, and as another of those seemingly endless rock stars moving into their latter years, it seemed the time was right to give his latest album, Outerstellar, a listen.
Michael Monroe – Outerstellar
Release Date: 20 February 2026
Words: Paul Hutchings
If you want gritty rock ‘n’ roll anthems, then Outerstellar is probably your album. Plenty of sing-along, punch-the-air songs are underpinned by a raw energy that is a consistent feature of Monroe’s music. As the man says, there is no genre restriction here with stomping swagger mixing with more subtle and balanced songs that stir the emotions.
Opener Rockin’ Horse and closing track One More Sunrise show the diversity. The former is the ideal opener for any album, whilst the latter is a sprawling seven-minute track with some of Monroe’s distinctive saxophone playing. If you’ve seen the video for Rockin’ Horse, then you’ll appreciate the playfulness of the band.
“Rockin’ Horse is a cool, rockin’ song that we made a great fun video for with the fantastic director Leigh Brooks,” says Monroe. “We got into different characters on the so-called Waking Up With Michael Monroe TV morning show, with me as the host. And it’s the first time ever you can see me without makeup. Great fun and good times.”
A fusion of punk instilled vibrance surges throughout the album. There is plenty of punch in Shinola, another short and fiery punch to the face, which sees the ever-loyal band of musicians who have supported Monroe for well over a decade on top form.
The sleazy riffs of Steve Conte and Rich Jones ooze their way across the album, whilst Karl Rockfist’s drums have a carefree abandon to them. Of course, anchoring them all is Sami Yaffa, Monroe’s colleague in those early Rocks days. Newtro Bombs continues in the same vein, anthemic, punchy and with that gritty growl that drives the songs along.
Most of the songs here are short, sharp bursts of energy that are soaked in a generation of influences. When The Apocalypse Comes, for example, has echoes of Tom Petty and that rich Americana with attitude that is likely to get the foot tapping, regardless of whether you want it to or not.
Precious throws the beer in the air, gets you dancing and shaking, with Monroe adding a tasty bit of harmonica to boot. In contrast, there is a more serious blend to the likes of Painless and Pushin’ Me Back, the former rich in melody and an addictive riff. Both are more controlled than the more chaotic tracks that litter this release. They both still possess all the spit you would anticipate, though.
And if you want a total change of pace, the acoustic nature of Glitter Dust brings a reflective three minutes that echoes Def Leppard and many others of the genre.
It is not something that I would usually listen to, but there is no doubt that Outerstellar is an escape from the trials and tribulations of modern-day woes.
As the press release says, “when you put this album on, it’s an instant escape to carefree days and an emancipation from worries, fears and woes.”
Michael Monroe releases Outerstellar on 20 February 2026 via Silver Lining Music. It will be available on Limited Edition 12” White Vinyl, 12” Turquoise Vinyl, 12” Black Vinyl, CD Digipak, Digital Download, Streaming and special D2C bundles. Pre-orders are available from lnk.to/MichaelMonroeOuterstellar.
Michael Monroe and his band will embark on a UK co-headline tour with Buckcherry, kicking off in Southampton on 24 February 2026. Tickets are available from michaelmonroe.com.
