OCEAN SLEEPER ANNOUNCE SOPHOMORE ALBUM PEACE WHEN I’M DEAD OUT AUGUST 21 — PRE-ORDER
BAND ALSO SHARES TITLE TRACK’S OFFICIAL VIDEO —WATCH + LISTEN
TOURING GLOBALLY + AUSTRALIAN TOUR THIS SEPTEMBER
biggest and one of the country’s most exciting metalcore exports, Ocean Sleeper, today reveal their sophomore album Peace When I’m Dead will be released globally on August 21 (via BMG Australia/Rise Records). The anticipated news of their forthcoming album drops alongside the title track and video, “Peace When I’m Dead,” an explosive follow up to their powerful and defiant comeback single “Break The Cycle,” released in May.
The single arrives alongside a striking official video. Following their collaboration on the video for “Break The Cycle” video, Ocean Sleeper once again enlisted Freeman Films (Tones & I, Parkway Drive) to bring “Peace When I’m Dead” to life on screen. The result is an emotionally charged and visually intense journey that perfectly compliments the song’s message and themes.
Capturing the weight of grief, guilt and regret, Peace When I’m Dead showcases Ocean Sleeper’s ability to vulnerably explore the darker corners of the human experience, confronting inner turmoil, depression and profound emotional lows head on. The exploration of acknowledging, expressing and releasing deeply felt negative emotions gives Ocean Sleeper’s music a great sense of catharsis and connection.
“This band has never been afraid to dive into the darker parts of our lives, and this album is no exception,” says Karl Spiessl, lead vocalist. “At its core, the record explores the ongoing battle we have with ourselves — that constant inner struggle that can feel endless. It’s about coming to terms with the idea that this conflict may always be part of the human experience, and learning to accept that reality.”
Written and recorded in the home studio of Ionei Heckenberg (Ocean Sleeper’s clean vocalist and guitarist) in Melbourne, in Los Angeles, California, and Portland, Oregon USA, Peace When I’m Dead sees Ocean Sleeper enlisted metalcore heavyweight Jeff Dunne (Make Them Suffer, Disturbed, Knocked Loose) to carry out mixing/mastering of the album as well as working with producers Jon Lundin (Falling In Reverse, Point North, Set It Off) and Curt Martin (Catch Your Breath, Kami Kehoe) across the album’s tracks. Recording the album throughout the world seems symbolic for Ocean Sleeper. Though they hail from Gippsland in regional Victoria, through unwavering self-sufficiency and relentless persistence, the metalcore four-piece has built a deeply loyal global fanbase.
Title track “Peace When I’m Dead” felt like the perfect way to tie the album together. It explores the notion that life is a constant struggle – a continual balancing act of challenge and resilience that doesn’t end until time takes us home. “Nothing good comes easy and is worth every fall in pushing forward,” says Karl. “For us, like many others, opportunities haven’t come easily to this band but we have worked tirelessly to achieve our wins and will continue to push forward until peace comes to us all.”
“Peace When I’m Dead” arrives on the heels of the band’s triumphant return single, “Break The Cycle”. Released in mid-May, the track has already surpassed 200,000 Spotify streams and continues to gain global momentum daily. It’s making waves on US radio, where SiriusXM stations Octane and Liquid Metal have added it to rotation. With more than 47 spins to date, “Break The Cycle” has risen to become the 48th most-played track across the network.
Ocean Sleeper will take to the road this September on the Peace When I’m Dead Tour presented by New World Artists and Fireball AU to celebrate the album’s release. It’s marked as their biggest national headline tour yet.
The Peace When I’m Dead Tour is just one chapter in a mammoth global run that will see Ocean Sleeper play 82 shows between now and February 2027. June and July bring support dates with Nevertel and the band’s first headline shows across the UK and Europe, followed by the Australian Peace When I’m Dead Tour in September. From there, Ocean Sleeper return to the US with Nevertel, join Parkway Drive’s Hellbound Cruise in October, and kick off 2027 supporting Catch Your Breath throughout Europe and the UK.
“Taking so many negative emotions and transforming them into something positive, almost spiritual for the live setting – where people can scream the words back and release their own demons – is something we’re proud to share with our fans,” expresses Karl. “Peace When I’m Dead was written with live energy at its core, and we can’t wait to take it on tour.”
In a year that feels built for Ocean Sleeper, the metalcore four-piece built from some of the country’s hardest working individuals are just getting started!
OCEAN SLEEPER TOUR DATES:
Peace When I’m Dead National Tour 2026
presented by New World Artists and Fireball AU
AUSTRALIA:
9/4 — Sydney, NSW, AU — Liberty Hall: TICKETS
9/5 — Brisbane, QLD, AU — The Princess Theatre: TICKETS
9/10 — Perth, WA, AU — Magnet House: TICKETS
9/11 — Adelaide, SA, AU — Hindley Street Music Hall: TICKETS
9/12 — Melbourne, VIC, AU — Forum: TICKETS
UK + EUROPE:
SUPPORTING NEVERTEL:
6/15 — Glasgow, UK — Classic Grand
6/16 — Newcastle, UK — The Cluny
6/17 — Leeds, UK — The Key Club
6/19 — Manchester, UK — Deaf Institute
6/20 — Brighton, UK — Patterns
6/21 — London, UK — Underworld
6/23 — Eindhoven, NL — The Jack
6/24 — Dortmund, DE — FZW Club
6/25 — Leipzig, DE — Conne Island
6/26 — Prague, CZ — Cafe V Lese
6/27 — Vienna, AT — Chelsea
6/29 — Stuttgart, DE — Wizemann Studio
6/30 — Wiesbaden, DE — Kesselhaus
7/1 — Hannover, DE — Lux
NORTH AMERICA:
SUPPORTING NEVERTEL:
9/18 — Louisville, KY — Louder Than Life Festival
9/19 — Grand Rapids, MI — Elevation
9/20 — Detroit, MI — The Sanctuary
9/22 — Omaha, NE — Waiting Room
9/23 — Denver, CO — Marquis Theatre
9/25 — Houston, TX — Studio at Warehouse Live
9/26 — Austin, TX — Come and Take It Live
9/27 — Dallas, TX — House of Blues
9/29 — Memphis, TN — 1884
10/1 — Columbus, OH — A&R Bar
10/2 — Pittsburgh, PA — Preserving Underground
10/3 — Cleveland, OH — Grog Shop
10/4 — Buffalo, NY — Electric City
10/6 — Syracuse, NY — The Song & Dance
10/8 — Worcester, MA — Upstairs at The Palladium
10/9 — New York, NY — Gramercy Theatre
10/10 — Allentown, PA — Arrow
10/11 — Hampton Beach, NH — Wally’s
10/13 — Johnson City, TN — Capone’s
10/14 — Charleston, SC — Music Farm
10/16 — Birmingham, AL — Workplay
10/17 — Nashville, TN — Ceremony Fest
10/18 — Atlanta, GA — The Masquerade
INTERNATIONAL WATERS WITH PARKWAY DRIVE
10/22 — Hellbound Cruise Festival
10/23 — Hellbound Cruise Festival
10/24 — Hellbound Cruise Festival
EUROPE + UK 2027:
SUPPORTING CATCH YOUR BREATH:
1/13 — Dublin, IE — The Academy
1/15 — London, UK — Electric Ballroom
1/16 — Manchester, UK — Manchester Academy 2
1/17 — Glasgow, UK — Garage
1/19 — Birmingham, UK — XOYO
1/20 — Bristol, UK — Bristol Electric
1/22 — Frankfurt am Main, DE — Batschkapp
1/23 — Berlin, DE — Columbia Theater
1/24 — Prague, CZ — Roxy
1/25 — Vienna, AT — Arena
1/27 — Milan, IT — Santeria Toscana 31
1/29 — Cologne, DE — Carlswerk Victoria
1/30 — Munich, DE — Backstage
1/31 — Zurich, CH — Dynamo
2/2 — Paris, FR — Trabendo
2/3 — Sint-Niklaas, BE — De Casino
2/5 — Stuttgart, DE — Im Wizemann
2/6 — Hamburg, DE — Grosse Freiheit 36
2/7 — Utrecht, NL — Ronda
2/9 — Copenhagen, DK — Pumpehuset
2/10 — Oslo, NO — John Dee
2/11 — Stockholm, SE — Debaser Strand
2/13 — Helsinki, FI — Tavastia
2/14 — Tallinn, EE — Helitehas
2/15 — Riga, LV — Melna Piektdiena
2/17 — Warsaw, PL — Progresja
