Ria Rua set to drop new LP ‘SCAPEG.O.A.T.’

Coming out of Ireland, Ria Rua is an alternative artist on the rise with a fiercely original sound that’s struck a chord with a growing audience of listeners around the world. Translating to “Red Queen” in Irish, her name alone hints at the fire that burns through her music, offering a sound that channels her experiences into grungy, electronic alternative rock anthems that blend emotion with rage.

Her performances are explosive, her lyrics profound and her art a manifesto of sex, power and freedom, a formula that’s seen Ria Rua go from strength to strength with each move over the last few years. Raised in rural Meath, Ria Rua’s musical adventure initially began behind the drum kit; percussion ensembles and marching bands first taught her rhythm, discipline and the visceral power of sound. But when she couldn’t find a singer or songwriter who matched her intensity, she decided to become her own frontwoman and that necessity soon became destiny, a self-forged transformation that now sees her standing as one of Ireland’s most commanding new voices.

Her sound is wrapped in industrial textures and instilled with cinematic scope, taking cues from artists like Björk, Nine Inch Nails, Sonic Youth and Billie Eilish. Ria Rua’s songs tackle everything from ADHD and bisexuality to the daily battle of operating in a world that often demands conformity and for the neurodivergent and queer women who see themselves reflected in her work, Ria’s voice becomes something vital.

Now, with her brand new album titled SCAPEG.O.A.T., Ria Rua delivers her most emphatic artistic statement thus far via a ferocious protest record that reclaims power through defiance. Co-produced with Just Chris and mixed by Grammy-winner Ruadhri Cushnan, known for work with George Michael, Mumford & Sons and Ed Sheeran, the record builds on her growing catalogue of fiery, uncompromising releases. SCAPEG.O.A.T. fuses alternative rock impact with a pop edge, balancing heavy guitars, punching drums and biting lyricism with sharp wit and flashes of dark humour.

“SCAPEG.O.A.T is a protest album. It’s personal – in that all the songs are about my experiences in the world – but at its core it’s about getting angry and standing up for yourself in a world that’s gone mad,” she shares. Opening track “Ass Movin'” kicks off the album with rattling percussion and stabbing bass notes as Ria’s commanding vocals roll above to serve up an unapologetic anthem about walking away from toxicity before it consumes you. Bursting with charging guitars and pounding drums, it’s cathartic, explosive and entirely self-possessed.

“Mad As Hell” flows with jaunty rhythms and slick vocal delivery to cast a moody alternative jam cut with rap energy, wrapped in industrial rock aesthetic and tinged with dark pop appeal. On “Black And Tan,” she delivers a blistering critique of power and corruption, captured in an engrossing soundscape that builds from dreamy vibes towards a bouncy outing brimming with angsty attitude and brooding vocal work.

Tracks like “You’ll Only Like Me When I’m Dead” skewers patriarchal power and media superficiality in one fell swoop, pairing venomous observation with crunching sonic impact, finding Ria Rua at her most articulate and furious. “I Love That For You” then explores the emotional cost of compromising identity, blending haunting vocals with industrial undertones on a grungey rock outing packed full of memorable melodic writing.

Closing the record with “Bi Sexy,” the eerie blend of piano notes, pattering percussion and hazy vocals form a smokey scene that surges with gritty guitar lines and theatrical vocal performance to craft a gripping finale to Ria Rua’s truly arresting full-length album. Following the LP’s release on 27th February, her upcoming 2026 tour will see her bring SCAPEG.O.A.T. to audiences across Dublin, Galway, Cork and Belfast, with a special London headline date at Windmill Brixton on March 2nd. It’s the perfect setting for an artist whose music exists int he overlap between intimacy and intensity, a stage small enough to feel personal, yet big enough to handle the storm she brings.

Listen to SCAPEG.O.A.T. below