MANILA, Philippines (April 2026) — After a decade of grinding, Texas alt-rock band Culture Wars is stepping into the spotlight with their debut album Don’t Speak, out now via AWAL.
The record captures the tension of growing up, confronting your past, and figuring out who you are becoming. Frontman Alex Dugan delivers raw, introspective lyrics across tracks that mix regret, self-awareness, and hard-earned acceptance.
Songs like “Typical Ways” feel like an angry letter to his former self, while “Lies” traces the band’s origins through heartbreak and eventual clarity. “Bittersweet” wrestles with the realities of adulthood, and “In the Morning” captures late-night loneliness from a version of himself he has since outgrown.
Sonically, Don’t Speak expands the band’s sound into confident, arena-ready anthems. It builds on their 90s rock swagger and earlier influences from synth-pop, country, and surf music, delivering dynamic full-band energy built for bigger stages.
The album arrives at the perfect time. Culture Wars scored their first Top 20 Alternative Radio hit with “It Hurts,” racked up over 66 million global streams, sold out their first U.S. and U.K. headline tour, and opened arena shows for Maroon 5, Keane, Wallows, and LANY. They were also recently named to Apple Music and Shazam’s Fast Forward series, spotlighting emerging artists shaping the future of music.
The band is taking the momentum worldwide with a major 2026 headline tour. Leg 1 kicks off in May, with newly announced fall North American dates including iconic venues such as New York’s Irving Plaza, Chicago’s Metro, and Los Angeles’ Troubadour. UK and European dates follow in June and July.
Culture Wars have built a reputation for powerful live shows, and Don’t Speak feels designed to translate that energy to rooms around the globe.
