Splat!

SPLAT! is a 2026 album Deep Purple has honed around the improvisation of classic hard rock, the warmth of blues and the dialogue of keyboards and guitar. The riffs are thick without forcing a show of youth, the rhythm bounces lightly with ease, and the songs hold a rich play that arises naturally from long experience. A record that pushes the fullness of the previous =1 further. The singing, unforced yet with a sure presence, adds a human, warm expression to the conversation of the band’s playing. Its great appeal lies in rolling the songs lightly forward through exchanges of short phrases and stylish keyboard responses, without an overly heavy stance. Led by the title track “Splat!,” the songs are full of a veteran’s ease. Rather than pushing through with flashy sound pressure, it is a record to savor carefully — the exquisite timing of mature players responding to one another and the groove born within that very space. Never letting seasoning become tedious, sounding it as the pure fun of rock and roll, remaining active even after a long career, it is a fulfilling record full of Deep Purple’s appeal.