It’s happening. Baltimore’s own Have Mercy are officially back—and they’ve got a whole lot of feelings to unpack. After years of anticipation, the band has just announced their sixth studio album the loneliest place i’ve ever been, due out August 29 via Rude Records. And if you’ve been craving that confessional alt-rock gut-punch, the first single “august 17” is exactly what you’ve been waiting for.
The track doesn’t waste time pulling you in. It’s a raw, emotionally drenched piece that aches in all the right places, led by soaring guitars and the kind of lyricism that sounds like it was scribbled in a journal at 3am. “It’s about loss and the continuing pain felt after someone is gone,” shares frontman Brian Swindle. “It may hurt less over time but it never stops hurting.” You can feel every syllable.
This isn’t just a new chapter—it’s a full reset. Self-produced by Swindle himself and mixed by longtime collaborator Paul Leavitt, the record brings in a strong creative team, including mastering by Nick Townsend and artwork from Benjamin Lieber (you might know him from Head North or his work with Mayday Parade and Four Year Strong). The whole project feels intentionally personal.
Track names like only, if only, old selfish me, and what happy is hint that this album is going to sit with you long after the first listen. There’s no fluff here—just ten songs built for quiet nights, long drives, and hearts that haven’t quite figured it all out yet.
And the good news keeps coming. This July, Have Mercy will be hitting the road as direct support for Emery on The Question tour, with stops across the Midwest. If the new material sounds anything like “august 17,” fans are in for something truly special.
Have Mercy have always been masters of making sadness sound beautiful—and if this is just the beginning, the loneliest place i’ve ever been might just be one of their most moving records yet.
