New Found Glory is set to release their 11th studio album, *Listen Up!*, on February 20 through Pure Noise Records. This album comes during a challenging time for guitarist Chad Gilbert, who has been battling aggressive cancer that spread from his adrenal glands to his spine and lungs. In 2021, doctors gave him just six months to live. Despite this, Gilbert recorded tracks between chemotherapy sessions and hospital visits. He shared, “I’d go into the studio to record, then Dan would drive me to the hospital because I was going through heart failure and almost dying.” At one point, he was taking 22 blood pressure pills a day.
New Found Glory started 29 years ago as a side project in the hardcore scene. They gained fame in the early 2000s with hits like “My Friends Over You” and often wore shirts of younger bands during their MTV appearances. Now, Gilbert is off all blood pressure medication, and his doctors say his survival is remarkable given the rarity of his condition.
Gilbert sees the album as a message of hope. He said, “For me, the album is about encouraging people to take their dark times and reverse them. Don’t let them get the best of you. Use them as your weapon, your strength, a way to help others and help people grow.”
Critics are praising *Listen Up!* as one of the band’s best works in their three-decade career. The album maintains their signature melodic style while exploring shared life experiences as they navigate middle adulthood. Fans can buy or stream New Found Glory’s latest album when it drops.
