SOFT RIOT “Crux” LP

RELEASE DATE — 15 MAY 2026
Available in digital Digipak CD on Possession Records and deluxe limited edition vinyl LP on Minimalkombinat.

After the release of the previous album No., a personal decision was made after the exhaustive release promotion and gig schedule — to stop writing for a while and wait for the next creative wave that was sure to come. And after a fifteen month gap that wave came and the result is a collection of songs where many of the tracks just flowed out subconsciously without over-thinking or over-labouring any of the tracks. After a few years of trying to tap into this rich headspace, it could be said he finally found it.

On the surface Crux is a continuation of Soft Riot‘s evolution — a singular and intriguing take on elements of classic synthesizer music that seems familiar on the surface, pulling in elements of synth pop, minimal wave, darkwave, new wave, italo, EBM and post-punk by an artist who has been active in many different guises of the ongoing “post-punk revival” since the eve of the turn of the millenium. With that much time involved in an over-arching sub-genre and seeing many trends and styles come and go, it has allowed the artist to fine-tune his craft with an emphasis on creating a unique sound, especially in a day and age when many peers in the scene tailor their music to be appealing for the dance floor, or to tap into existing fanbases.

Overall the songs on Crux are given space to cruise more, and dip into more minimalism than previous albums — an aspect of the music the artist had struggled with in the past but was crafted into place after years of experience. The whole album works out a strategic balance of space, rhythm, sound design, subtle humour, lyrical interplay, mild psychedelia and an enhancement of the aspects of the music that makes Soft Riot unique within the current underground synth scene.

Starting with the angular and driving rhythmic workout of “Moving Out Of The Black” and closing with the expansive and layered “Ghostwriter” that could end up on any given number of dancefloors, as mentioned before the tracks came about naturally based on intuition. Five tracks in we have the sinister yet sensual “Getting To Know You” — a track the artist would say came about from a dream one night and a subconscious feeling. Some might better know this as magic.

Pre-Order Now

Crux is currently available in digital and as a Digipak CD with a four-panel colour insert. It is also available as a limited edition LP through Minimalkombinat. This LP version is pressed on orange and black “splatter’ vinyl and comes in a black cardboard sleeve with the cover artwork printed in glossy paper stock fixed to the front of the sleeve along with a piece of laser-cut clear plexiglass overlaying the cover art. Inside the sleeve is a full colour double-sided insert and an exclusive CD containing the album tracks plus six extra tracks of exclusive, alternate and extended versions of tracks from the album that make up an EP called Alter that will be released separately in summer 2026.

While the digital download and Digipak CD versions are readily available through the shop now, it came as a surprise that the limited edition vinyl LP has almost SOLD OUT in pre-orders through Minimalkombinat! Thank you!

Given that there are unfortunately only FIVE copies of the “Version 1” limited edition vinyl LP of Crux available through the shop, at a higher price point. Once this version is gone it’s gone.

Due to the demand, a “standard” LP pressing is being looked into at the moment.

Finally, there are merch packages for Crux where you can by a physical copy of the record or CD plus an additional SOFT RIOT release at a discounted price.

Further info on these packages, formats and a possible standard LP pressing can be found here.