Naming a song "Dying In Reverse" might sound like some kind of apocalyptic prophecy, but Cage The Elephant is actually saying the opposite. The band has released their new single "Dying In Reverse," a heavily psychedelic track that also lends its name to their upcoming tour. It's the second single from their seventh studio album, following "Beaches In Tennessee."
Frontman Matthew Shultz explains the meaning behind the title: "'Dying In Reverse' is essentially about a fresh start, or some kind of rebirth. It's more about the death of the self, a process of renewing the mind and spirit. This journey is about turning the perspective away from yourself, so you can see more clearly through the lens of love and connect to a deeper purpose." The song will also be featured in the video game *EA Sports FC 27*, set for release on September 25.
Taken at face value, "death of the self" might sound like a philosophical statement—but placed within the context of the band's past two years, it carries far heavier weight. For the previous single "Beaches In Tennessee," Shultz described it as a fictionalized retelling of his past mental health crisis, an experience he once called "extremely traumatic" in an interview with NME. In 2023, he was detained at a hotel for carrying a firearm legally registered only in Kentucky and Tennessee. Courts later determined the arrest was the result of psychosis triggered by a side effect of prescription medication.
"That arrest was, without a doubt, a miracle," he told NME in 2024. "It saved my life. After the arrest, I spent two months in the hospital, followed by six months of outpatient treatment, and now I feel fully recovered. But obviously, recovery is a lifelong process. You don't go through something like that without carrying the scars for the rest of your life—I believe that's true."
Looking back at "Dying In Reverse" through this lens, the language of "death of the self" and "rebirth" isn't just abstract spiritual talk—it feels more like Shultz translating his real recovery journey into something a song can carry. Speaking recently about the new album, he called it the band's "new chapter": "Musically, we've always wanted to reinvent Cage The Elephant. We discovered a whole new side of the band, including how we see things and how we make art... I genuinely feel like we're making our best music yet, and if anything, this is the most inspired we've ever been."
Last year, the band went straight back into the studio right after wrapping up their stint as special guests on Oasis's "Live '25" tour, barely taking a break. "The Oasis tour reignited the fire in us to dream, and to keep dreaming," Shultz said. "I think we realized there's still room for us to grow and push ourselves further, especially when it comes to live performance. That tour deepened our passion and hunger to see this thing through to the end. After the tour, we decided not to take a break... we basically went straight into the studio and started making music."
The band is set to launch a UK and European tour in 2027. Full tour dates and ticket information will be available through official channels.
