The Rubens New Album 'Group Therapy' Is Out Now

The Rubens' hotly anticipated sixth studio album, Group Therapy, is now out in the world.

Recorded in a converted World War II communications bunker, the quintet put a focus on guitar while creating this release, ditching the synths of 2024 predecessor SODA for an approach bassist William Zeglis calls "almost full circle".

Speaking about Group Therapy, singer and guitarist Sam Margin calls it his first sober album, admitting he'd hit "a low point" after a self-described "booze-related" breakdown where making music lost its meaning. He went to therapy to get help, which inspired the album's title.

"Sam went to therapy, and was talking about how it was helping him," explains his brother and bandmate Elliott Margin. "And 'group' was a part of that – we're a group. We're in it together. And how do people often experience music? Together. Live shows are our favourite part of being in a band. That's pretty much a group therapy experience for us."

Sam adds, "Now I'm just enjoying the process. Being with my mates and making music is awesome and my anxiety has gone so much."

Along with the singles 'Goanna', 'Are You Getting High', 'Love America' and 'No Champagne', The Rubens have released a fifth and final single, 'The Cannonball', a bubbly slice of melodic indie rock.

Of the song, Sam explains, "In a bad movie, love finds you in the perfect place at the perfect time. In a good one, it usually walks through the door when you're in a bad place at the worst possible time - somewhere between betting on the dogs and one beer or Adderall too many. 'The Cannonball' is about warning someone not to fall for you while secretly hoping they ignore every word. About finding someone willing to attach wings to all your dead weight. Production-wise, we loved having the emotive acoustic guitar as the anchor, while the outro gave us a chance to channel some early-2000s angst. If love finds you at all, you’re lucky."

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With their new album out in the world, The Rubens are excited to embark on an extensive run of dates across Australia that kicks off this evening, Friday 16 October, at City Recital Hall in Sydney. Concerts follow in Adelaide, Mt Gambier, Coolum, Brisbane, D'Aguilar, Castlemaine, Melbourne, Barwon Heads, Hobart, Forth, Fremantle and Margaret River, with the lads wrapping up the first half of the tour in Wagga Wagga at Romano's on Saturday 12 December.

The second leg kicks off in 2027 on Friday 22 January at Shoal Bay Country Club in Shoal Bay, followed by dates at Erina, Lake Macquarie, Mona Vale, Pacific Palms, Coffs Harbour, Yamba, Brunswick Heads and Wombarra, finishing up at The Pavilion in Kiama on Saturday 13 February.

Tickets on sale now via therubensmusic.com.

The Rubens are also hosting two just-announced album launch parties in Melbourne and Sydney next week. There will be a stripped-back set by brothers Sam & Elliott Margin, a live Q&A and a meet-and-greet, with both events free and all ages. The first event takes place at Melbourne's Punters Club in Fitzroy at 5:30pm AEDT on Wednesday 21 October, followed by the launch in Sydney's Newtown at Young Henry's at 6pm AEDT on Thursday 22 October.

Catch The Rubens performing at The Gov in Adelaide on Friday 23 October and The Globe Hotel in Mt Gambier on Saturday 24 October. Tickets on sale at therubensmusic.com. Group Therapy is out now. Listen here.