Vancouver Trio Gadfly Tease a “Fcking Crazy” New Album for 2026

Gadfly during Sled Island 2024. Photo by Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder).

Gadfly have gained a considerable fan base in Vancouver with their highly energetic live shows and explosive, hard-hitting, genre-defying albums, Apranik and Sura. The trio consists of married couple Homa Khoshnavaz and Nigel Young, as well as Hansen Thingvold. Lately, they have been hard at work writing and recording new material for their upcoming record, set to release in the spring of 2026. 

Recently, REVERIE caught up with Gadfly to discuss their new singles and learn some details about what to expect from the upcoming record. 

One of the main things that stands out in Gadfly's music is its unique combination of Farsi and English. “I’m from Iran and moved here [to Vancouver] in 2019, so it was easier to sing in Farsi,” Khoshnavaz says. “Persians have a very long and old history with beautiful poetry, so using that and writing that kind of meaningful poetry is cool. It is very hard. I can only do certain styles… You can’t just say ‘I love you.’ You have to be like ‘Before life was created, I was made to die for you.’” Likewise, Gadfly draws influence from Persian music as well. “The first full-length album [Apranik] is all like Persian traditional scales – just using the melody and making it rock and roll.”

The three singles Gadfly released this year: "Bop It" "Lemonade" and "Shrink" saw them experiment with different recording techniques, helping them prepare for the upcoming record. "We were just figuring out how we want to actually record the full album, so we recorded in different places and worked with different people," Khoshnavaz explains. An example of exploring different techniques than what they had previously done is "Lemonade", which was built around various breakbeats that Young was experimenting with on the drums.

Meanwhile, "Shrink" is actually a cover from Young's previous band, RAG, a song Gadfly really loved playing live and decided to release as a single. The song is a fan favourite at Gadfly’s live shows. “I call for an all-femme mosh pit during it,” Khoshnavaz smiles.  

"It is definitely a song with a femme energy to it, and it was important just to keep it in that same spirit," Young echoes.

Something new for the upcoming album is that all three members will be writing songs for it. “We all write and hate our own songs but the other two like the songs,” laughs Khoshnavaz. “For the first album, I did all the songs, and the second album, it was me and Nigel, like I would bring a couple of songs, and he would bring a couple of songs, and we'd work on them together. On the new album all three [of us] are writing.” 

Adding to the conversation about the new writing process, Thingvold says, "You only know [a song is] good when everybody else in the band says it's good.”

Drawing inspiration from nu-metal bands such as System Of A Down, Deftones, and Linkin Park, the upcoming record will be a throwback to the late ’90s and early 2000s. “We’re not gonna be rapping on the songs or have a turntable though,” Khoshnavaz laughs.

“This new album is going to be really over-produced,” Young jokes. “Everything to a click track. Bring in session musicians. I’m not playing at all.” Ultimately, Gadfly share that fans can expect many electrifying songs guaranteed to make you headbang. “We’re more banger-focused. We just want good fun songs with good strong lyricism. That helps us translate it better to a live setting.” 

Gadfly's live shows are known for their chaotically loud sound and intense energy. Capturing their energy and how they sound live is something they always strive to do with every song and album they record, especially with the album they are currently working on. “We record all of our songs and albums live off the floor, and I think [the new album] will be more of how we play live, and capturing that energy in the album,” Khoshnavaz says. “It’s becoming a bit more unhinged and angry but in a comforting way.” 

Be sure to follow Gadfly on their social media to stay up to date with the latest news about the upcoming record, which is sure to be another great album. “The new album is gonna be fucking crazy,” Thingvold says.