The Return of the Avant-Prog Powerhouse:
Tony Levin, Pat Mastelotto, and Markus Reuter
Stick Men is a band unlike any other in modern progressive rock. Forged in the fires of the legendary King Crimson rhythm section, the trio generates the power, complexity, and dynamic range of a massive orchestra using unorthodox, highly specialized instruments. Featuring bass icon Tony Levin, drumming master Pat Mastelotto, and touch-guitar maestro Markus Reuter, the band eschews traditional guitar strumming. Instead, they push the absolute limits of two-handed "touch-style" tapping, breaking new ground sonically and compositionally.
Now, exactly a decade after their dark, influential 2016 masterpiece Prog Noir, the unparalleled trio is back with their first studio album in ten years: Let’s THRAK Again.
The Pedigree & The Instruments
The foundation of Stick Men rests on a musical partnership spanning decades, anchored by musicians who have helped shape modern rock.
Tony Levin (Peter Gabriel, John Lennon, Pink Floyd) is one of the most recorded and revered bass players in history. In Stick Men, he wields his signature Chapman Stick—a striking 12-string instrument played by tapping the fretboard with both hands like a piano. This technique allows him to execute heavy, driving bass lines and complex melodies simultaneously.
He is joined by his longtime King Crimson rhythm section partner, Pat Mastelotto (Mr. Mister, XTC), who commands a sprawling hybrid drum kit. By seamlessly blending raw acoustic drums with electronic pads, loops, and industrial samples, Mastelotto creates the band's massive, kinetic heartbeat.
To complete the triad, they are joined by Markus Reuter, a brilliant composer who plays his self-designed 8-string Touch Guitar. Utilizing a similar two-handed tapping technique, Reuter acts as the band’s sonic architect, weaving everything from lush, cinematic chords to blistering, soaring leads. Together, this unique combination of instruments creates a sprawling, orchestral wall of sound that completely defies the traditional boundaries of a three-piece band.
The Story Behind Let's THRAK Again
Arriving 31 years after King Crimson’s 1995 album THRAK, this new 60-minute auditory experience is a profound, kinetic tribute—fully sanctioned and supported by King Crimson founder Robert Fripp.
But Stick Men didn’t just write a new album; they engineered a sprawling sonic experiment. Let’s THRAK Again will be presented in two distinct versions, representing two completely different sonic blueprints of the same source material. The band handed the recordings over to two brilliant engineers—Stefano Castagna (the "Reel One" mix) and Fabio Trentini (the "Reel Two" mix). The resulting double-album features alternative parts, distinct track orders, and wildly different spatial philosophies, allowing fans to step inside the mixing room and experience the music from two entirely unique perspectives.
"Let's THRAK Again is 60 minutes of pure, kinetic energy," notes the band. "We didn't just write 12 new compositions; we designed an entirely new sonic vocabulary for them."
Reflecting on the "Two Reels" concept, Markus Reuter adds, "Our audience listens deeply; they don't just want to hear the notes, they want to understand the architecture of the sound and its possible storylines. By having Stefano and Fabio approach the same music with completely independent visions, we are presenting the listener with the ultimate audiophile puzzle. This approach is a tribute to Peter Gabriel’s recent "i/o" album and the original "THRAK," where two trios were juxtaposed sonically. It is a bold experiment that honors the complexity our listeners expect.”
The Music & The Singles
Designing every single patch and tone specifically for this record, Stick Men has crafted a landscape that is uncompromising, psychedelic, and undeniably catchy.
- "Swimming in Tea": The album’s lead focus track is an exotic, tension-fueled beast. It stands as the only track on the album featuring a vocal performance, delivered with haunting precision by Reuter, before accelerating into a blistering, Tony Levin Stick solo.
- "Komodo" & "Brutal": Uncompromising and heavy, these tracks showcase the band’s terrifying instrumental chops. To capture their kinetic energy, the band recently partnered with acclaimed director Jeff Myers (This Is Red Agency) to film pristine, high-octane live performance videos for both tracks, proving that the telepathy of their live shows translates flawlessly to the screen.
- "The Well": A deep, immersive counterweight to the album's aggressive, mechanical bash, offering listeners a masterclass in dynamic range and spatial tension.
The Release Timeline
The Let’s THRAK Again campaign officially kicks off on June 5, 2026. Hardcore fans attending the massively successful BEAT European tour (featuring Tony Levin, Steve Vai, Adrian Belew, and Danny Carey) will have exclusive access to a 1-disc CD and a single disc vinyl edition of the album strictly as tour merch items. Simultaneously, an expansive pre-order for the definitive 2-disc version, double vinyl with bonus tracks, and collector's box set will go live on Bandcamp.
The global release arrives on September 4, 2026, when physical pre-orders fulfill and the full 2-disc experience hits all digital streaming platforms, coinciding directly with the kickoff of the official Stick Men USA Tour.
Album Tracklist (REEL ONE)
1. Let's THRAK Again (03:11)
2. Like We Did Last Summer (04:11)
3. Haggin Triptych (05:55)
4. Komodo (04:15)
5. Swimming in Tea (03:45)
6. Bash Machine (03:43)
7. Reading the Future (04:25)
8. Thief of the Dice (05:35)
9. Brutal (04:08)
10. Dark Birthday (03:57)
11. Fandango (04:46)
12. The Well (06:04)
Album Credits
Tony Levin: Stick
Markus Reuter: Touch Guitars U8 Deluxe
Pat Mastelotto: Acoustic and Electronic Drums and Percussion
Composed & Produced by Stick Men
Mixed by: Stefano Castagna (Reel One)
Mixed by: Fabio Trentini (Reel Two)
Mastered by: Erik Emil Eskildsen
Recording Locations: Kingston, NY | Dripping Springs, TX | Berlin, Germany
Markus Reuter's Recording Engineer & Sound Design Support: Erik Emil Eskildsen
Artwork by Ritxi Ostariz
Photography by Jeff Myers (THISISREDAGENCY), Avraham Bank and Jonathan Davis
Videography by Jeff Myers (THISISREDAGENCY)
Executive Producers: Neil Ayer, Jim Golden, Dick McClure, Marc Pelath, Richard Schilder, Hal Stern
