President have shared a new single, ‘Mercy’ – you can listen to it below.
- Read More: President live in London: a brief but commanding inaugural address from rock’s latest mystery
The relentless, huge track marks the mystery masked metal band’s second release of the year, following on from last month’s ‘Angel Wings’.
“‘Mercy’ comes from a need to confront the reality that religion, throughout history, has often been tied to conflict and loss,” the group told Kerrang! about the cut.
“It’s an attempt to understand that on a human level – how belief can both guide and divide, often at great cost.”
President are currently out on tour in North America, and will hit the road in the UK and Ireland next month. The latter leg includes a headline show at the O2 Kentish Town Forum in London on April 21. Find any remaining tickets here.
The group, fronted by an unknown masked singer, made their debut live appearance at Download 2025 last summer. They later played their first headline gig at The Garage in London.
President’s UK and Ireland tour dates for 2026 are:
APRIL
12 – Academy, Dublin
14 – O2 Ritz, Manchester
15 – SWG3 TV Studio, Glasgow
17 – Project House, Leeds
18 – Electric Bristol, Bristol
20 – UEA, Norwich
21 – O2 Forum Kentish Town, London
President recently signed to Atlantic Records, launching their “new term” with the emotional single ‘Angel Wings’. Their debut EP, ‘King Of Terrors’, arrived last autumn.
Many fans are convinced that the band’s frontman is Charlie Simpson of Busted and Fightstar fame. The speculation was fuelled by Simpson revealing to NME in 2024 that he was working on new music. However, he only mentioned his plans with Busted and Fightstar, rather than any new projects coming up.
The stage names of all the members were subsequently revealed, but President said they were “never going to discuss or acknowledge our identities”.
Elsewhere, the group responded to claims that they were an “industry plant”, and hit out at the “lazy” comparisons between them and Sleep Token.
In a three-star review of President’s first London gig, NME noted “a cultlike atmosphere” inside the venue. It read: “Sweat is already dripping from our singer’s disturbing mask as he arrives at the glowing red lectern onstage. He’s soon overpowered by the audience – a running theme across the night – who are awestruck and roaring from minute one.”
President’s other dates for 2026 include Slam Dunk Festival, Rock For People, Hellfest and Hurricane Festival.