The Black Crowes Announce The Profane Prophecy: Pharmacy Chronicles for 2026

The Black Crowes have returned with two new songs, releasing the first single, “Profane Prophecy,” alongside an additional track titled “Pharmacy Chronicles.” The pair mark the band’s first new recordings since 2023’s Happiness Bastards and offer an early glimpse of their upcoming album, A Pound of Feathers, due out March 13.

Produced once again by Jay Joyce, the new material suggests a continuation of the gritty, roots-driven sound the band reembraced on their last release, while also hinting at a looser, more spontaneous creative direction.

A Natural Follow-Up to Happiness Bastards

Looking back on the transition from Happiness Bastards to the sessions that produced A Pound of Feathers, guitarist Rich Robinson says the process unfolded without much deliberation.

“We just kind of went in and did it. It felt natural [and] great,” Robinson tells Ultimate Classic Rock. “Working with Jay [on Happiness Bastards] was amazing, and it was all really cool. But, you know, I had written those songs over a couple of years, so I sent Chris [Robinson] like 40 songs. He chooses what he wants to work on and then we just kind of get together.”

That relaxed dynamic has long defined the Black Crowes’ creative relationship, and Robinson suggests it remains central to how the band operates. Rather than forcing momentum, they allowed the next chapter to reveal itself organically.

Using the Studio as a Creative Engine

For the new album, however, the band intentionally changed their working method. Time constraints pushed them toward a more instinctive approach, one that treated the studio not just as a place to record, but as part of the songwriting process itself.

“We had less time, which I like, because we decided to use the studio as a writing tool,” Robinson explains. “Instead of having things that were a little more solidified, we went in and I had my parts — but we went in [a little bit] less prepared, but more using the studio as a tool. A lot of times that breeds a little bit more excitement, because things are moving fast.”

That urgency, he adds, helped prevent the band from overanalyzing their ideas. “You’re kind of working on the fly and you don’t have time to overthink things, which is a killer,” Robinson says. “If you’re too concerned about it, or you’re overthinking all these things, it kind of ruins it for everyone. So this time, we just went in, we did it, and it came out great. We’re really happy with it.”

The result, according to Robinson, is a record that captures energy and immediacy rather than perfection—a quality that has often defined the Black Crowes at their best.

Touring Ahead and a Big Year on the Road

The Black Crowes won’t wait long after the album’s release to bring the new songs to the stage. The band is scheduled to kick off their next tour on April 2 in Melbourne, Australia, with 12 headlining shows currently booked. More dates are expected as part of what Robinson describes as a full and active year.

Also on the calendar are a series of shows supporting Guns N’ Roses, a pairing Robinson says feels both fitting and exciting. “That’s going to be great. I can’t wait,” he says. “We did [play with] Slash at FireAid and it was so much fun. We’ve been in each other’s sphere for such a long time. They’re a phenomenal American rock and roll band — one of the last ones, you know what I mean?”

For the Black Crowes, sharing the stage with Guns N’ Roses represents more than just another high-profile tour slot. It places them alongside peers who have similarly weathered decades of shifting trends while remaining rooted in classic rock traditions. “I think for them and us to be on the same bill is going to be so much fun,” Robinson adds.

As A Pound of Feathers approaches, the Black Crowes appear comfortable with where they stand: a veteran band still writing, recording, and touring on their own terms. The new songs suggest a group less concerned with chasing relevance than with capturing moments that feel real—both in the studio and onstage. If the early tracks are any indication, the next chapter won’t be about reinvention so much as reaffirmation, proving that the Black Crowes still know how to move forward without losing their core identity.