German shoegaze rockers BEES MADE HONEY IN THE VEIN TREE have unveiled ‚Departure‘, the first advance single from their forthcoming fourth album ‚In Between Strides‘. The record is slated for release on September 18, 2026, via Magnetic Eye Records, marking a bold step toward more melodic and spontaneous songwriting territory.BEES MADE HONEY IN THE VEIN TREE have announced their fourth full-length album, ‚In Between Strides‘, due September 18, 2026, on Magnetic Eye Records. Alongside the announcement, the Stuttgart-based quartet has released ‚Departure‘, the lead single and opening track from the record, accompanied by an official visualizer.
According to frontman Simon Weinrich, ‚Departure‘ was the first composition written for the new album and proved the most challenging to complete. The track exemplifies the band’s desire to move in a more melodic, straightforward direction following their critically praised third album ‚Aion‘ (2023). Its distinctive second section originated as a separate piece before being merged with the first, with a Fender Rhodes piano — routed through the band’s guitar setup — added after an early demo session near Passau and later re-recorded at Milberg Studios.
The album was conceived with spontaneity at its core. BEES MADE HONEY IN THE VEIN TREE recorded each song individually, without a predetermined plan for the next, working across diverse settings including a cellar, a concert stage, a living room, and the studio where their debut ‚Medicine‘ was tracked. This approach led the band to gradually shift from ambient and drone textures toward shoegaze, incorporating more acoustic elements along the way.
Lyrically, ‚In Between Strides‘ charts a journey of uncertain outcomes and new beginnings, reflecting the band’s own creative evolution while reaching beyond purely personal experience. The five-track album features guest pianist Luis Deffner on ‚Elisa‘ and was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Ralv Milberg at Milberg Studios in Stuttgart. ‚In Between Strides‘ will be available as a limited galaxy marbled purple and white vinyl LP and as a Digisleeve CD.
Photo: Dan Trautwein