On Friday, November 13th, 2026, Clipping will release Splendor & Misery (Anniversary X), the tenth anniversary edition of their Hugo Award-nominated, Sci-Fi opus, on a double LP. The deluxe anniversary edition features the acclaimed album’s original fifteen-song tracklist along with eight new, previously unreleased songs and alternate takes.
Splendor & Misery is an Afrofuturist, dystopian concept album that follows the sole survivor of a slave uprising on an interstellar cargo ship, and the onboard computer that falls in love with him. Thinking he is alone and lost in space, the character discovers music in the ship’s shuddering hull and chirping instrument panels. William and Jonathan’s tracks draw an imaginary sonic map of the ship’s decks, hallways, and quarters, while Daveed’s lyrics ride the rhythms produced by its engines and machinery. In a reversal of H.P. Lovecraft’s concept of cosmic insignificance, the character finds relief in learning that humanity is of no consequence to the vast, uncaring universe. It turns out, pulling the rug out from under anthropocentrism is only horrifying to those who thought they were the center of everything to begin with. Ultimately, the character decides to pilot his ship into the unknown—and possibly into oblivion—instead of continuing on to worlds whose systems of governance and economy have violently oppressed him.
Splendor & Misery is one of Clipping’s most beloved releases, having earned praise from the likes of The New York Times, Bandcamp Daily, CLASH, The Line Of Best Fit, All Music, The Needle Drop, and Uproxx to being selected for year-end lists from the likes of PopMatters (“Best Hip Hop Albums of 2016”), The Observer (“10 Best Hip Hop Albums of 2016”), and Stereogum (“Best Rap Albums of 2016”).
Splendor & Misery would also be nominated for a Hugo Award for “Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form,” in 2017, being the second album to do so in the awards ceremony’s history. In 2019, Pitchfork ranked Splendor & Misery as one of “The 33 Best Industrial Albums of All Time.”
Clipping would also perform songs from Splendor & Misery on late-night TV, with appearances on former shows The Late Late Show with James Corden (“A Better Place”) and Conan (“Air Em Out”). Recently, the band performed the song “True Believer” (with special guest vocalist Sharon Udoh aka Counterfeit Madison) for NPR Music’s Tiny Desk series.
Splendor & Misery (Anniversary X) is now available to preorder on vinyl and digitally from Sub Pop and Bandcamp. LP preorders from megamart.subpop.com in North America, Mega Mart Europe in the UK and EU, and your local record store will receive the Metallic Silver colored vinyl (while supplies last).
Clipping is also curating Splendor & Misery Fest 2026 at Flushing, NY’s Knockdown Center in celebration of the album, tomorrow night, Thursday, August 13th. The lineup will feature a headlining performance from Clipping, along with sets by SPELLLING, Sub Pop labelmates Shabazz Palaces, ELUCID, Fatboi Sharif, evicshen, and Maria Chavez. Tickets are on sale now.