Gallows have announced newly remastered reissues of their first two albums, Orchestra Of Wolves and Grey Britain â while making it crystal clear that all those recent Frank Carter teasers were not signalling a reunion.
Well, they certainly knew how to get everybodyâs attention.
After weeks of mysterious activity, archive footage and plenty of speculation that Frank Carter might be returning to Gallows, the Watford hardcore mob have finally revealed what theyâve been cooking up.
And unfortunately for anyone already preparing themselves for absolute carnage in a sweaty venue somewhereâŚ
It isnât a reunion.
Instead, Gallows are celebrating two hugely important records from their early career with newly remastered editions of Orchestra Of Wolves and Grey Britain.
Both albums are set to return on 6 November 2026.
đ¤ âNot A Reunion. Not A Coincidence.â
Thatâs the line Gallows used when unveiling the new releases.
Cheeky sods.
The bandâs recent social media activity had understandably sent fans into detective mode, particularly as archive footage featuring former frontman Frank Carter began appearing.
And when footage of Gallowsâ final show with Carter surfaced?
Well, you can hardly blame everyone for getting excited.
For a moment, it looked like one of British hardcoreâs most explosive partnerships might genuinely be heading back into a room together.
Instead?
Reissues.
Very nice reissues, mind.
But still.
We can hear several thousand hardcore fans sighing from here.
đş Orchestra Of Wolves Returns
Originally released in 2006, Gallowsâ debut album Orchestra Of Wolves arrived like somebody had lobbed a brick through the window of British rock music.
Raw, furious and absolutely bursting with confrontation, it announced Gallows as one of the most exciting bands emerging from the UK hardcore scene.
Tracks including In The Belly Of A Shark, Abandon Ship, Rolling With The Punches and the title track helped establish a sound that mixed hardcore punk aggression with massive hooks and the sort of live energy that made standing anywhere near Frank Carter feel vaguely dangerous.
The reissued edition expands the album considerably, bringing together bonus material and covers alongside the original record.
And nearly twenty years after its arrival, Orchestra Of Wolves still sounds like it wants to start a fight with the furniture.
đŹđ§ Then Came Grey Britain
If Orchestra Of Wolves kicked the door open, Grey Britain tried to tear the entire building down.
Released in 2009, Gallowsâ second album was darker, heavier and considerably more ambitious.
Where the debut felt like pure adrenaline, Grey Britain painted a bleak picture of a country falling apart around the band.
Tracks including London Is The Reason, The Vulture, Misery, Leeches and Death Voices combined hardcore fury with a much larger sense of scale.
It was vicious without being one-dimensional.
Ugly in exactly the right way.
And for plenty of Gallows fans, it remains the bandâs defining record.
đ¤ The Frank Carter Era
Both albums represent the period when Frank Carter fronted Gallows.
Carterâs confrontational performances became central to the bandâs reputation, particularly during live shows where the distinction between stage and audience often seemed more like a vague suggestion than an actual rule.
He eventually departed Gallows in 2011, citing creative differences.
Carter went on to form Pure Love before establishing Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, while Gallows recruited former Alexisonfire guitarist Wade MacNeil as their new vocalist.
With MacNeil, Gallows released their self-titled record in 2012 followed by Desolation Sounds in 2015.
But those first two records with Carter have always held a particularly special place within the bandâs story.
đ Those Reunion Teasers Had Everyone Going
Which brings us back to those bloody teasers.
Gallows had been sharing archive material connected to the early years of the band, including commentary and footage involving Carter.
Given that Orchestra Of Wolves turns 20 years old in 2026, speculation naturally started flying.
Anniversary shows?
A reunion tour?
One-off gigs?
Frank Carter back screaming In The Belly Of A Shark while half the audience attempts to climb onto the ceiling?
It wasnât exactly difficult to imagine.
Then came the confirmation:
âNot a reunion. Not a coincidence.â
Fair play.
They absolutely knew what they were doing.
đ¸ Frank Carter Has Been Rather Busy Anyway
Carter hasnât exactly been sitting at home waiting for the Gallows phone to ring.
He has spent considerable time performing with the reunited Sex Pistols, taking on the unenviable task of fronting songs forever associated with Johnny Rotten while bringing his own ferocious live personality to the material.
And anyone whoâs watched Carter perform over the years knows subtlety isnât really part of the package.
He attacks stages.
Which makes the idea of him eventually standing beside Gallows again incredibly tempting.
Even if itâs apparently not happening right now.
đż Two Albums Worth Rediscovering
Reunion disappointment aside, getting these two records properly back into circulation is still excellent news.
Original vinyl copies havenât exactly been the easiest things to find over the years without wandering into the dangerous territory where Discogs starts making your bank account nervous.
Newly remastered editions mean younger fans who discovered Gallows later can finally pick up physical copies without selling a kidney.
And for longtime fans?
WellâŚ
You already own the originals.
You probably own several other versions.
Youâre still going to buy them.
Donât pretend otherwise.
We know how this works.
đĽ Gallows Helped Define A Generation
It can be easy to forget just how much impact Gallows made when they first emerged.
British rock in the mid-2000s had plenty happening, but Gallows felt genuinely dangerous.
They werenât polished.
They werenât particularly interested in being friendly.
And they definitely didnât look like a band constructed in an A&R meeting.
They sounded like five blokes who had accidentally been locked in a rehearsal room with several amplifiers and a serious amount of unresolved anger.
Brilliant.
Their influence stretched well beyond hardcore, helping expose a much wider audience to aggressive underground music at a time when British alternative culture was changing rapidly.
đ¤ THE RIFF REPORT VERDICT
Are we slightly disappointed this isnât a Frank Carter reunion?
Of course we bloody are.
You donât wave footage of one of British hardcoreâs most explosive frontmen around and expect everyone to remain calm.
But Orchestra Of Wolves and Grey Britain absolutely deserve another moment in the spotlight.
Theyâre furious.
Chaotic.
Important.
And they capture a period when Gallows seemed capable of setting fire to virtually any room unfortunate enough to contain them.
So noâŚ
Frank Carter isnât rejoining Gallows.
At least not based on this announcement.
But two landmark British hardcore albums are coming back newly remastered, and thatâs still worth turning the speakers up for.
As for whether that reunion ever happens?
Never say never.
Because Gallows have already proved theyâre extremely good at getting everyone talking.
Now stop teasing us, lads. Our hearts canât take it. đ¤đĽ
