🎤 Artist: Bryan Adams
💿 Album: How’s It Goin’
📅 Release Date: Friday 6 November 2026
🏷️ Record Label: BAD Records
🇨🇦 Country: Canada
🎸 Genre: Rock / Country Rock / Folk Rock / Americana
🎵 Tracklist: 12 Songs + Digital Bonus Track
🔥 Album Number: 17th Studio Album
Canadian rock legend BRYAN ADAMS is preparing to release his 17th studio album, How’s It Goin’, on Friday 6 November 2026 through his own independent label, BAD Records. And this time, he’s doing something a little different!
Forget simply delivering another collection of stadium-sized rock anthems and heartfelt ballads.
Adams has created an entire album celebrating his homeland, exploring Canada’s history, landscapes, national identity and remarkable people.
And he’s bringing some unexpected musical influences along for the journey.
Alongside the powerful guitar-driven rock that made him an international superstar, How’s It Goin’ ventures into country music, folk traditions and distinctly Canadian storytelling.
There are songs about national heroes.
Historical battles.
The country’s vast landscapes.
And even a politically charged response to suggestions that Canada should become America’s 51st state.
Yes, really!
From “Summer of ’69” to singing about Canadian history, Bryan Adams is taking listeners on one enormous musical road trip across his homeland!
And frankly, we’re rather excited to see where this journey takes us. 🤘🇨🇦🔥
🇨🇦 ‘How’s It Goin’’ – A Musical Love Letter To Canada
Throughout his extraordinary career, Bryan Adams has written some of rock music’s most recognisable songs.
But his latest project represents something particularly personal.
Rather than focusing primarily on relationships and universal experiences, Adams has turned his attention towards the country where he grew up.
The result is How’s It Goin’, an album exploring Canada’s people, history, culture and identity.
Adams explained that the project began while writing music for the documentary series Canada’s Wild Eastern Edge.
Researching the country’s landscapes and stories inspired him to explore more subjects connected to his homeland.
What began as one documentary composition eventually developed into an entire album.
And the concept also encouraged him to experiment with different musical styles.
Country music and folk influences became important parts of the record’s identity, sitting alongside the energetic rock arrangements for which he’s famous.
For an artist with more than four decades of international success, it’s an interesting creative departure.
And one that demonstrates his willingness to explore new territory.
🎸 Country, Folk And Rock – Bryan Adams Explores New Musical Territory
Bryan Adams has always been associated with powerful guitar riffs, enormous choruses and emotional ballads.
Songs such as “Run To You,” “Cuts Like A Knife,” “Summer Of ’69” and “Heaven” helped establish him as one of the defining rock artists of the 1980s.
But How’s It Goin’ draws upon a broader collection of musical traditions.
Country and folk influences play an important role in the album’s storytelling.
That approach makes sense when you consider the record’s subject matter.
Canada has a rich musical heritage, encompassing folk traditions, country music, maritime songs and rock ’n’ roll.
By exploring those influences, Adams is able to connect his songwriting with the people and places featured throughout the album.
Importantly, he’s not abandoning rock music.
The album still includes the energetic, guitar-driven material that longtime fans expect.
Instead, he’s expanding his musical vocabulary.
And after decades of international success, there’s something refreshing about an artist taking that approach.
🔥 ‘51st State’ – Bryan Adams Takes A Political Stand
One of the most talked-about songs associated with the album is “51st State.”
Released in July 2026, the single addresses the controversial suggestion that Canada could become part of the United States.
The song responds to comments made by US President Donald Trump concerning Canada’s political relationship with America.
Adams approaches the subject through a proudly Canadian perspective, defending his country’s independence and identity.
It’s a notably political direction for an artist more commonly associated with romantic ballads and feel-good rock anthems.
But the subject fits naturally within the album’s wider concept.
After all, an album celebrating Canada’s national identity would be incomplete without acknowledging contemporary debates about its sovereignty.
“51st State” gives Adams an opportunity to express national pride through his music.
And it demonstrates that How’s It Goin’ isn’t simply a nostalgic celebration of Canada’s past.
It’s also concerned with the country’s present and future.
🏃 ‘The Ballad Of Terry Fox’ – Honouring A Canadian Hero
Another important track is “The Ballad Of Terry Fox,” a tribute to one of Canada’s most inspirational national figures.
For readers unfamiliar with his extraordinary story, Terry Fox was a Canadian athlete and cancer research campaigner who became internationally recognised for his Marathon of Hope.
After losing his right leg to cancer, Fox began an ambitious journey across Canada in 1980.
His aim was to raise awareness and money for cancer research.
Running with a prosthetic leg, he travelled thousands of kilometres across the country.
His determination captured the imagination of Canadians and inspired support from people around the world.
Sadly, Fox was forced to end his journey after cancer spread to his lungs.
He died in 1981, aged just 22.
But his legacy has continued for decades.
The annual Terry Fox Run remains an important international fundraising initiative, supporting cancer research and celebrating his extraordinary determination.
🎬 Featured In The Documentary ‘Run Terry Run’
Adams wrote “The Ballad Of Terry Fox” for the documentary Run Terry Run, which explores Fox’s remarkable life and legacy.
The song celebrates his courage, determination and lasting influence.
It’s a particularly meaningful subject for Adams, who remembers witnessing the national excitement surrounding Fox’s Marathon of Hope while touring Canada in 1980.
By incorporating the song into How’s It Goin’, Adams connects one of Canada’s most inspirational stories with the album’s broader celebration of national identity.
And it’s a reminder that some of the most powerful songs are inspired by real people.
🌊 ‘Canada’s Wild Eastern Edge’ – The Song That Started Everything
The origins of the entire album can be traced to “Canada’s Wild Eastern Edge.”
Adams originally developed music connected to the documentary series of the same name.
The project encouraged him to research Canada’s natural landscapes, regional history and cultural identity.
That research eventually inspired additional songs.
And those compositions became the foundation of How’s It Goin’.
It’s an interesting example of how one creative project can develop into something much larger.
What began as a documentary assignment became a personal exploration of an entire country.
And for Adams, it opened the door to musical ideas that might not have emerged through his usual songwriting process.
🎵 ‘How’s It Goin’’ – A Familiar Greeting Becomes A Song
The album’s title track, “How’s It Goin’,” was released as a single in October 2026.
Built around a familiar conversational greeting, the song introduces a lighter and more everyday aspect of the album’s Canadian identity.
It’s an interesting contrast to the more serious subjects explored elsewhere on the record.
While “51st State” addresses national sovereignty and “The Ballad Of Terry Fox” celebrates courage and determination, the title track draws inspiration from ordinary conversation.
That mixture of personal, historical and contemporary subjects gives the album a broader storytelling perspective.
And it demonstrates that celebrating a country doesn’t necessarily require every song to make an enormous political statement.
Sometimes, the smallest cultural details can be just as meaningful.
🌊 ‘Lake Ontario’ – A Digital Bonus Track With Political Bite
Adams has also released “Lake Ontario,” which appears as a bonus track on the digital edition.
The song adds another contemporary political dimension to the project.
Its release continues the album’s emphasis on Canadian identity and the country’s relationship with its southern neighbour.
Rather than treating Canada’s geography as a purely scenic subject, Adams uses the song to address current political tensions.
It’s another example of how the record moves between historical reflection and contemporary commentary.
And for listeners who want the complete collection, the digital edition includes this additional track beyond the standard 12-song album.
📜 Canadian History Takes Centre Stage
Several songs explore important places and events from Canada’s history.
⚔️ ‘The Battle Of Lundy’s Lane’
The title refers to a significant battle fought during the War of 1812.
Taking place near Niagara Falls in July 1814, the Battle of Lundy’s Lane involved British and American forces.
It remains one of the most historically significant engagements fought on Canadian soil during that conflict.
Its inclusion demonstrates Adams’ interest in exploring the events that helped shape Canada’s development.
🇨🇦 ‘When Canada Joined Newfoundland’
This intriguingly titled song references the relationship between Newfoundland and the rest of Canada.
Newfoundland joined Canadian Confederation in 1949, becoming the country’s tenth province.
The track’s title reverses the familiar historical phrasing, suggesting a playful perspective on the subject.
🛣️ ‘Highway 16’
Highway 16 is an important transport route across western Canada.
Its inclusion fits naturally within an album concerned with Canadian landscapes and geography.
🌲 ‘Iron Ribbon’ And ‘The Bridge’
These titles suggest further exploration of the physical and symbolic connections that shape a country.
While their full lyrical narratives are best discovered through the music itself, they contribute to the album’s broader collection of Canadian-inspired subjects.
💿 Full ‘How’s It Goin’’ Tracklist
The standard album contains 12 tracks, with an additional song available on the digital edition.
Track
Song
1
How’s It Goin’
2
Highway 16
3
Diesel & Dirt
4
The Battle Of Lundy’s Lane
5
The Ballad Of Terry Fox
6
51st State
7
When Canada Joined Newfoundland
8
A Handful Of Gold
9
Iron Ribbon
10
The Bridge
11
Canada’s Wild Eastern Edge
12
Heave Away
13
Lake Ontario (Digital Bonus Track)
The tracklist demonstrates just how strongly the album is connected to its central theme.
From Canadian history and geography to contemporary politics and national heroes, the record explores an unusually broad collection of subjects for a mainstream rock release.
💿 Vinyl, CD And Special Hardback Book Edition
Collectors will have several options when How’s It Goin’ arrives.
The album is being released through BAD Records in the following formats:
- Standard CD
- Black Vinyl LP
- Red And White Splatter Vinyl LP
- Digital Album
- Special A4 Hardback Book Edition
The vinyl editions feature gatefold packaging, printed inner sleeves and an obi strip.
The special hardback book edition is particularly interesting.
It includes the album on CD alongside song lyrics and images connected to the stories and subjects explored throughout the record.
For an album so heavily focused on Canadian history and identity, that additional visual material could provide valuable context.
And for collectors who enjoy owning physical music, it’s an appealing alternative to a standard CD package.
🏷️ BAD Records – Bryan Adams Takes Control
How’s It Goin’ will be released through BAD Records, Adams’ own independent record label.
The imprint has become an important part of his recent career.
His previous studio album, Roll With The Punches, arrived in 2025 and marked his first full album of new material through the label.
By releasing music independently, Adams has greater control over his recordings and how they’re presented to audiences.
For an established artist with a career spanning more than four decades, that independence offers considerable creative freedom.
And How’s It Goin’ demonstrates what can happen when an experienced songwriter decides to pursue a personal concept without simply repeating familiar commercial formulas.
🎸 From ‘Summer Of ’69’ To A Celebration Of Canada
Bryan Adams has enjoyed one of the most successful careers in rock music.
Born in Kingston, Ontario, in 1959, he developed into an internationally recognised singer, songwriter and guitarist.
His breakthrough came during the early 1980s.
Albums such as Cuts Like A Knife and Reckless established him as a major international artist.
Reckless, released in 1984, became particularly important.
It featured several of his best-known songs, including:
“Run To You”
“Summer Of ’69”
“Heaven”
“Somebody”
“It’s Only Love”
And “One Night Love Affair.”
The album helped establish Adams as one of the defining voices of mainstream rock.
His success continued into the 1990s.
The enormous international popularity of “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” introduced his music to another generation.
Further hits followed, including “Please Forgive Me,” “All For Love” and “Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman?”
Across his career, Adams has sold millions of records and performed for audiences around the world.
And remarkably, he continues recording, touring and developing new material.
🔥 Why ‘How’s It Goin’’ Is Such An Interesting Release
There are several reasons why this album stands out within Adams’ extensive catalogue.
First, there’s the concept.
Rather than simply writing another collection of unrelated rock songs, he’s built an entire record around his homeland.
Second, there’s the musical experimentation.
Country and folk influences introduce different textures alongside his familiar rock sound.
Third, there’s the storytelling.
From Terry Fox to historical battles and Canadian landscapes, the album explores subjects that don’t usually dominate mainstream rock releases.
And finally, there’s the political dimension.
Songs such as “51st State” demonstrate Adams’ willingness to address contemporary debates through his music.
Together, those elements make How’s It Goin’ a particularly distinctive project.
🎸 The Riff Report Says…
We’ve been listening to Bryan Adams for decades.
And whether you’re a fan of his early rock anthems, enormous power ballads or more recent releases, there’s no denying his contribution to popular music.
But what makes How’s It Goin’ particularly interesting is that he’s not simply trying to recreate the past.
He’s exploring something personal.
His homeland.
Its history.
Its people.
And the stories that have helped shape its identity.
The country and folk influences are especially intriguing.
Adams has always been a strong storyteller, and those musical traditions provide another way for him to develop that side of his songwriting.
Then there’s “The Ballad Of Terry Fox.”
Few Canadian stories are as inspirational as Fox’s Marathon of Hope, and incorporating his legacy into the album gives the project genuine emotional significance.
And we certainly didn’t expect Bryan Adams to be releasing politically charged songs about Canada’s sovereignty!
But that’s part of what makes this new chapter interesting.
After more than four decades in music, he’s still finding subjects worth exploring.
Seventeen studio albums into his career, Bryan Adams is proving that rock legends don’t have to stop experimenting.
And with How’s It Goin’, he’s inviting listeners to experience Canada through his music.
From historic battles to national heroes.
From country roads to political statements.
And from heartfelt storytelling to the kind of rock anthems that made him famous.
Bryan Adams is heading home, and he’s taking the rest of us along for the ride! 🇨🇦🤘🔥
💿 Album Release Details
Artist: Bryan Adams
Album: How’s It Goin’
Release Date: Friday 6 November 2026
Record Label: BAD Records
Studio Album: 17th
Country: Canada
Genre: Rock / Country Rock / Folk Rock / Americana
Standard Tracks: 12
Digital Bonus Track: Lake Ontario
Previous Studio Album: Roll With The Punches (2025)
Official Website: https://www.bryanadams.com/
Official Record Label And Pre-Orders: https://badrecords.com/
🎸 The Riff Report – Supporting rock, metal and the glorious racket in between.
