Morrissey will release his first album in three years, his new label distributor announced on Tuesday, promising that the work will offer fresh political insights from the outspoken singer.

Low in High-School, his11th solo studio album, will come out on 17 November.

“Morrissey’s talent for combining political statements and melodies is more prevalent than ever on Low in High-School, capturing the zeitgeist of an ever-changing world,” music group BMG said in a statement.

Morrissey will launch the album with a 10 November concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, followed by a wider tour whose details will be announced later, BMG said.

Never shy about his views, Morrissey is a staunch critic of the British monarchy and longtime champion of animal rights, with the singer refusing to play at concert venues while meat is served.

Recently, the former Smiths singer hit out against UK politicians for their response to the Manchester bombings, criticising the London mayor Sadiq Khan for failing to condemn Islamic State – at a point where Isis was yet to claim responsibility. He also criticised Andy Burnham, the mayor of Manchester: “[Burnham] says the attack is the work of an ‘extremist’. An extreme what? An extreme rabbit?”

In April limited edition copies of a Smiths 7-inch single, released for Record Store Day, were etched with “Trump Will Kill America”, apparently by Morrissey.

In July, the singer said he was “terrorised” by a police officer in Rome, who he said held him at gunpoint for 30 minutes on a busy street after demanding papers.



Morrissey has had a fraught relationship with the music industry. His last album, World Peace is None of Your Business, disappeared from distribution shortly after its release in 2014 as Morrissey pointed to disputes with label Harvest, part of music conglomerate Universal.



For Low in High-School, Morrissey launched his own label called Etienne, the French form of Steven, his first name.

Etienne Records will be distributed by BMG, a unit of German media giant Bertelsmann. Formerly a major label, BMG relaunched in 2008 with a focus on music publishing and distribution.

Korda Marshall, BMG’s executive vice president for new recordings, said it was “a dream” to sign Morrissey.

“There are not many artists around today that can compare to Morrissey. He is an extraordinary talent. He is prodigious, literate, witty, elegant and above all, courageous,” he said in the statement.

The album news comes just as a biopic about Morrissey, England is Mine, arrives in cinemas. Based on Morrissey’s autobiography, it follows his boyhood in Manchester until he formed the Smiths with guitarist Johnny Marr.

Agence France-Presse contributed to this report