Emma Ruth Rundle Releases “God’s Picture” Video/Single
New Album These Killing Times Out Sep 18 via Errant Child
North American Headlining Fall Tour + Announces UK/EU Run
New Noise Magazine Cover Story Issue 83
Photo By Mason Rose
"God's Picture" is the latest track to be taken from Emma Ruth Rundle’s These Killing Times, and described by Emma as the centerpiece and thesis statement of this record. The album will be released via her own imprint Errant Child on 18th September.
"'God’s Picture' is a meditation on the state of the world, particularly climate disaster, global conflict and class. Musically this song feels like a segue from Engine of Hell, with its gentle piano and guitar, to These Killing Times, with its more lush arrangements and message. This song is also a plea for the demolition of western hegemony. Accompanied by a music video collaboration with many friends and for which I painstakingly constructed the sets for in the winter of 2025/26, 'God’s Picture' is the thesis statement at the core of my new album These Killing Times."
Listen / Watch / Playlist “God’s Picture” | Watch Video
Creating visual adornments for These Killing Times offered Rundle a moment of relief from the heaviness of its themes. Her life-long affection for the aesthetics of Jim Henson, in particular The Storyteller, proved to be the escape hatch that opened up the visual world that would accompany the album. Both the physicality of crafting props with her hands, and the continuing spirit of collaboration with artists and close friends Mason Rose and Blake Armstrong were grounding forces, providing a sense of tangible creation in the midst of uncertain times.
Through the fantastic characters and symbolic garnishes she brought to life in the videos for “Enough” and “God’s Picture” - demons and society quasi-Elizabethan folk - she found a sense of much needed levity. As though she is willing this satirical take on an alternative-timeline-fantasyland into being, the visuals are an essential ingredient in this alchemical brew. Rundle adds “The characters in ‘God’s Picture’ provide a way both to play and lightly explore the power structures and politics and themes of this time.”
These Killing Times is electrifying, emotional and charged with anti-patriarchal feminist rage. It’s a reactive anthology, bristling, full of life and full of resistance.
Although this new album possesses a spirit of defiance, it retains the tenderness, rawness and vulnerability that saw her previous globally acclaimed full-length, Engine of Hell (2021), resonate with so many listeners.
These Killing Times returns to a full-band set up for a fuller sound, a more sonically powerful accompaniment to her now more direct vocal style. The album features drummer Jess Gowrie (Chelsea Wolfe, Mrs. Piss), long-time friend and collaborator Troy Zeigler, Patrick Shiroishi, Nick Reinhart (Tera Melos), Gina Gleason (Baroness), Marissa Nadler, Lukas Frank (Storefront Church) and Amelia Baker (Cinder Well). The instrumentation is brighter and more urgent than ever before, lending a fascinating magnetism to Emma's music which feels fresh and new.
These Killing Times asks us questions of our intentions and of the roles we play in the communities we exist within, and how we choose to counter the chokehold of capitalism. Sleepless nights, moments of horror, and times of anguish could be overlaid atop a timeline of recent socio-political events to map the creation of These Killing Times; the rising power of Christian nationalism, the grotesque circus of political discourse, and related ontological discomfort. But there is also love - as a balm and a tonic, a means of escape. A desire for companionship and connection whilst being confronted by the most violent parts of humanity remains an unresolved tension.
Written as she watched from afar the devastating effects of yet another climate disaster unfold in early 2025, Emma reflected on the roots of the systemic issues that filter directly into so many catastrophic global events, and made a conscious choice to reach towards making a hopeful record. Where outside forces tempted her to turn inwards, towards isolation and hopelessness, she instead reached outwards to create a record that acknowledges pain, but offers both community and resilience in response.
Bringing others into the fold was both a stylistic choice and one that strengthened her community-first approach to making the record. “I wanted to feel fortified by friendships and to be in community with other musicians - to make something that pushed back against the isolation,” says Emma.
These Killing Times adds to Rundle's extensive genre-defying discography which includes collaborative projects, bands, soundtracks, and solo releases. The album was recorded by Sonny Diperri (My Bloody Valentine, Trent Reznor, These New Puritans), who she has worked with on multiple releases over the last decade.
As well as her work in music, Emma is an established visual artist working across multiple disciplines. In 2025 her first book of poetry, The Bella Vista, was released via Unnamed Press.
Pre-Order / Pre-Save These Killing Times
Last month, Emma Ruth Rundle announced her THESE KILLING TIMES Fall headlining tour across North America on which she’ll perform with a full band. Cinder Well is set to support all dates. The run kicks off in November, following her solo support tour with All Them Witches in October. THESE KILLING TIMES TOUR tickets are on sale now. Today she has also confirmed a Spring 2027 tour across Europe and U.K. which includes a performance at Roadburn. See below for a full list of dates and more info.
Emma Ruth Rundle Live Dates:
Oct 10: Chattanooga, TN - The Signal ~
Oct 11: Ponte Vedra Beach, FL - Ponte Vedra Concert Hall ~
Oct 12: Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club ~
Oct 13: Charleston, SC - Charleston Music Hall ~
Oct 14: Charlotte, NC - Neighborhood Theatre ~
Oct 15: Norfolk, VA - The NorVa ~
Oct 16: Harrisburg, PA - XL Live ~
Oct 17: Asbury Park, NJ - The Stone Pony ~
Oct 18: Norwalk, CT - District Music Hall ~
Oct 19: Portsmouth, NH - 3S Artspace ~
Oct 20: South Burlington, VT - Higher Ground ~
Oct 21: Albany, NY - Empire Live ~
Oct 22: Buffalo, NY - Electric City ~
Oct 23: McKees Rocks, PA - Roxian Theatre ~
Oct 24: Indianapolis, IN - HI-FI Annex ~
Oct 25: Grand Rapids, MI - The Intersection ~
Oct 26: Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall Ballroom ~
Oct 27: Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue ~
Oct 28: Des Moines, IA - Wooly's ~
Oct 29: Bloomington, IL - The Castle Theatre ~
Oct 30: Cincinnati, OH - Bogart's ~
Nov 24: Seattle, WA - Neumos *
Nov 25: Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater *
Nov 27: San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall *
Nov 28: Los Angeles, CA - Lodge Room *
Nov 29: Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom *
Dec 01: Austin, TX - 29th Street Ballroom *
Dec 02: Dallas, TX - Puzzles *
Dec 04: Atlanta, GA - The EARL *
Dec 05: Nashville, TN - EXIT/IN *
Dec 06: Asheville, NC - Eulogy *
Dec 08: Washington, DC - Black Cat *
Dec 09: Philadelphia, PA - Underground Arts *
Dec 10: Brooklyn, NY - Saint Vitus Bar *
Dec 12: Boston, MA - Roadrunner (Saddest Day Festival)
Dec 14: Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom & Tavern *
Dec 15: Detroit, MI - El Club *
Dec 16: Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall *
Dec 18: Omaha, NE - Reverb Lounge *
Dec 19: Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater *
~ Performing solo, supporting All Them Witches
* THESE KILLING TIMES TOUR, performing with a full band. Cinder Well to support.
Mar 22: DE, Berlin - Festsaal
Mar 23: DE, Hamburg - Bahnhof Pauli
Mar 24: DE, Leipzig UT - Connewitz
Mar 25: DE, Cologne - Gebäude 9
Mar 27: CZ, Prague - Palác Akropolis
Mar 28: AT, Wien - Arena Wien
Mar 30: DE, Munich - Backstage
Mar 31: CH, Zurich - Rote Fabrik
Apr 01: FR, Lyon - L'Epicerie Moderne
Apr 02: FR, Lille - L'aeronef
Apr 03: FR, Nantes - Ferrailleur
Apr 05: UK, Bristol - Fleece
Apr 06: UK, Manchester - Gorilla
Apr 08: UK, Glasgow - St. Luke's
Apr 09: UK, Leeds - Brudenell Social Club
Apr 10: UK, London - Islington Assembly Hall
Apr 11: UK, Brighton - Chalk
Apr 13: FR, Paris - Elysee Montmartre
Apr 14: BE, Antwerp - Trix
Apr 15: NL, Tilburg - Roadburn
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