Damon Albarn Reflects On Oasis’ Britpop Victory As Gorillaz Gear Up For New Album

Damon Albarn, the frontman for both Blur and Gorillaz, has never been one to shy away from controversy, but his latest admission may surprise those who’ve followed the Britpop wars. In an interview this past July, Albarn conceded that Oasis beat Blur in the infamous ‘90s rivalry to determine which band best defined the genre.

But this admission hardly comes from defeat. The man knows he’s got an ace up his sleeve with Gorillaz, a band with nearly 38 million followers on Spotify. Albarn has been building something that transcends ‘90s nostalgia: a genre-bending, generation-blending project that has outlived and overshadowed the Battle of Britpop.

Set for release in March 2026, The Mountain will be the ninth full-length Gorillaz album and their first since 2023’s Cracker Island.

Albarn Moves Past Rivalry—Finds Power In The Present

Albarn’s confession that Oasis beat Blur was both candid and shocking. In the ‘90s, the two bands represented a cultural divide: the working-class swagger of Oasis vs. the art-school smarts of Blur. By admitting that Oasis won, Albarn settles the petty debate once and for all and redirects attention to his own extremely impressive career.

It was a strategic, brilliant move. Instead of clinging to the glories of his past, he demonstrated maturity and shed light on his career in this century. It illustrates how his career has evolved outside the Britpop genre and into new, unexpected territories.

In addition to Blur and Gorillaz, Albarn has released two albums with his multi-generational supergroup The Good, the Bad, and the Queen, written and recorded an opera, dropped a couple of solo albums, and collaborated with international artists.

The Mountain: Gorillaz’s Next Evolutionary Step

Abaca Press/INSTAR Images

While Blur was defined by its close association with Britpop, Gorillaz have made themselves difficult to pigeonhole. A mix of rock, pop, hip hop, and other styles, Gorillaz are likely to continue to baffle and amuse with The Mountain.

With its modern amalgamation of sounds, cool visuals, and rotating cast of collaborators, the album looks to provide the same eclectic mix that has made Gorillaz so enjoyable, unpredictable, and influential. But The Mountain is more than another Gorillaz LP. It is intended to be an assertion of Albarn’s greatness and his determination to keep moving forward.

While Oasis may have won the Britpop war, it should hardly matter to Albarn. He’s doing what he wants to do: creating high-concept art and entertaining millions of fans—all while socking away a few pounds for a nice little retirement fund.

Date of Birth

1998

Active

Yes

Number of Albums

8