Goya Announces 2026 European and U.S. Tours, Welcomes New Drummer Ben Wise

Arizona’s doom‑metal trio Goya is back on the road, unveiling a two‑leg 2026 schedule that will carry them from the heart of Madrid to the sun‑baked stages of the American West Coast. The announcement also marks a line‑up change, with Ben Wise taking over on drums after former member Marcus Bryant’s departure.

The European circuit kicks off on 29 July at Madrid’s Wurlitzer Ballroom. From there, the band will hit a string of festivals—Txirinfest in Getxo, Rock and Beer the New in Santander, Castru Garganta in Langreo, and Doomnight in León—before sealing the leg with a headline slot at SonicBlast in Vila Praia de Ancora, Portugal, on 7 August. The tour wraps on 1 August in Langreo, giving Goya a full week of intense shows before heading back across the Atlantic.

On stage, the trio will be comprised of Ben Wise on drums, Jeffrey Owens on guitar and vocals, and CJ Sholtis on bass. Owens said Wise “is a great fit for the band’s sound and energy,” noting that the new rhythm section has already begun crafting fresh material. The group hints at a forthcoming studio project, with Wise’s addition expected to inject new dynamism into live performances.

The tour follows the release of In the Dawn of November, issued in June 2025 through Blues Funeral Recordings. The album—Goya’s fourth studio effort and first on an independent label—was produced by Jack Endino, known for work with High On Fire and Soundgarden. It showcases the trio’s trademark heavy riffs, fuzz‑laden guitars, and atmospheric passages.

After the European leg, Goya will team up with Norwegian stoner‑doom outfit Kal‑El for a West Coast run that starts on 23 September in Phoenix, Arizona, and concludes on 10 October in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The U.S. dates include stops in Las Vegas, Landers, Palmdale, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, Eugene, Portland, Seattle, Vancouver, Spokane, Boise, Salt Lake City, and Denver. Kal‑El is touring in support of their album Astral Voyager Vol. 2, also released on Blues Funeral.

The partnership between the two bands is a label‑level collaboration that lets both groups cross‑pollinate audiences across North America. Goya’s schedule places them before a mix of small venues and large festival stages, ensuring broad exposure.

Marcus Bryant, who played on In the Dawn of November, left the band in late 2025. The group confirmed Wise as his replacement early in 2026. Wise’s background includes work with several local Arizona acts, and his arrival is expected to bring a fresh dynamic to Goya’s live sound.

Fans can keep up with the tour via Goya’s social media channels—Instagram @goyaband, Facebook facebook.com/goyastoner, and Bandcamp—where the band has posted dates and promotional material.

Blues Funeral Recordings, the label behind both In the Dawn of November and Astral Voyager Vol. 2, has built a reputation for stoner, doom, and heavy psych acts. Its focus on underground metal has helped Goya and Kal‑El reach dedicated audiences in the U.S. and Europe.

The 2026 tour plan positions Goya to sustain the momentum generated by their latest album. With a new drummer and a clear statement that they are “moving into a new era,” the trio appears primed for future recording projects.

At present, Goya’s next steps involve wrapping up the U.S. leg on 10 October in Colorado Springs and then turning to songwriting and potential studio work for a forthcoming release. No official release date has been announced.

In short, Goya’s 2026 itinerary features a summer European run that culminates at SonicBlast, followed by a fall U.S. tour with Kal‑El. The line‑up change to Ben Wise and the recent album In the Dawn of November set the stage for a productive touring year and the next phase of the band’s creative output.