on may 1, 2017, todd la torre revealed plans for the band's next studio album. he said that approximately 15 songs were ready at that point and that they could be characterized by a faster tempo than those on the previous album. the band hoped to enter the studio in september 2017, for an early 2018 release via century media. in july 2018, in a facebook post offering the forthcoming album for early orders, the band announced that the album would be released in 2019. on october 29, 2018, the band revealed that the new album is entitled "the verdict" and released it on march 1, 2019. according to blabbermouth.net, todd la torre was confirmed as playing drums on the new album. in november 2019, wilton stated that he wants touring drummer grillo to play on the next queensryche album.