III (Banks album)

III is the third studio album by American singer and songwriter Banks. It was released on July 12, 2019, through Harvest Records. Following the release of her second album The Altar (2016) and its accompanying tour, the Altar Tour, Banks began writing material for III over a period of approximately two and a half years, primarily recording at Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles. During the process, she wrote around 50 songs before narrowing the track list to 13. The album was produced through close collaborations with Buddy Ross, BJ Burton, and Hudson Mohawke.

Banks announced the album's title and release date in May 2019, followed by the release of its cover artwork and track listing. The album was supported by the singles "Gimme", "Look What You're Doing to Me", and "Contaminated", as well as promotional performances and media appearances. In support of the record, Banks embarked on her third headlining concert tour, the III Tour, across North America and Europe. Thematically, III focuses on self-love, emotional growth, and personal transition. The album addresses pain, intimacy, and transformation, while also engaging with cyclical ideas such as beginnings, endings, and rebirth. Musically, III has been described by critics as an emo and goth-pop production with alternative R&B elements, characterized by heavy bass, spacious percussion, layered vocal processing, and frequent use of Auto-Tune.

Upon release, III received generally positive reviews from music critics, earning a score of 76 out of 100 on Metacritic. Critics praised its cohesiveness, sonic experimentation, and emotional maturity, though some offered reservations regarding its restraint and scope. Commercially, the album debuted at number 21 on the US Billboard 200 and reached number three on the Billboard Top Alternative Albums chart. It also peaked at number seven in Canada.