Cardiff”s finest art punks Panic Shack have returned with ‘Grin & Bear It’, the band’s first new material since the release of their self-titled debut album last year. Taking aim at the mundanity (and harshness) of the gig economy and the unfair narrative that artists should suffer, it’s a gritty riff-laden piece that also manages…
Man/Woman/Chainsaw have shared the brilliantly titled ‘Goddamn, Lizard Man!’ ahead of their eagerly anticipated debut album ‘Cannonball’ (out on 7 August, 2026 via Fiction Records). The first song released from the album to feature Billy Ward on lead vocals, the gritty track takes a ‘look at the kind of slimy, manipulative magnetism people can carry…
Galway-born singer/songwriter Oisin Mod has shared new single ‘Mirror Mirror’, his first new material since his 2022 debut album ‘Honeycomb’. Once again produced by Bill Ryder-Jones, the song is ‘about pretending and observing others doing the same. It’s looking over your shoulder while talking to you in search of a better option…’ With a touch…
Galway trio Shark School have shared ‘Don’t Trust a Man’ ahead of the release of their debut album ‘Selachimorpha’, via Strange Brew on 26 June, 2026. The band say ‘’Don’t Trust A Man’ is an abrasive and raw track lamenting the desperation for women to comfortably just be; to just exist free of the burden…
Death Cab for Cutie have shared new single ‘Punching the Flowers’ ahead of the release of their eleventh studio album – and first on ANTI- (Wilco, MJ Lenderman, Tom Waits) – on 5 June, 2026. Inspired by a real-life experience of a toddler punching flowers while having a tantrum but applying it to a man…
The Strokes have made a welcome return with the release of ‘Going Shopping’ ahead of seventh studio album ‘Reality Awaits’ on 26 June via Cult Records/RCA Records. Opening in more mellow fashion than you may expect, there are some trademark scuzzily retro guitar hooks before Julian Casablancas starts to ramble – in the most delightful…
Manchester-based trio thistle. have shared ‘Pylon’ ahead of the release of their ‘Backflip’ EP via REX RECS on 29 May, 2026. They’ve also announced an extensive run of live dates, including slots at the Alternative Escape, Bearded Theory and 2000trees Festival. Powered by a glug load of Monster Energy drink, ‘Pylon’ is a wiry slice…
After four years away, Life have returned with ‘The Dollywaggon’, the first single to be taken from upcoming fourth album ‘ABSTRACT / NATURAL’ (out on 19 June, 2026). Written while frontman Mez Sanders-Green was walking the 193-mile coast-to-coast route (starting in the West Coast, over the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales, across the Moors and…
Cork’s rising stars Cardinals have shared ‘I Like You’ ahead of the release of their debut album ‘Masquerade’ on 13 February bus So Young Records With an accordion at its core and Conor Oberst-esque angst around the edges , there’s a traditional and anthemic feel to the song – coming across as the love child…
Following shows with Adore, US Girls and The Belair LipBombs, Dublin-based duo Burglar have shared new single ‘Lovey’. Originally written a week after Eduardo Pinheiro went through a break-up, he revisited the words a year later by commenting on the embarrassing first thoughts – although there’s an underlying tenderness shining through the Tigers Jaw-esque soundtrack:…
Spectral Nights - alternative music, indie music, music reviews, new music, music blog 