There’s something exciting about a debut album from a band. You know they’ve put everything into making sure this is their perfect introduction to the world, so today we have unpeople, a band I wasn’t aware of before this, so I’m pumped to be introduced to a new band and some new music.
The album starts with ‘clouds’ a great vibe and dual vocals beautifully matching until KAMBLAMO and here we go, oh man, I am into this! This is so catchy and what song, the way this just sets the scene for what you can expect from unpeople is insane. This is like nothing I’ve heard in a long while and I dig it. If you haven’t heard this song, I recommend starting here. There are little parts in here that are thrown in and work so well, and this ending is wild. What a start. ‘friends’ is next and what a groove, it hits and throws almost every genre of music in a blender and I commend a band for taking these kinds of twists and turns musically, this is great. I mean, a bloody breakdown? Come on, this works! ‘the garden’ starts things off with a catchy almost doom style riff but turns gang vocals very quickly before the soaring vocals kick in, I love what they’re doing here. Then a beautiful harmony laden middle 8, man this band has it down. ‘swallow’ changes it up a little with a speaking style vocal and again, this band makes it work because it builds into a big hook and I don’t think I’ve been this into a debut album since The Darkness in 2003. It’s so good being excited by new music. We’re only four songs in and I am hooked, then with ‘bottle it’ it just keeps it rolling and with a chorus that takes me back to a pop punk vibe then exploding again. This is balance! You just have to listen to experience it.
We slow things down with ‘blueprints’ and let’s see how long that lasts, but I have to say these vocals are nuts and the way that every voice just compliments the others is perfection. Oh wow yeah I like this, ahhh excellent chord drop the music nerd in me just got very excited. Well now we have a guitar solo that 100% needs to be performed on a mountain top. ‘haunted’ keeps things rollin’ and again, what a hook, this band has IT, I’m telling you. The fact this is self-produced is insane, this is a band that understand themselves and their sound and what they are. Then ‘waste’ is up and they once again throw in these little things that make the song work, a “HEY!” here and there and a hooky chorus with vocals underlying, oh it’s just so good. Yeah sorry it’s one of those gushing reviews, they happen sometimes.
A robotic and then very chunky guitar starts ‘look up’ and I have to say I can’t wait to see this band live, these songs will be insane on stage. This one just got turned up to a tempo that melts things, and this one gives me a slight Faith No More vibe in the way this chorus hits and they nail it. The outro, you just have to hear it, so good. Up next is the best named song ever ‘kangareuben’ and it rocks out big time, my god this just exploded in a good way, like what is happening here, this band is a whole heap of everything and I adore it. Then with a couple to go ‘smother’ is a big stand out and this far in that’s awesome, just proves how good this album is and how good this band is. To go from the big crunchy guitars to a peaceful break just works and I love this one. Closing the album with ‘as you were’ and big gang vocals drive this one home. The harmonies, the musical complexity of what this band does, this is the busiest yet not muddled in the slightest. Massive kudos to the band. I would’ve loved to be in the studio watching this be made, what a trip that would’ve been. See even now it’s just gone nice and slowed down with a beautiful overlay happening, this part feels like 2026’s Black Parade! Then to smash out the ending, what a way to round out this masterpiece.
This might just be my favourite album of the year, it’s what the rock music world needs. This is fresh, exciting, different, and everything music should be. I can’t wait to see what this band does in the future. Welcome to permanent rotation, unpeople!
Essential Information:
From: London, England, UK
Release date: 9 October 2026
Record label: Sharptone Records
Website: https://www.weareunpeople.com/
Check out our interview Em and Luke of unpeople HERE
Track Listing:
clouds
friends
the garden
swallow
bottle it
blueprints
haunted
waste
look up
kangareuben
smother
as you were
