Baby's First Pistol / "Affirmation Celebration"

   

The Skinny Review:
“Affirmation Celebration” flips self-help language into something loud and sarcastic, taking aim at hustle culture and empty positivity. The in-your-face sound blends post-punk and noise rock, making the track feel raw and energetic. At its core, the song questions what happens when personal growth matters more than looking out for others.

In Their Own Words:
““Affirmation Celebration” is a political satire loosely masquerading as a self-help anthem,” says the band. “It takes the language of self-affirmations and toxic positivity while placing it against a furious backdrop of rising far-right populism, corporate consolidation, and widening inequality. The song mocks the idea that repeating the right phrases, buying the right products, or leaning into hustle culture can somehow protect us from systems designed to extract, divide, and control. It’s about how optimism becomes a coping mechanism when collective action is replaced with self-branding.”

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Gay Nineties / "Internet, Sex & Drugs"

   

The Skinny Review:
Vancouver band Gay Nineties bring a fast, catchy energy to “Internet, Sex & Drugs,” mixing sharp lyrics with a feeling of romantic tension. The song blends indie rock with touches of new wave and power pop, and explores how constant distraction can get in the way of real connection. With its bright sound, and a bit of humour, it feels both nostalgic and modern at the same time.

In Their Own Words:
 “After a full week of bashing my head against the wall every day, the chorus fell out of my mouth and the song wrote itself very quickly,” explains lead vocalist/bassist Parker Bossley. Inspired in part by the emotional dynamic of Robert Palmer’s song “Johnny & Mary,” the narrative follows a relationship unfolding in real time where one person reaches for something genuine while the other remains consumed by hollow distractions.

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The Trampoline Delay / Tandem Bike

  

The Skinny Review:
With “Tandem Bike,” The Trampoline Delay step away from big indie-rock choruses and sink into a denser, shoegaze-inspired sound built on texture, distortion, and mood.The track unexpectedly transformed during its creation, becoming louder, heavier, and far more atmospheric than first imagined. Anchored by Pete Marino’s introspective lyrics, "Tandem Bike" offers a relatable look at the idea of not needing to carry everything alone.

In Their Own Words: 

"'Tandem Bike' started as a song I was writing for someone else,” says frontman Pete Marino. “I met a local singer whose voice I really liked and thought it would be interesting to write something specifically for her. Before I even started, I asked if she had a theme or idea she connected with. The only thing that really landed was a tattoo she shared with a close friend, a tandem bike. They’d both been through a lot and got the tattoos as a quiet way of saying, ‘we’ve got each other’.”

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Hungry / "Cambridge Is On Fire"

  

The Skinny Review:
Manchester band HUNGRY are back with their new single, “Cambridge Is On Fire,” packed with loud guitars and raw energy. After a big 2025 that saw them tour the UK with Gans and release their debut EP Are You The Best Yet?, the band return with a heavier sound and sharp, sarcastic lyrics. The song looks to history for inspiration, linking old enclosure laws to modern-day greed, and marks the start of a new run of “fenland gothic” releases.

In Their Own Words:
“The song began as a knowingly daft pastiche of noughties indie built on a silly bassline, ironic guitars and exaggerated Americanisms before our warped, post-punk-pop sensibilities kicked in. Scattered all over that is the thematic basis for the lyrics, expressing our frustrations with middle-class comforts, over-analysis without action, nimbyism, intellectual cowardice as a stand-in for material change and all too easy deference to business and power.
 
“The vast, desolate expanse of the fens, formed through profit-driven intervention, mirrors the cultural landscape we exist in, which struggles to thrive and breathe under cuts and times of national hardship. We’re looking to investigate the idea of the English nation and its role in mutual assistance and what we choose to celebrate as ‘England’.”

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Gatlin Black / "Lazy Susan"

  

The Skinny Review:
Gatlin Black return with their third single, “Lazy Susan,” a catchy track with an infectious melody. The song looks at the pain of watching someone fall deeper into addiction, repeating the same mistakes over and over, but it comes from a place of care rather than judgment. Recorded live to capture their raw energy, it closes with a hopeful message that change is possible and it’s never too late to turn things around.

In Their Own Words:
““Lazy Susan” is about watching someone slowly disappear into addiction,” says frontman Jake Weckwerth. “Caught in repetitive behaviors, burning bridges, and circling the same mistakes until there’s nothing left. It’s inspired by real people and real losses, not from a place of judgment, but from frustration, sadness, and helplessness. The title reflects that endless spinning, motion without progress, where everything looks the same no matter how many times it turns.”

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Alberta Cross / "Toy Soldiers"

    

The Skinny Review:
Alberta Cross cut loose on “Toy Soldiers,” a propulsive and gritty track that thrives on restless energy and sharp-edged momentum. Jagged synth lines and swirling guitars lock in with driving drums, creating a sound that feels chaotic yet deliberate, capturing tension without losing its sense of purpose. Lyrically shaped by the weight of the world rather than forced answers, the song turns uncertainty into a defiant surge of hope, amplified by its raw, live-band recording spirit.

In Their Own Words:
“There’s a heaviness running through the track, but it wasn’t something we chased - it’s just the world bleeding into the music. The song wrestles with uncertainty, but it doesn’t fake solutions. Recorded as a raw power trio with members from The Vaccines and The Temperance Movement at the legendary Wool Hall Studios (The Smiths, Tears For Fears).”

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Brain Leak / Put Back Together EP

    

The Skinny Review:
Brain Leak’s Put Back Together EP captures a turbulent period of early sobriety with unflinching honesty, turning vulnerability into something empowering. Led by Tara-Gabriella Engelhardt’s introspective songwriting and backed by a formidable lineup of UK alternative musicians, the collection traces emotional collapse, coping, and the slow work of rebuilding. Its deliberately varied production gives each track a distinct edge.

In Their Own Words:
The EP’s creation was intentionally fragmented; each track shaped in a different sonic setting by a different producer. “It’s a Frankenstein production in the best way,” Engelhardt explains. “This year I wanted to explore my sound, see how other people work, and figure out what I want for the next body of work.”

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