February’s got big indie choruses, jagged guitars and a few left turns define this week’s selection. From Glasgow’s darker edges to jangly London hooks and blues-soaked introspection, these are indie rock releases with intent. Get your volume up and let’s dig in ❤️🔥
HEAVYSKINT – When Are You Coming For Me Jesus?
HEAVYSKINT channel raw intensity into a brooding, high-impact single that refuses to look away from the dark
When Are You Coming For Me Jesus? surges forward on noisy guitars, muscular as fuck drums and a chorus made for nothing other than a packed room. The tension between stark verses and explosive hooks gives it real bite, and it’s honestly a great, unique vocal performance.
HEAVYSKINT, emerging from Glasgow’s incredible scene, push further into shadow here, expanding on the controlled chaos of their debut. Produced by Arran Black and shaped by frontman Jacob Hunter’s stark writing, it marks a clear step up in weight and ambition. Unmissable.
LOOSE CANNONS – Writing On The Wall
Loose Cannons deliver a soaring, guitar-led anthem packed with wonderful alt-rock instincts
Writing On The Wall opens with chiming, jangly verses before crashing into a distorted, anthemic chorus that genuinely sticks with you. It’s got a great vocal performance and the punchy rhythm section give it lift and momentum.
Loose Cannons, a London-based five-piece, lean into their 90s alt-rock influences while sharpening their modern indie edge. Having just announced a big show at Camden Assembly in London in May, there’s something really exciting emerging here. Let’s hope we hear more emotive hooks from these guys this year, and I hope to catch one of their live shows. Exciting stuff.
Clay Brown & The Trouble Round Town – Satisfy Your Mind
Clay Brown & The Trouble Round Town craft a brilliant blues-tinged indie rocker that balances groove with reflective songwriting
Satisfy Your Mind rides on a warm blues-rock groove, textured guitars and a steady, groovy backbeat. It’s the kind of bluesy indie banger that also gets your head nodding, in a way that the best QOTSA does. The melodies carry a soulful undercurrent that softens its sharper lyrical edges.
Clay Brown, long recognised in Perth’s indie circles, steps confidently into his solo era with The Trouble Round Town. This release signals a deeper dive into folk-leaning, emotionally open songwriting while keeping one foot in expansive indie rock. I’ll be hoping for more of this in 2026.
Das Sporten – Just A Dog
Das Sporten give us the best kind of loose, bright indie rock with warm 90s energy
Just A Dog is built on prominent guitars, a simple driving bassline and an energetic zinger of a solo that really keeps things immediate. The stripped-back production gives the track a live, unfiltered feel. I love the vocals and discordant groovy guitar in this, but mainly the really, really keen sense of melody.
It took a little detective work to uncover the fact that Das Sporten are actually from the 90s, not just ’90s sounding’. Well, whenever it was recorded, the music is banging, they’re from Chicago, and as a first taste of their upcoming album, it sets out a very exciting intention. It’s great, we’d love to hear more.
23 Fields – Sidelines
23 Fields blend folk warmth and indie rock sweep into an incredibly reflective and emotionally grounded statement
Sidelines layers electric guitar textures over steady rhythms, gradually unfolding into a rich, melodic centre. I think there’s a bongo in there, but mainly there’s a hell of a lot of warmth and fair dash of wonder. It’s a really, really lovely arrangement that balances nicely with the introspective tone.
23 Fields move into a more expansive, electric-led direction on their third album The Vacant Stars Of Wandering Souls, weaving folk, rock and Americana into a cohesive package. The project reflects renewed focus and a willingness to evolve while holding onto emotional clarity. A folk version of late-era Talk Talk comes to mind, and I’m definitely here for it.