SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE MOLOTOVS – WASTED ON YOUTH

THE MOLOTOVS
WASTED ON YOUTH
MARSHALL RECORDS

The Molotovs look like being 2026’s ‘chosen’ band, with the hype burning like a petrol fire as Wasted On Youth gets set to come down the pike. So, having finally got hold of it, does it live up to its billing?

Well, let’s first of all say the obvious, which is that it’s easy to see why they’ve acquired the hype they have. They’ve got a really dynamic sound, a pleasing mélange of Britpop, mod, and rock ‘n’ roll, and kicking off with “Get A Life” is no bad thing, frontman Matthew Cartlidge curling his words into a Jagger-like sneer that perfectly befits its title.

You can hear their Jam influences, while unapologetic rockers with a slice-of-life bent like single “More More More,” probably harken more to Oasis, which is no bad thing given their current resurgence.

However, while I enjoyed it generally, particularly the lyrical playfulness of songs like “Geraldine,” something about this album doesn’t click. The sheer volume feels like an unpleasant return to the ‘Loudness War’ era (there’s Britpop again!), cutting you out of hearing a lot of their excellent lyricism.

The overall package lacks that special something, a lightbulb moment if you will; the hype justification just wasn’t there for me.

In the end, it’s a good album, but I can’t say it separates itself from any of the hundreds of tipped indie bands I’ve heard in the last few years. Let’s see if the reaction to this Molotov cocktail proves me wrong.

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