Album review: The Molotovs – Wasted On Youth

Few new bands arrive with expectation baked in, but as one of Kerrang!’s Sound Of 2026 picks, The Molotovs are already carrying serious buzz. Not that you’d know this was only the start from listening to their debut album, Wasted On Youth. Built around the teenage sibling duo of Mathew and Issey Cartlidge, they sound uncannily ahead of their years. This is a record that taps into punk rock’s restless spirit while giving it a sharp, modern lick.

Opener Get A Life kicks the door straight off its hinges. It’s snarling and packed with attitude, the kind of opening statement that immediately tells you this band know exactly who they are. There’s a scrappy confidence to the delivery, the guitars fizzing with urgency as the rhythm section locks in like it’s been doing this for decades. More More More, a track steeped in Mod swagger, is all bright hooks and elastic grooves. It feels proudly Jam-esque, with a melodic punch that could’ve easily landed on a FIFA playlist circa 2005. It leans more into the pop sensibilities of punk, but it’s delivered with enough grit to stop it tipping into nostalgia.

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Midway through, Nothing Keeps Her Away and Wasted Youth ease off the throttle, revealing a softer, more reflective side. The vocals carry a bittersweet edge, and suddenly The Molotovs sound less like a band tearing through the city and more like one quietly taking stock of it. Elsewhere, Popstar crackles with personality, the siblings bouncing off each other vocally in a way that elevates the song far beyond its simple premise – their chemistry is undeniable, playful without feeling throwaway. Closer Today’s Gonna Be Our Day rounds things out with another brilliantly judged piece of songwriting, hopeful without being naive.

It’s tempting to focus on their age – and maybe you shouldn’t – but for such young heads, The Molotovs already sound like rugged, seasoned professionals. And judging by this debut, today really might just be their day.

Verdict: 4/5

For fans of: Sex Pistols, The Jam, SOFT PLAY

Wasted Youth is out now via Marshall