London’s Middleman previously released a 7″ and an EP, but it is on their debut LP Following The Ghost that they arrive in full, with several exclamation marks attached. This is the kind of band with the power, emotional urgency and clear identity that makes you stop skipping and actually commit to the songs.
They trigger all the familiar reference points in your brain, yet never feel derivative. There is that sense of recognition, but it always lands in a way that feels distinctly Middleman. For the sake of orientation, think early Superchunk, Wipers, and more than a few of the bands immortalized in Our Band Could Be Your Life. Guitars that bite and shimmer. A rhythm section that stays locked in. Vocals that genuinely sound like they mean it. Middleman offer plenty for punks and alts alike.
What really elevates Following The Ghost is the tension between melody and abrasion. Even the quieter moments carry weight, as if the band is constantly on the verge of tipping over into something louder.
Few bands in 2026 play this strain of alternative rock with this much conviction. I am fully convinced.
Following The Ghost is out now on Evil Speaker Records.
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