Wunderhorse: Midas

Since the release of their debut album 'Cub' in 2022, Wunderhorse have been staking their claim to be Britain's most exciting guitar band. The band are an engimatic force especially live, frontman Jacob Slater certainly elements of Kurt Cobain with the way he snarls, screams and sweats on stage. 

This praise has been around for the bands frontman, since beforre Wunderhorse. His former band 'Dead Pretties' flame was extinguished before it had really begun to burn. Slater retreated to Cornwall and began working on songs, which would become 'Cub'. 

'Cub' was one of the best debut albums in recent memory, with some breathtaking songs including 'Teal' the coming of age anthem, that is both tragic and uplifting, with a chorus made for arenas. Following it up would be a hard task. 

The band needed to evolve, Slater had written 'Cub' on his own, 'Midas' felt like a more collabrative record. Guitarist Harry Fowler, drummer Jamie Staples and bassist Pete Woodin were all brought in and the band headed to America. To the same studio that Nirvana had used to record 'In Utero' and set about capturing their grungy live sound on record. 

The songs were instantly added to the bands live set, and were given airings in front of new audiences. Wunderhorse spent time supporting Sam Fender, and Fontaines DC and therefore a whole new fanbase were hearing these for the first time.

Not all of the live recordings translated well to the record. 'July' in particular feels like a weak point, and a missed oportunity, despite being the bands heaviest song, it feels tame, there's no urgency with the lyrics, and a lack of substance within the song. However, the rest of the album is a band operating at their best.  

Lead single, and opening track 'Midas' ushers in the new era of 'Wunderhorse' and serves as a sharp introduction. Slater sings like Bob Dylan, and he paints a haunting picture of the corporate beasts, that capitalise of the working people. 

'Rain' and 'Silver' the albums other singles pick up where 'July' had failed to deliver, with thunderous drums, and hard hitting lyrics. 'Emily' is one of the albums most thunderous moments and see's Slater at his most honest, and self deprecating, “There’s things I can’t talk about/Memories, I swallow them down”. We had seen his lyrical ability on 'Cub' but this album is where the lyrics hit hard. 

Midway through the album, ‘Superman’ is a cathartic palette cleanser, softer and more pensive. It’s a brief moment of release in which the frontman takes a moment to share the belief he has in himself, and the band. It really juxtaposes the rest of the albums darker tone. “I wish I could show them the power inside me / I wish I could show them all the things I can do, and I’ll save the world,” he sings passionately, symbolising the potential he knows he can show.

'Arizona' is a standout track for me, and probably has a shout alongside 'Teal' at being the bands finest moment. Speaking about the desert and a love lost in it's vast landscape. Leaving behind a broken person. Lyrically this is the albums strongest track. The bands ability to craft a song is really shown, Slater's lyrics are heartbreaking, and Fowler's guitar playing really flexes it's muscles here. This is the sound of a band who have found their feet. 

This record proved that Wunderhorse are Britain's next great band right now but also acts a spring board to where they go next. Wunderhorse are no longer a band of wannabe punks or indie rockers. There are a quality musicial outfit with one of the finest songwriters and voices of a generation. 

'Aeroplane' the albums final track is almost ten minutes long, and sees the band embrace yet another new sound, it's folk like, and Slater's voice rings like Neil Young. The lyrics don't snarl, or jump out. It's more reflective and somber, yet still driven.

Despite a mis-step with a single Wunderhorse released one of the best albums of 2024, and have found their collective voice. Where they go next, who knows.

In the mean time, the band have their biggest shows to date. Including a sold out gig at London's Alexandra Palace in May 2025.