EP Review: YUNGBLUD - 'The Underrated Youth'

With EP ‘The Underrated Youth’, YUNGBLUD calls out a new era of sound and proves that he can do more than cynical.

Opening track ‘braindead!’ comes in heavy. With thrashing guitars and a beat that threatens to burst your ear drums, it’s an ode to Dom’s alt rock influences and his most experimental song to date. Overall, the EP showcases an impressive versatility. While ‘casual sabotage’ reminds of Nirvana with angsty lyrics like “I’m trying to get to sleep with the lights on cause I’m confused and frightened” and ‘original me’ has that Imagine Dragons stadium feel, already released single ‘Parents’ seems to be the only song that has the original YUNGBLUD sound. It is, in fact, the only song that features gun shots. 

But though eclectic sound-wise, what shines through in almost all songs is an air of optimism, of hope – “It’s alright we’ll survive” - a narrative that seems to be worlds away from debut album ‘21st Century Liability’’s focus on everything that’s wrong with society. This EP feels more honest, more personal. Most notably in closing track ‘waiting for the weekend’ – a slow acoustic number that not only reveals YUNGBLUD’s softer side but calls for an encore. 

With ‘the underrated youth’, YUNGBLUD has successfully stepped out of his stereotype without venturing too far. It’s good to still have the iconic twisted characters and lyrics with shock factor, but it’s nice to see Dom make an appearance. 

Words by Laura Freyaldenhoven

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INSTORE TOUR:
23rd - October - Banquet ,Records London
23rd - November - HMV, Birmingham
26th - November - Assai, Edinburgh
30th - November - The Wardrobe, Leeds

NOVEMBER TOUR DATES:
19th – Bristol, O2 Academy
20th – Manchester, O2 Ritz
21st – London, O2 Academy Brixton
22nd – Birmingham, O2 Institute
24th – Norwich, UEA
25th – Glasgow SWG3
29th – Sheffield, O2 Academy