As key figures of the late 2010s post-punk resurgence, Squid has successfully moved beyond the fleeting nature of trends, establishing themselves as an increasingly timeless and globally aware artistic voice. Their third album reflects a deepening of their uniquely recognizable style, making it unmistakably their own. This includes their profound anxieties regarding modern dystopia and an impending apocalypse, alongside Ollie Judge’s foreboding and prophetic vocals. The production is raw and edgy, reminiscent of nails on a chalkboard, creating an unsettling tension that feels almost invasive.
For a band that often hovers near the edge of overwhelming dread, it seems fitting that they would create an album inspired by the concept of evil itself. With narratives centered around murder and the occult—drawing inspiration from figures like Manson and Murakami—much of ‘Cowards’ possesses the tension and trauma typical of horror films. (Consider the intense climax of ‘Blood on the Boulders’ or the chilling strings in ‘Fieldworks 1’ as examples of the album’s atmosphere.) While the album represents a deep introspection, revisiting their core principles and showcasing their most refined work to date, it also reveals their evolution beyond their previous boundaries. With the inclusion of swashbuckling violins, harpsichords, and timpanis, as well as stories set in Tokyo, New York, and Eastern Europe, Squid illustrates their global journey and return home with a reinforced identity, as cutting as a razor stained with fresh blood.
Their most comprehensive expression to date.
