Manchester indie outfit The Guest List have returned with a compelling new single, 'If Ever Your Devil Is Kind'. The track serves as a poignant exploration of the complexities surrounding modern masculinity, drawing inspiration from the frustrations observed during a football match.
The song is set to feature on the band's highly anticipated debut studio album, Something Real, which is scheduled for release on August 28. According to the band, the track delves into themes of loneliness and the resentment that can arise from the societal pressures placed on men to conform to specific ideals of success and happiness.
"This song is about feeling unfulfilled in spite of having achieved everything that you thought would make you happy," the band shared on social media. "It closes Side A on the record and features the only live string arrangement on the album."
Frontman Cai Alty delivers a raw performance, questioning the expectations of "having it all" with the recurring line: "Why the fuck aren't you happy yet?" The release is accompanied by a striking official music video directed by Valentina Khodnevich.
Something Real was recorded in Norway with collaborator Matias Tellez and features production work from James Skelly of The Coral. The 12-track project promises to balance heavy themes—including mental health, climate change, and domestic violence—with moments of vulnerability and resilience.
"The album is basically us saying, ‘we’re young, we’re confused just like you – how did we get here?’” Alty explained. “It’s about trying to find something meaningful in a world that often feels overwhelming.”
Following a successful run of festival appearances this summer, including sets at Reading & Leeds, Boardmasters, and Latitude, The Guest List will embark on a UK and European headline tour this autumn. The tour includes a highly anticipated performance at London's Scala.