It has been five years since Juliet’s Not Dead released their debut album Cursed & Corrected, so bringing out the tasty EP Only The Strong Survive in 2022 and four-track album teaser Battle Scarred last year was timely reassurance that the band had not disappeared off the face of the planet. One year on, they are back to further enhance their burgeoning reputation with This World Is Ours.
Juliet’s Not Dead – This World Is Ours
Release Date: 7 February 2025
Words: Brian Boyle
With the four piece hailing from the North East of England, the chances of these boys doing anything mundane are next to zero. One spin of opener Sinner Or Saint leaves you in no doubt that this is a band who like to chunk it out good and hard.
They think big with mammoth sounding tracks like Thrillseekers and Open Fire, both packed to the hilt with power, melody and abrasion.
And they’re not too shabby with a ballad, either. Battle Scarred and Passing Ships are subtle in all the right places, but their hook dripping heavier moments are what keep you coming back for more.
While they have a very generic sound, and you have probably heard a singer like Stevie Stoker a million times before, that does not make this album any less engaging.
They are not afraid to break character with a track like Notorious which gives heads down no nonsense boogie a modern lick of paint, and then light it up with the fully loaded angst of King And Queen.
But it’s arena-worthy rousers like Double Life where they really flex their muscles. And though it is healthy for a fledgling band to pay their dues and rough it in the small rooms, their music is purpose-built for large establishments.
It is hard not to imagine closing track Capsize being lapped up by the masses, as it just bleeds festival love and adulation. Without doubt the best track on the album by a country mile, it is emotional and packs a wonderfully unifying vibe.
“I love this album,” Stoker says. “Not only do I think it’s the best music we’ve ever written, but it was also the most enjoyable writing and recording process I’ve ever been a part of. Jack [Corbett – Drums] and I wrote for most of 2023. We were even recording demos while on tour around Europe.
“From the get go we knew what we wanted to say with this collection of songs. As a band, you come up against so many challenges, and we wanted this album to reflect all of the emotions, difficult decisions, and strong bonds we’ve made over the last couple of years.
“Getting the songs ready to record for the final time is always my favourite part of the process but also one of the most tricky. We demo them fully, so every layer and part is where it should be, and we critique and change bits until we are happy with it. However, it’s sometimes difficult to know when you’re done.
“Thankfully, we had the right production team behind it. Approaching it with a clear view of what we wanted the final result to be. Romesh [Dodangoda] and the boys at Longwave made our job easy, and we literally smiled and laughed our way through it. We hope anyone who hears it will hear the joy behind the music no matter the subject.”
Calling Juliet’s Not Dead the North East of England’s answer to My Chemical Romance is no bad thing, but they do go their own way.
And when you get the iconic Francis Rossi from Status Quo giving you plaudits, and free of charge, you know you’re doing something exciting.
Juliet’s Not Dead – This World Is Ours is released on 7 February 2025 via TMR Records/Earache Digital Distribution and can be pre-ordered from here.
