The XCERTS Release New Album ‘I think i want to go home now’

Photo by Sam Carter

Brighton-based band The XCERTS, originally hailing from Aberdeen, have announced their eagerly awaited new album, i think i want to go home now., and is out now via FLG Records. This album marks a significant moment for the band, showcasing their evolution and emotional depth.

The band has also unveiled the album’s latest single, “pretty ugly,” which stands out as their heaviest release to date. This fuzzed-out, fast-paced track channels a raw sense of anger and frustration, with vocalist Murray Macleod confronting both internal struggles and external pressures. The song serves as a cathartic expression, lashing out at criticism while processing deeply personal experiences.

Listen to “pretty ugly” HERE

Speaking about the single, Macleod explains:  

“A nod to Scatterbrain but also heavily inspired by UK post-hardcore bands like Kids Near Water and Tribute to Nothing whilst pushing the sound forward. Lyrically, it’s comically brutal. The vocals are borderline incoherent but that was intentional.”

“Another emotion I haven’t put in a song for a very long time is anger and at the time I found myself feeling very angry at the world. So this song takes a swipe at people who were criticising the band during a period when my family was going through a lot.”

“The second verse is about my father and what he was going through after his cancer diagnosis. I reference the machinery that cut out my dad’s tumour, the Da Vinci XI, and also Van Gogh. ‘Maybe I’ll splatter my brains against the wall, then you can all dissect the art, I’ll do one better than Van Gogh and cut em both off.’”

“The song is heavy in sound and heavy with emotion, so it was important to say something a bit left field because that’s what happens when you’re having an internal meltdown.” 

An undoubted career highlight long-player, the remarkably consistent and immediate songs on i think i want to go home now. are sonic manifestations of the mutual support and friendship that carried the band through a particularly turbulent period, including Smith’s mother passing away and Macleod’s dad facing a cancer scare.The new album also sees the band reconnecting with the raw urgency that defined early releases In The Cold Wind We Smile, Scatterbrain and There Is Only You. Intriguingly, there are a number of stark similarities to that very first record. Smith had lost his father before they made that one, and Macleod had gone through a devastating break-up. To say that history has repeated itself would undermine the emotional gravitas of these latest life experiences, but the band found it hard not to draw comparisons between then and now.The XCERTS have announced an exciting lineup of events, including a full performance of their album i think i want to go home now. at the 2000 Trees Festival. This festival, a cherished venue for the band over the past two decades, feels like a spiritual home for them. Fans can also look forward to seeing The XCERTS at the Arbroath Festival and on tour with Twin Atlantic in June. 

Macleod, the band’s frontman, expressed their enthusiasm for the upcoming album, stating, “It was really time for us to band together and celebrate our friendship.” He reflected on the band’s journey, noting, “We’re so proud that we’re still doing this, because we started the band 23 years ago. It’s astonishing really. This really is the purest Xcerts record there’s been since the first one. We dug really deep to discover what the defining sound of our band is and bled it all out.”

The XCERTS continue to demonstrate their resilience and strength, both musically and personally, in the face of challenges. Their dedication to their craft and their fans is evident, making this a thrilling time for their supporters.

With ‘I think I want to go home now’ The XCERTS are set to deliver a powerful and emotionally charged album that resonates with listeners on multiple levels. The release of “pretty ugly” offers a glimpse into the band’s creative process and their ability to transform personal turmoil into compelling music. As the album’s release date approaches, fans eagerly anticipate the full experience of The XCERTS’ latest work.