“I can’t write a song, so why even bother?” Thus goes the ending refrain of “BOTHER”, the new single from Southampton emo masters MAXWELLTHEBAND, who return with their new album MWTB on January 30, 2026. It’s the band’s first EP in two years, and one which the band calls their “biggest, saddest, and maybe best.”
Of course, the irony is that MAXWELLTHEBAND – Dom James, Callum Hurst, David Anderson, and Tom Webb – can write songs despite their lyrics on “BOTHER”, and have done so since the beginning of the decade, channeling influences like Jeff Rosenstock and PUP into their fuzzy and cinematic punk sound. “BOTHER” waxes about anxiety and impostor syndrome in the first half of the track, transitioning into the second half where the paralysis takes hold and grows into something massive, symbolized through the band launching into a no-holds-barred cathartic jam.
Listen to “BOTHER” now and get excited for the release of the rest of MWTB in 2026. And as always, follow along with MAXWELLTHEBAND on Instagram.
Written by Will Sisskind
