Wynona Bleach – Religion
Belfast, UK trailblazers Wynona Bleach unveil their highly anticipated second album, Animal Style, due May 29th via Propeller Sound Recordings and Fierce Panda Records (Ash, Placebo, Death Cab for Cutie/UK).
The second single from Animal Style lands, merging grungy guitar riffs with pop-rock melodies and a visceral grit that adds a punk edge. ‘Religion’ showcases the band’s ability to channel the raw power of their live performances while maintaining radio-ready musicality.
Speaking about the single, Jonny Woods (guitar/songwriter) explains:
“It’s less a love song, and more a “lust” song. It’s about when you meet someone that makes you feel like you’d do anything, even if it was to lie to your true self. It also calls out fake people, fake society, organised religion and how everything made out to be “cool” is usually just a con.
“Religion” follows the release of the album’s first single “Be Positive.”
Crafted with long-time collaborators Andy Bradfield (Bjork, The XX, Rufus Wainwright, Manic Street Preachers) and Avril Mackintosh (Bryan Adams, Marillion) and co-produced by guitarist/vocalist Jonny Woods, Animal Style finds Wynona Bleach pushing their alt-rock roots into wider, more atmospheric terrain. “Be Positive” marries crunching guitars, punchy rhythms and grounding bass with swirling harmonies and soaring lead vocals that blend the relentless grit of alternative rock with the dreamy expansiveness of shoegaze and grunge. From its commanding chorus to its mysterious, reverb-soaked textures, the track signals a band both confident in their past and eager to push beyond it.
Described in the press as a fierce and vibrant force in UK alt rock, riffing somewhere between Smashing Pumpkins, Wolf Alice, The Joy Formidable and Curve, Wynona Bleach have carved out a distinctive sound that fuses alt rock, shoegaze, pop hooks and raw, emotional power. From early singles like “Eyes Burning” to the lush sublimity of their debut album Moonsoake, the band’s music has won nods from tastemaker radio outlets including BBC Radio 6 Music, BBC Introducing NI, KEXP, Amazing Radio and more, along with Spotify editorial interest, and has been praised for its energetic hooks and immersive melodic landscapes.
Formed in 2018, Wynona Bleach quickly gained momentum on the live circuit, including performances at Reading & Leeds Festival, a headline 12-date Russian tour, and high-profile support slots with Feeder, Slow Readers Club and rock icons Alice in Chains on their sold-out Irish dates. Their debut album Moonsoake (2022), recorded in an abandoned Portuguese factory with Bill Ryder-Jones and mixed by Bradfield & Mackintosh, garnered both critical acclaim and industry attention, leading to Northern Ireland Music Prize nominations for Album of the Year and Live Act.
The creation of Animal Style was a deeply collaborative journey, tracked partly in a retro Belfast ballroom-studio and refined across sessions with Bradfield & Mackintosh in London. Following 10 showcases at SXSW 2025, New Colossus NYC, Nashville festival appearances, and a personal invite to Bob Clearmountain’s Apogee Studios in Los Angeles, Wynona Bleach secured their U.S. deal with Propeller Sound Recordings, strengthening their transatlantic profile.
Animal Style marks a reinvigoration of the band’s core sonic identity: an unapologetically guitar-driven album with depth, punch and wide-ranging emotional resonance. With “Be Positive” leading the charge, Wynona Bleach continue to expand their reach as one of Northern Ireland’s most compelling rock exports.
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