Yungblud: Idols
Yungblud’s fourth studio album, Idols, marks a bold and ambitious chapter in his musical journey. It is the perfect blend of raw emotion, theatrical flair, and deeply personal storytelling. With the first song Hello Heaven, Hello Yungblud sets the tone that embraces emotions and vulnerability. The song itself plays the role of a nine-minute introduction to an album that explores the complexities of identity, fame, addiction, and self-worth.
Musically, Idols is probably one of Yungblud’s most grown up pieces of work. Dominic Harrison initially started working on it after his second album, weird!, but the timing wasn't right at that moment. He then created his self-titled in 2022 before returning to and completing Idols. Yungblud shares that it is an attempt to something classic and timeless. He wanted to musically explore new places and surprise people with the outcome. Trying to go back to his roots by recording in Leeds, near where he grew up, was a deliberate choice to reconnect with his roots and strip away industry expectations. In this album, he merges Britpop and rock influences such as Oasis, David Bowie and The Cure with his signature theatrical pop elements. Typically for Yungblud, the sound is genre-fluid. He mixes elements of punk rock, glam, spoken-words, and orchestral ballads. Tracks like Zombie, inspired by Yungblud’s grandmother, showcase this fusion beautifully by layering punk energy with emotional sound. Lovesick Lullaby, on the other hand, offers a catchy, raw anthem that feels perfect for live performances and nods to the early 2000s Britpop-punk scene. It might be our personal favourite on the album, and we love its Blur-like upbeat sound.
The firth song, The Greatest Parade, could easily be mistaken for a Placebo song and Yungblud would likely take this as a compliment, given how openly he’s expressed his admiration for Brian Molko in numerous interviews.
Talking about idols and inspiration, the album title Idols itself is deeply charged with emotion. It was inspired by a fan Yungblud met in Amsterdam who told him he had saved her life. He immediately responded that she had saved herself because the strength was already within her. This encounter shaped the central theme of the album: while we often look up to idols, the real power lies within ourselves.
Lyrically, Idols explores deeply personal themes for Yungblud, including his struggles with ADHD, his path to sobriety, and the complex dynamics of fame, worship, and self-worth. This emotional honesty elevates the album from a collection of songs to a raw, authentic expression of inner battles and resilience.
Idols is Yungblud’s most daring album so far. It balances vulnerability and chaos. It might be more melancholic compared to the self-titled (2022), but it’s also powerful and immersive listening experience that solidifies Yungblud’s place as an artist who’s willing to push boundaries. The album includes bold structural choices such as longer tracks and cinematic pacing that demonstrate Yungblud’s willingness to take creative risks and express his deepest emotions. These risks pay off by adding depth to the album and elevating it to more mature levels. You could argue that certain tracks are too long or too dark, potentially alienating fans who prefer the raw, punk-driven energy of his earlier work. However, even though reviews are mixed, most listeners seem to admire the honesty, depth and experimentation of Idols. We sure do!
The album’s world tour kicks off on August 23, 2025, in Los Angeles. The tour will then travel through North America and continue to Europe, with the European leg starting in AFAS Live, Amsterdam on October 4.
