Image: unpeople [Bridie Cummings, official press photo]
Are you always on the lookout for new bands that bring plenty of heaviness while also delivering big melodies and emotional lyrics? Then you should get to know unpeople! The British outfit combines powerful guitar riffs with catchy hooks, harmonized vocals, and a healthy dose of alternative rock energy. The band moves effortlessly between anthemic choruses and heavier outbursts. With their debut album, we are unpeople, the four musicians took another important step forward in October 2026. All the more reason to take a closer look at the band!
Who Are unpeople?
unpeople are from the UK and formed in 2023. The band was founded by Jake Crawford and Luke Caley, who had previously played together in Press To Meco. Alongside bassist Em Lodge and drummer Richard Rayner, they went on to create a new project that allows them to explore their musical ideas without too many boundaries.
The band first caught people’s attention with their self-titled EP in 2024. Their blend of heavy riffs, catchy melodies, and harmonized vocals went down well and quickly earned unpeople slots on bigger stages. The band has supported Metallica and performed at several renowned festivals. They also made a name for themselves at the Heavy Music Awards, winning Best Breakthrough Live Artist in 2026.
But there’s more to the name than just a catchy band moniker. “Unpeople” refers to people who are treated by society as insignificant or worthless. The band draws on this perspective and makes it a starting point for their music. With unpeople, they want to create a sense of community and give a voice to those who don’t necessarily feel seen by society.
Somewhere Between Alternative Rock, Metal, and Big Hooks
Musically, unpeople are not so easy to put into a single box. The band blends alternative rock with heavier metal influences, punchy guitar riffs, and choruses that get stuck in your head pretty quickly. At times, their sound is almost anthemic, before shifting into something edgier and more aggressive. Add harmonized vocals that give the songs plenty of depth and scale, and you’ve got a compelling mix. Influences from 2000s alternative rock meet modern production and a certain unpredictability. Despite all the heaviness, the band never loses sight of strong song structures.
If you’re looking for a place to start, check out “smother,” the single that first brought unpeople to people’s attention in 2023, as well as “the garden” and “clouds.” “friends” is also worth a listen. The song explores the fear of emotional vulnerability and tells the story of someone who would rather avoid falling in love altogether than risk getting hurt in the end. It shows that behind unpeople’s massive guitars and choruses lie personal and genuinely vulnerable themes, too.
we are unpeople: The Debut Album Is Here
On October 9, 2026, unpeople released their first full-length studio album, we are unpeople. Its twelve tracks show just how much the band has developed and expanded its sound. Alongside previously released singles such as “clouds,” “friends,” “the garden,” and “blueprints,” the album features new songs that further explore the band’s blend of heavy riffs, catchy melodies, and emotional lyrics.
But it’s not just about the music. The album also revisits the idea behind the band’s name: it’s about people who feel overlooked or excluded, and the possibility of building connections through shared experiences and music. Rather than simply letting the world get them down, unpeople turn frustration and insecurity into something that can bring people together.
So, Who Should Check Out unpeople?
If you like bands that combine catchy choruses with heavy guitars while occasionally stepping outside their musical comfort zone, you should definitely give unpeople a chance. The band could be a great fit for fans of modern alternative rock and alternative metal who enjoy both big melodies and a healthy dose of heaviness.
Lyrically, unpeople also have more to offer than the usual rock clichés. The band explores self-doubt, interpersonal relationships, and the feeling of not quite belonging in society. Rather than simply presenting these themes in a dark light, they connect them to a message of solidarity and community.
unpeople are a great example of just how exciting the new generation of British alternative bands sounds. The four musicians combine hard-hitting riffs with big hooks, emotional lyrics, and a sound that refuses to be confined to a single genre.
So, if you’re in the mood to discover a band that blends catchy melodies with heavier sounds while developing a character all its own, make sure to add unpeople to your playlist!
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