Wynona Bleach - Animal Style

“Pummelling, cathartic” – Vive Le Rock

“Satisfyingly grungy…balancing a gritty composition with ethereal vocals” – New Noise

“Intense, atmospheric and mysterious.” – Hot Press

Belfast quartet Wynona Bleach share ‘Religion’ taken from the anticipated upcoming sophomore album Animal Style – May 29th via Fierce Panda Records (UK – Coldplay, Placebo, Ash) and Propeller Sound Recordings (US, & UK Retail stores).

Capturing the band’s raw intensity and distinctive alt-rock style, the single delivers relentless energy through punchy drums, fuzz-drenched guitars, and biting lead vocals. 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, the band explain: “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.”

Produced by Wynona Bleach’s own Jonny Woodsalongside Andy Bradfield (Bjork, Rufus Wainwright, The XX, Manic St Preachers, Spice Girls), and Avril Mackintosh (Bryan Adams, Marillion), the upcoming album showcases some of the band’s most complete and incisive work to date.

Continuing to talk about the album in full… “This sophomore album was recorded in an old ballroom above a working men’s club in Belfast. The band had just become a 4-piece, working remotely with London-based longstanding production collaborators Andy Bradfield (The XX, Rufus Wainwright, Queen) and Avril Mackintosh (Bryan Adams). Upon finishing the albums recording sessions, the band headed to the US to perform 22 shows across the US, including 10 showcases at SXSW 2025, NYC, Nashville and a personal invite to perform at Bob Clearmountain’s Apogee studios in Los Angeles. This led them to secure a deal with Propeller Sound Recordings in Nashville, and continuing their Fierce Panda Signing for the UK release.

Animal Style is a return to the band’s basic loves, a more guitar-focused album with less guitars.”

Wynona Bleach have rapidly established themselves as one of the most compelling bands to emerge from Northern Ireland in recent years. Formed in 2018, the band quickly built momentum, performing at Reading & Leeds Festivals and completing a 12-date headline tour of Russiathat spanned over 6,500 miles.

Since then they signed to the influential Fierce Panda Records – home to early releases from Coldplay and Placebo, marking a major milestone in their ascent. Their debut album

Moonsoake (February 2022), recorded in an abandoned factory in Portugal, was met with critical acclaim and followed the band being personally selected to support Alice in Chains on the Irish leg of their world tour. That same year, Wynona Bleach were nominated for the Northern Ireland Music Prize for both Album and Live Act, while touring extensively, including appearances at Other Voices Festival.

Their momentum continued with showcase performances at SXSW and New Colossus Festival in New York, a US tour, a full UK and Ireland tour including Ireland Music Week, and a five-date tour supporting Ash (another band who personally chose them as support). Receiving airplay on Radio X, BBC Radio 6, BBC Introducing NI, RTÉ 2FM, and US tastemaker station KEXP, the band have had support across tastemaker press as well as landing a number of Spotify editorial placements. Following a slot at SXSW 2025, New Colossus NYC, Irish Music showcases in Nashville, and a personal invitation to perform at Bob Clearmountain’s Apogee Studio in Santa Monica, their sophomore album, Animal Style, is now completed and set for release on 29th May 2026.