New Music Reviews: Ratboys and Mandy, Indiana

It’s an uncharacteristically rocking week. Ratboys play rootsy rock and roll, while Mandy, Indiana find the previously uncharted sweet spot between industrial rock and synth-pop.

Ratboys

Singin’ To An Empty Chair

2026, 8/10
Chicago band Ratboys play rootsy, emotional rock and roll, like a countrified, female-fronted Replacements. Their sixth album is preoccupied with communication, inspired by Julia Steiner’s first experiences with therapy. On the first track, Steiner addresses her ex, using the therapy practice known as the empty chair technique.

The best songs are urgent and emotional. ‘Open Up’ is a terrific opener, while ‘Anywhere’ is hooky and visceral. ‘Penny In The Lake’ successfully adds a country flavour. Lead guitarist David Sagan is constantly creative and melodic, adding an extra dimension to these tunes.

The band changes gears at the end of the record. The acoustic ‘What’s Right’ and the simmering ‘Burn It Down’ explore different territory than their urgent indie rock. ‘At Peace in the Hundred Acre Wood’ is a lovely closer.

Ryan: We can talk more about that. I’ve heard you say that you guys don’t make a living from the band. Is that close? Does that even seem realistic?

Steiner: It’s kind of close. But, at the same time, none of us have families. And we’ve thought about wanting to do that. And, if that enters into the equation, it’s like, holy crap. I don’t know how we could ever… It’s just hard.

Julia Steiner, Forbes

Singin’ to an Empty Chair is another strong Ratboys’ album.

Mandy, Indiana

Urgh

2026, 8.5/10
English–French noise rock band Mandy, Indiana formed in Manchester. They represent an unusual juxtaposition, an abrasive industrial rock band topped off by perfectly enunciated vocals. Vocalist Valentine Caulfield usually sings as French, so the vocals often work like another instrument.

Urgh reflects some tough experiences for the group, like surgeries and sexual assault.

My therapist encouraged me to channel my anger into something productive, so here it is: my primal, screaming call for retribution. It is the only way I will ever get to say to my rapist: you hurt me, so I’m going to hurt you.”

Valentine Caulfield, DIYMag

They’re surprisingly versatile – the opening tracks ‘Sevastapol’ and ‘Magazine’ are sludgy and menacing. But other songs like ‘Cursive’ and ‘Ist Halt So’ ride fluid, fun grooves.

Urgh mixes disparate genres with surprising success.

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