Tracks of the Week: Basement, The Bobby Lees, Melanie Baker, Tooth, and More!

The IINAG team has done the heavy lifting and curated this week’s essential new tracks so you don’t have to. Check out our picks below, then head over to the playlist for the full deep dive.

After an eight-year hiatus, Basement are back with two new singles and an album announcement. Their fifth album seems to follow the mellower footsteps of their more recent offerings that landed more in alternative and indie rock than their emo and pop punk beginnings. Regardless, it’s good to see the group back together. “WIRED” has a bit more of an edge compared to the subtle somberness on “Broken By Design,” and both showcase where their changing styles are pulling from when they decided to make new music again. – Evan Lurie

Revitalised after a long break and some unexpected support from Jason Momoa, the return of The Bobby Lees feels like a total exorcism. The title track “New Self” trades their usual garage rock speed for a heavy, desert-hazed stomp inspired by late 90s hip hop and nu metal. Sam Quartin’s delivery is snotty, sincere, and magnetic, sounding more like a spiritual reawakening than just a comeback. The track is expansive and secure in its own skin, signalling that the band has finally moved past burnout into a towering new era of confidence. – Katie Macbeth

Melanie Baker continues to build momentum with ‘HAHA!’, a playful slice of indie-pop that leans into her wit and infectious energy. Driven by a bright guitar line and a big catchy chorus, it’s punchy, confident and brimming with personality. Lines like “guess I’ll watch another rerun of Friends” tap into the comfort of familiarity, which is so relatable, with the added “laugh track haunts my dreams” offering a wry edge. It’s a clever blend of humour and honesty that showcases Baker’s knack for pairing catchy hooks with sharp lyricism. One to watch. – Henry Dunn

Capitalising on the riff-heavy sound of the moment, London four-piece Tooth release ‘Medicine’ as their second single. The Sonic Youth-inspired track contains more than a trace element of Midwest emo with breathy vocals dialled up to an explosion of edgy angst and wiry tension. Tooth are a must-see throwback to sweaty, frenetic garage rock. Catch them on tour with kindred spirits Keo this weekend in Leeds and Manchester before they hit the festival circuit beginning in May. – Kai Marshall

Isle of Wight’s ugly ozo continues her streak of doom-gaze excellence with ‘overkill,’ the lead single from her new EP. The track is a haunting masterclass in contrast, blending ethereal vocals with a vengeful and vulnerable wall of fuzzy, distorted guitars. It captures a specific brand of feminine rage that feels both supernatural and deeply grounded, echoing the heavy influence of Babes In Toyland. With its bewitching atmosphere and crushing bass lines, ‘overkill’ cements ugly ozo as a unique, otherworldly voice in the UK indie scene. – Lauren Moreton – Lauren Moreton

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