Explode the TV

Explode the TV’s debut album 'Unbreakable' lands with the swagger of a band that knows exactly who they are. Launched at The Star, Shoreditch last October, it’s a record soaked in early ’80s indie energy-New Wave melodies driven by raw, guitar-fueled urgency.

Opener 'We Live a Life' kicks things off with sharp riffs and frontman Bentley Browning’s Bowie-esque vocals, while guitarist Max McDonald drenches the track in layered pedal effects, adding a shimmering depth to their sound. The title track 'Unbreakable' delivers an anthemic rush of defiance, built for festival singalongs. 'Revolution Baby' channels Punk energy, while 'Everything Points to You' offers A Flock of Seagulls-style jangle, nodding to their love for ’80s Indie without losing their own identity.

The band shine brightest when they lean into their guitar textures. 'Plastic Tape' drifts into moodier territory, its echoing guitars and brooding atmosphere reminiscent of Billy Idol’s 'Eyes Without a Face', balancing melancholy with a slow-burning intensity. 'Naked Eyes' pulses with early U2-style atmospherics, while 'After the Stars Burn Out' unfolds like the closing credits of a film, its slow build and swelling guitars leaving a lingering sense of finality.

But what sets Explode the TV apart is their reliance on guitar textures over synths, crafting a sound that’s retro-tinged yet refreshingly immediate. Their performance at the Good Mixer in Camden last year proved these tracks thrive in a live setting- sweaty, packed venues where Indie still means something. A confident, defiant debut.

Ivan De Mello