THE FRONT ROW

Atlas Rivers aren’t just reviving the 90s indie rock sound – they’re stretching it into new shapes, fitting it with bigger hearts and louder intentions. Their latest single As You Are is the fifth step in a steady, defiant rise for the Manchester-Carlisle-Barcelona trio, and it’s their boldest yet: a track that balances emotional turbulence with sonic precision.

From the opening bars, As You Are plants a circular riff in your head that never quite lets go. It’s hypnotic in the best way, the kind of motif that feels like a heartbeat, a loop of introspection that drives the whole track forward. The track’s early restraint makes the second half all the more rewarding, building into a blazing, almost euphoric crescendo, where layers of harmonies, pounding drums and fiery guitars all crash together in perfect disorder.

Lyrically, the track strikes a chord of defiance and vulnerability. Frontman Steve Jackson’s words are raw and poetic: “It’s not our fault, that we fell so hard, how could we not, when the times were burning as we were?” There’s catharsis here, but it never veers into melodrama – the band know how to hit hard without overplaying their hand.

There’s an intensity in this track that speaks volumes about the journey Atlas Rivers are on. Formed through long-distance collaboration between old friends in Cumbria, Manchester and Barcelona, the band have spent the past year sharpening their sound through four singles, a debut tour across the North West, and a career-defining acoustic slot opening for Frank Turner, which the man himself called “fucking incredible.”

Where previous singles Towards the Sun and The Vanishing turned heads with their melodic grit and anthemic energy, As You Are feels like the band finally kicking the doors in. It’s a song built for connection, the kind of track you want to play for someone when you can’t find the right words yourself.

There’s a strong sense that Atlas Rivers are just getting started. With an EP slated for autumn, a growing live reputation, and support already rolling in from the likes of Radio X’s John Kennedy, York Calling, Louder Than War and a swathe of local stations across the UK, they’re gathering the kind of momentum that’s hard to ignore.

If you’ve not tuned into Atlas Rivers yet, now’s the time. This one hits hard, feels honest, and leaves you wanting more.