THE FRONT ROW

thistle.’s debut EP, it’s nice to see you, stranger, lands like a handwritten letter from a close friend you haven’t seen in years, lo-fi, bruised, and quietly defiant. Over five tracks, the Northampton trio channel the messy reality of being young, uncertain, and determined to build something lasting in a world that often feels built to tear you down.

If you’ve been following thistle.’s ascent from DIY garage project to one of the UK underground’s most compelling new voices, the signposts were already there. Early singles “wishing coin,” “fleur rouge,” and the title track offered glimpses into their sonic world, somewhere between introspective slowcore and ragged-edged post-hardcore, with a sincerity that can’t be faked. Now, in this fully realised collection, that vision grows teeth and blossoms in unexpected directions.

The opener, “cobble/mud,” sets the tone perfectly. A jittery bassline underpins Cameron Godfrey’s hushed delivery, gradually building into a bruising chorus that feels both cathartic and unsteady on its feet. It’s a track that feels like it’s been kept alive on pure adrenaline, and you can hear the late-night practice sessions and the collective exhaustion behind every note. The production retains a pleasing roughness, there’s nothing polished about it, and that’s the point.

The title track, “it’s nice to see you, stranger,” is the emotional core of the record. Guitars crest and fall in waves of distortion, and Godfrey’s vocals are cracked but resolute. There’s an undercurrent of nostalgia running through the lyrics, like an old memory you can’t quite let go of, but thistle. resist the temptation to overstate or sentimentalise. Instead, they keep it simple: a nod to the past, but eyes fixed firmly on what’s next. It’s a reminder that sometimes the best art comes from making peace with your own uncertainty.

“fleur rouge,” arguably the most immediate track here, has already turned heads with its melodic urgency. Built on a wiry guitar line that recalls early 2000s emo as much as it does contemporary UK punk, it manages to feel both familiar and fresh. It’s the sound of a band who know their lineage but aren’t interested in retreading old ground for the sake of nostalgia.

Then comes “holy hill,” a fast-paced, distorted mess in the best possible way. Clocking in at barely a minute and a half, it explodes out of the gate with serrated guitar fuzz and a pummelling rhythm section that feels like it’s about to rattle the speakers clean off the wall. It’s the most unhinged moment on the EP, a reminder that underneath thistle.’s introspection is a streak of raw, combustible energy. Where other bands might have leaned into atmosphere alone, thistle. are more than willing to blow it all up when the moment calls for it.

Closing track “wishing coin,” which we previously praised as an early indicator of thistle.’s promise, still stands out. There’s a wistful determination to the song, its loping rhythm and cracked melodies feel like an anthem for anyone whose plans never quite lined up with reality. But rather than wallowing in regret, thistle. offer something closer to acceptance. It’s a fitting conclusion to a record that never shies away from hard truths, but never loses sight of hope either.

Much of the EP’s resonance comes down to thistle.’s refusal to sand down the edges. Where some young bands might be tempted to reach for a more radio-friendly sheen, thistle. double down on the imperfections: the tape hiss, the uneven vocals, the sense that every track could collapse in on itself at any moment. But far from feeling slapdash, this approach makes the record feel alive, each song a moment captured rather than constructed.

The context matters too. Released on Venn Records, home to boundary-pushing acts like High Vis, the EP sits comfortably alongside a new wave of British artists unwilling to play by major-label rules. It’s no surprise the band have drawn praise from Stereogum, Clash, Rolling Stone UK and a raft of BBC tastemakers. But none of that buzz would matter if the songs didn’t hold up. On it’s nice to see you, stranger, they more than deliver.

With festival slots at Left Of The Dial and a European tour on the horizon, thistle. are well-positioned to become one of the most vital new names in British underground music. But what’s most exciting is that they don’t seem to be chasing anything other than their own truth. As Godfrey put it himself: “The struggle shows in the music.” It does. And it’s exactly why you’ll keep coming back to these songs long after the hype has moved on.