Manchester five piece The Guest List announce the release of their EP ‘When The Lights Are Out,’ out now, alongside the new single “Ruine.” Built around a heavy, downtuned riff and stark rhythmic drive, “Ruine” focuses on fixation and loss of control, punctuated by a spoken word French passage from bassist Sid Wallace. The track follows earlier single “Weatherman,” which addressed the climate crisis through direct imagery and plainspoken lyrics. Across the EP, the band combine guitar driven arrangements with measured use of tension and release, grounding each song in clear structure and direct themes.
Formed in 2021 by school friends and music students, The Guest List consists of Cai Alty, Tom Quigley, Leio Hunter, Sid Wallace, and Angus Gilchrist. Their recent work also includes “Mary,” which addresses cycles of domestic violence, “Plasticine Heart,” focused on envy and self comparison, and the title track “When The Lights Are Out,” written in response to men’s mental health statistics in the UK. Alongside extensive touring, festival appearances, and support slots with established UK acts, the EP documents a period of rapid development for the band, capturing their songwriting priorities and current musical scope without excess or abstraction.
