If you’re only going to discover one more band before the end of 2025, make it The Molotovs. Comprised of brother-sister duo Matthew and Issey Cartlidge, they stormed the stage at Camden’s Electric Ballroom with a confidence and presence that belied their teenage years. Despite a crowd that skewed older than the band themselves, they captured every eye and ear, delivering a set that was both explosive and unforgettable; a performance that made it clear they’re a band you’ll be talking about long after the final song.
From the opening riffs of “Urbia”, The Molotovs crashed on stage with an unapologetic energy that revealed why Blondie, The Libertines, and Green Day have all sung their praises. Their sound channels classic punk and rock: every chord hits with precision, yet there’s an urgency and rawness that feels completely sincere and honest. It’s nostalgic enough to connect to your parents and grandparents; full of energy, and with arresting lyrics that hit hard.
Their lyrics are well-worth taking your time to obsess over. Their songs explore political and social themes, as well as the human condition: fleeting friendships, the pains of social connection, and navigating today’s fraught and status-obsessed world. On their latest single, “Rhythm of Yourself”, Matt sings:
“A small man sat next to me / Said he’ll unlock my destiny with paper / He talks about later / He said son, ‘I’ll make you a man / All the women will understand / So get that pen back in your hand / And start signing.’”
It’s a line drawn directly from their own experiences in the music industry, and Matt explains, “A lot of people take notice and interest in what we write lyrically… because we’re a real band… our songs are very normal, but I think they relate to a lot of people. We chat to all our fans.”
Not just their lyrics, but also their performances, reflect their experiences honestly and fearlessly, a testament to having played over 600 gigs already since 2020. Whilst they’re still putting on a stellar sold-out show, one gets the sense that they’re never considered making music purely for attention. They keep things simple, always flashy enough to be interesting, but never so dazzling that the music cannot take centre stage. They’ve hustled hard to show they deserve to be here, and boy, do they make you take notice.
“News Flash”, penned during lockdown, is another highlight from their discography, and a song that Matt touches on prior to their show that evening.
“[It’s about] the way… the Tories handled it,” he explains. “And the effect [it had], you know, on everyday people; how badly it was handled, and they’re not understanding the actual damage they caused, and that sort of thing.”
This reflective nature comes across in the way they tackle such topics in the music: critical but never didactic, nuanced whilst full of passion and conviction. Live, Matt’s vocals are never ostentatious, possessing a directness that makes every lyric hit home, while Issey — in a truly fabulous, custom-made Union Jack dress by Solene Lescouet — becomes both a visual force on stage, using her platform to make a statement in such trying times. She declared:
“I’m proud to wear this dress. Proud to sport this flag. Proud of our Britishness which is so integral to who we are. This is British identity. People gathered together for music and a legacy of British artistic history. We must reject cultural pessimism – reject division, intolerance and hate – and embrace togetherness in its wake. We must keep on asking ourselves one vital question: ‘Is There Any Hope?’ We think the answer is definitively ‘yes’.”
The Molotovs’ setlist, twenty songs strong, moved with an unstoppable momentum, each track flowing into the next, building energy and intensity with an addictive frenzy. The duo may still be teenagers, but the weight of their presence, both on stage and in their lyrics, makes them feel decades older. Their music is punk rock with brains, heart, and undeniable ambition. They are articulate voices for their generation, sure, but also for anyone looking for honesty in a world that seems more full of noise, bad-faith actors and fake messaging than ever.
With their new album, Wasted On Youth, set for release in January 2026, Matthew and Issey are proving that the future of punk rock isn’t just in safe hands, it’s in hands that are unwilling to bend to the status quo. The Molotovs are a band with vision, conviction, and a voice that has the potential to resonate across the generations, to connect with others during a time when connection seems more lacking than ever.
So yes: if 2025 leaves room for one final discovery to add to your music library, make it The Molotovs. You won’t regret it.
The Molotovs can be found in Instagram and on streaming platforms worldwide. Wasted On Youth can be pre-ordered here.