Check out the latest album from Mandy, Indiana: URGH.
I usually dive into recommending older games that might have slipped under the radar, but this week, I can’t stop jamming to the latest album from Mandy, Indiana. It’s still early in the year, but URGH is already my top pick for 2026. The band that captured my heart with I’ve Seen a Way has shifted into a whole new gear.
Frontwoman Valentine Caulfield is more fierce than ever. Most of the lyrics are in French, but even if you don’t understand the words, the disdain is palpable. On “Magazine,” she delivers a scathing message:
> Je viens pour toi
> Alors vas-y cours
> Je n’te louperai pas
> Je viens pour toi
Where she once strutted or ranted, on URGH, she unleashes pure rage. The album title’s raw intensity is mirrored in her menacing delivery, culminating in the powerful English-language anthem “I’ll Ask Her,” where she repeatedly declares:
> Women cover their drinks around him, but they’re all fucking crazy, man
> And his ex went to the police, but they’re all fucking crazy, man
> He brags about getting them drunk, but they’re all fucking crazy, man
> Yeah, your friend’s a fucking rapist, but they’re all fucking crazy, man
The instrumentation hits like a sonic blast through a bullhorn. Drummer Alex Macdougall has sharpened his style, locking into grooves so tight they could choke you; it’s a mix of LCD Soundsystem’s dance-punk energy and the raw power of Coralie Fargeat’s Revenge. While I’ve Seen a Way featured dissonant synths and guitars that felt uncomfortable, URGH is corrosive, as if being in the studio during its creation was a visceral experience. Yet, it’s somehow catchier.
What stands out about this album is that the band hasn’t compromised on their sound; they’ve made it even more confrontational while crafting genuinely infectious tracks. I can’t shake songs like “Magazine,” “Try Saying,” “Life Hex,” and “Cursive” from my mind. I find myself moving to those avalanche grooves even when the album isn’t playing.
URGH encapsulates everything that made Mandy, Indiana great, but amplifies it. The heavy moments hit harder, the noisy sections are more intense, the catchy hooks are catchier, and the grooves are groovier. They’re leading a wave of bands drawing from ‘80s no wave, ‘90s industrial, and ‘00s dance punk to create something that’s not just righteous and political, but also irresistibly danceable.
Mandy, Indiana’s URGH is available on BandCamp and most streaming platforms, including Qobuz, Deezer, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Spotify.
