Review: State of Mind

Next up is State of Mind, an exciting young indie rock band from Lincolnshire who are quietly proving that loud, guitar-driven music made in garages still very much has a place in 2026. With BBC Introducing and BBC Orbit already giving them airplay in 2025, this is a band building real momentum the right way – big riffs, big leads and even bigger choruses, all delivered with grit, passion and genuine musical chemistry. We were sent six tracks, and what follows is a band confidently carving out their own space between indie and rock.

What Will It Take opens things up in the most confident way possible, flowing in on a laid-back yet punchy guitar line before the band lock in around it. The narrative vocal genuinely tells a story, full of humour, hubris and snapshots of youth that feel instantly relatable. As the song builds, it winds itself into a soaring, hands-in-the-air singalong chorus packed with harmonies that refuse to leave your head. Sitting perfectly on the line between indie and rock, it sounds fresh without trying too hard. The guitar solo lifts the song beautifully, melodic rather than flashy, almost acting as a second vocal line before the tempo nudges up and the band sprint confidently to the finish. A festival-ready opener if ever there was one.

Ask Myself Why follows and immediately shows a darker edge to the band. The intro channels 90s grunge through a modern lens, with a slightly distorted vocal adding tension and weight. It blurs the boundary between rock and indie even further, aggressive enough to feel dangerous but melodic enough to stick. There’s a real authenticity here, a frustration-of-youth energy that makes the track compelling and powerful. This feels like a gateway song – one that pulls new listeners in and dares them not to turn it up.

Between You and I kicks off with a rough, almost punk-rock edge before the band crash in and pull everything together. The chugging verse is dark and grounded, punctuated by a gliding, distorted guitar line that adds texture without clutter. The use of space here is excellent, letting the song breathe and hit harder as a result. There’s even a subtle nod to 80s new romantic influences, skewed into something modern and sharp. Short, direct and loaded with intent, this track shows how much State of Mind can say without overplaying their hand.

I Wish It Wasn’t True rolls in more gently, harking back to the softer, moodier moments of bands like Faith No More. The calm verse sets the scene perfectly before the crashing chorus explodes in contrast, flipping the quiet/loud dynamic in a way that feels fresh rather than predictable. The song builds to a swelling crescendo, full of emotion, before fading away almost as quickly as it arrived. It’s reflective, powerful and shows real maturity in the band’s songwriting.

Where We Going? announces itself with a driving drum beat that instantly gets your head nodding before the full band surge in. The almost chant-like vocal brings a darker, more menacing edge, setting up a soaring vocal line that twists, turns and drops back again with real control. There’s a lo-fi grit here that makes the track feel raw and immediate, but the melody is strong enough to stay with you for days. The wah-driven guitar solo just works, adding character and swagger without ever stealing focus.

Don’t Try and Change Me brings everything together in one final, explosive statement. It rips into life with a savage ripsaw riff before sliding into a verse that The Stone Roses would have killed to write. This is State of Mind at their most complete, blending sweetness and aggression into one perfectly sculpted audio journey. The chorus is a full-blown earworm, the kind that burrows in and refuses to leave, while the drumming drives the song forward with real authority. The emotional, understated guitar solo fits perfectly, adding depth rather than flash. It’s a defining track that showcases exactly what this band is about.

Six tracks, not a weak note between them. State of Mind aren’t just making noise – they’re making a statement.