Wildernesses Share New Video – ‘[dread]’
London-based alt-rock band Wildernesses continue their ascent with the release of their powerful new single / video, ‘[dread.]’. The track is taken from their acclaimed debut album Growth which is out now via Floodlit Recordings. Emerging as one of the UK underground’s most compelling new voices, Wildernesses have quickly earned praise for their emotionally devastating blend of post-rock scale, shoegaze haze and intimate storytelling, with recent reviews describing Growth as “one of the most wonderfully understated yet brilliant albums of 2026” and “a captivating listen as beautiful as it is heartbreaking.”
Featuring footage captured across the band’s recent UK album tour, the video for ‘[dread.]’ offers an unfiltered look into life on the road marked by long drives, endless DIY merch preparation, cramped backstage moments and the deep camaraderie formed between band members. As always with Wildernesses, the visuals mirror the song’s emotional core with anxiety hidden beneath every day humour, silence and routine.
Order Growth here: Floodlit Recordings // Bandcamp
Vocalist Phillip Morris comments on the track:
‘[dread.]’ is a song about ‘the dread’ – anxiety, doom, or whatever name you want to give that feeling. The lyrics portray a narrator telling themselves they’re alright and the title’s parentheses are supposed to signify self-minimisation. Self-reflection sits alongside a conversation between two friends remembering drinking tinnies by the River Humber during Hull’s 2007 floods. The narrator reflects that there are worse things happening in the world and that all humans are just getting by – holding aspirations and throwing them away like cans in the mud banks. The song uses flood imagery to mirror men ‘manning up’ and the impact that ignoring emotional responses has over time – the overspill. It’s about striving to accept the feeling, which is an acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) technique that I’ve always been bad at utilising myself.
Drummer Ryan Browne adds:
We put the video for ‘[dread.]’ together using footage collected over nine days on the road playing songs from Growth. Similar to the theme of the song, we all had some anxiety going into the tour – being away from home and living on top of each other naturally brings apprehension. But the reality ended up being something really positive. We genuinely looked after each other and it became a wholesome experience all round. Having a video that captures those moments – the shows, the travel, the work that goes into everything – feels really special.
Catch Wildernesses live:
Jun 26 – The Black Heart, London (with Million Moons/Civil Service)
Aug 21- Arctangent Festival
Oct 3rd – Crowded Festival, Leicester
Links
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