London-based trio Island of Love recently announced their self-titled debut album, out May 12th on Third Man Records. The band, who put on such an impressive live show that Third Man signed them on-the-spot after seeing them perform live, have already earned early support from the likes of several media outlets. Now, following the previously released “Grow” / “Blues 2000” and “Fed Rock,” Island of Love share their most immediate – and self-proclaimed “most ridiculous” – song yet, “I’ve Got The Secret.”

The band says: “’I’ve Got The Secret’ is a song about not being able to let go of someone you care about and all the feelings that come with it, but largely surrounds the theme of paranoia. The whole song ended up becoming a band favourite as we started adding more to it, especially to play live since we just get to make a racket and scream. Also with two false endings, a three part harmony on the word “bloke”, and a 2 second d-beat section we think it makes the books as Island of Love’s most ridiculous song. For the video we enlisted the help of Taylor Stewart who gathered together 4 of our close friends/dearest Grace, Celia, Hattie, and Gabbie to play the band.”

In September 2021, Island of Love – Karim Newble on guitars/vocals, Linus Munch on guitars/vocals and Daniel Giraldo on bass –were invited to perform at the grand opening of Third Man’s The Blue Basement. It’s a good thing Island of Love showed up to the gig at all, given that the band didn’t even think the email invitation they received to play was real. That very real and not-spam offer during the band’s cigarette break not only led to their on-the-spot label signing, but to opening slots for Jack White, and now their exhilarating debut. Island of Love is a ferocious and bone-shakingly loud album that marries raw, primal noise led by crunchy guitars with intrinsically melodic sensibilities, and recalls the sound and spirit of peak-era Dinosaur Jr. or Husker Dü. With influences from the band’s start in the London hardcore punk scene and their DIY community roots, the album is elevated by the shared vocal and songwriting duties of Newble and Munch.

Produced by Fuzzbrain’s Ben Spence and engineered by Jack Shirley (Deafheaven, Jeff Rosenstock, Joyce Manor), Island of Love is an album full of songs that pinball back and forth between tones and styles, and make up one of the most refreshing and fun debut albums you’ll hear in 2023.

Photo Courtesy: Cole Flynn-Quirke