“It’s a whispered confessional, a journal of grief, rage, and reluctant hope.” LONESOME’S debut album triumphs

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Category: news
Updated: 22nd October 2025
Written by Bryony Mezzatesta
“It’s a whispered confessional, a journal of grief, rage, and reluctant hope.” LONESOME’S debut album triumphs

You’d be forgiven for thinking this band has been big-time on the scene for a while now, but in reality, they’re categorically newbies. Yes, they might carry the hallmarks of a professional outfit- considered staging design, meticulously put together style on top of a tight performance technique, but this September saw Cambridge Emo band Lonesome finally release their debut studio album- ‘In The Hope This Finds You.’ An introspective study of life, love, and loss. An epic tale of two souls and their ever-evolving existence, sporting a moniker that highlights the band’s steadfast ambition for finding their audience, the ones who need their music the most.

One month on from its release, Lonesome takes stock of the record’s immediate success (significant streaming numbers and rave reviews from Kerrang! and others proving its worth). This album is a step forward for the resurrection of true emo. Not the ever-popular post-hardcore that emerged (and stayed) following the early 00s- one of alternative music culture’s most prolific decades, but true, heartstring-tugging, melodic emo in all its glory. A step forward, we couldn’t help but celebrate.

Never one to do things by halves, Lonesome’s frontman and enigmatic vocalist emerges from behind the curtain at their triumphant Met Lounge hometown launch show in honour of the inaugural full-length record last weekend, draped in chainmail, sporting a handmade waistcoat emblazoned with imagery representing their album artwork. The bounding vitality of predecessors Wrex, who headed up main support slot after a rip-roaring opener from Bangkitan, still flows through everybody there. Liar, the album opener a seriously powerful start. There was no build-up for Lonesome, the strength and daring boldness hitting hard from the moment their set began. Playing the album that led to this moment in full was always going to be the way, more so due to its nature as a flowing and cohesive mechanism for emotive storytelling. 

Further mention must go to Wrex, a dynamic Brighton three-piece blending electro-alt rock and punk sensibilities. Vocalist Mae Seaton’s physical performance and 80s punk get-up particularly iconic and downright memorable. We couldn’t get enough.

“I’ve had the craziest 24 hours. It seems I’m performing tonight with a perforated eardrum!” vocalist Jordan declares a song or two into Lonesome’s full album run-through, his pain tolerance, or ability to mask it, high as no sign of distress showed on his face. A true master of his craft, resilient, and determined. The show must go on. Suffering from equal misfortune, guitarist Will somehow managed to slice a finger on his strings, causing blood to drip from his hands as he powered through the close of affecting track ‘You Say It’s Love’. Almost as if planned, a metaphor for the desperation of grief, the misinterpretation of love echoed within the lyrics. A fitting mishap, perhaps. And once again, the show must go on. 

The sheer tenacity of this band, the force of nature they are as a collective, was understood that night. Their audience felt something. And not something surface, some deeper, more connected to the subject matter, the emotive melody, the movement. Frontman Jordan giving a unique performance, turning into himself, losing grip on reality throughout the performance, almost as if in character, somewhere between choreographed precision and total loss of control. Joining his audience in the pit towards the close of their set, giving back to the fans he held tightly in the palm of his hands. 

‘In The Hope This Finds You’ is a true masterpiece. One that deserves to be heard. Lonesome, you transcend normality, and we’re here for absolutely everything you’ve got. 


Photo Credit Callum Crawford