EP Review: I Think My Mind Has Made Its Mind Up // The Wombats

Only ten months on from the release of their first UK number-one album, Fix Yourself, Not The World, The Wombats round off their incredible year with a six-track special. 

The last decade has seen the Liverpudlian group engage in all-out sound experimentation, embracing electronic influences with This Modern Glitch (2011), before depending on shiny synths for Glitterbug (2015). The band’s social capital has slowly but surely grown during this time, as the three-piece headlined London’s infamous The O2 last April, followed by a summer of mainstage festival performances. 

It is becoming increasingly clear we are witnessing a sort of indie-rock renaissance, in which The Wombats are deservedly front and centre. With the release of their ninth EP, Is This What It Feels Like To Feel Like This?, the band’s mainstream prominence shows absolutely no signs of folding over.

The EP is, ultimately, a nod to the indie-rock tradition, though with a modern quirk. With the commencement of the opening track, listeners are immediately transported back to the late noughties, where The Wombats’ classic style reigns supreme. Heavy, glam-rock-inspired guitar riffs and wailing vocals dominate in the inaugural track, ‘I Think My Mind Has Made Its Mind Up’. Originally released as a lead single on October 7, the track personifies the band’s existing discography: a feeling of invincibility by virtue of youth, combined with deep-rooted philosophical curiosity.

The second track, ‘Dressed To Kill’, follows a similar pattern of composure, and easily wields the potential to become a fan favourite. A satisfying opening riff sets the tone of a romantic tale, dependent on cryptic lyrics that will, despite missing a literal meaning, resonate with all listeners [‘I don’t need philosophy this time / they’re all just words that bounce around until our bodies meet the ground’]. It’s foot-tapping, head-bopping brilliance that will be acclaimed by older and newer fans alike. 

Despite the upbeat introduction, the EP then deviates from the buoyant ‘Moving-To-New-York-esque’ ambience that The Wombats are typically known for. The third track, ‘Demon’ is a sentimental pursuit, chronicling the daily struggles that follow mental health crises [‘Got me singing from the wrong hymn sheet / Got me cooking with a pocket knife’]. The track finds momentum midway through, trading a sombre standalone acoustic guitar for a sweeping chorus, as lead singer and primary lyricist Matthew Murphy proclaims, ‘I don’t want to live a quiet life’. 

Similarly, ‘Same Old Damage’, strays from the band’s formulaic sound. Murphy introduces the concept with sultry, layered vocals over a thumping bassline. It’s a weighty anthem, embodying a darker, dramatic concept that might feel unfamiliar to the band’s dedicated fanbase. What follows the first chorus is a crescendo in every regard – volume, bass, chaos, the works. It carefully balances the line between novelty and triumph with resounding success. Put simply, it’s exceptional, and a standout in the band’s increasingly diverse discography.

Despite these lucrative experiments in sound, fans will be glad to find they are treated to a The Wombats classic in the closing tracks. ‘Is This What It Feels Like To Feel Like This?’ is existential in nature, with expected references to ‘ecstasy, tragedy’, and all things teenage angst. 

Likewise, the EP’s closing track, ‘Good Idea At The Time’, embodies the band’s traditional style in almost every regard. Belting vocals against the background of fast-paced drums, combined with profound lyrics [‘I didn’t mean to wage a war / I didn’t mean to start a fight’], makes the track an ode to the conventional The Wombats sound. It’s a perfect culmination to, dare I say, a perfect extended play, toying with just the right amounts of nostalgia and innovation. 

Overall, Is This What It Feels Like To Feel Like This? is a triumph in more ways than one, capturing a combined essence of melodrama and modernity with relative ease. It’s rare for a band to secure such longevity in their success, but, as their recent release will demonstrate, no artist is more deserving than The Wombats.

The Wombats will return to the live music scene later this month, touring Australia following the completion of a UK stint. The full tour listing can be found below, and tickets can be found here: 

• 26 November – Spilt Milk Festival, Canberra (Australia)
• 27 November – Palais Theatre, Melbourne (Australia)
• 1 December – Hindgley Street Music Hall, Adelaide (Australia)
• 3 December – Spilt Milk Festival, Ballarat (Australia) 
• 4 December – Spilt Milk Festival, Gold Coast (Australia) 
• 6 December – Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane (Australia)
• 9 December – Bar On The Hill, Newcastle (Australia)
• 11 December – Sydney Opera House, Sydney (Australia)
• 27 May 2023  – Neighbourhood Weekender, Warrington (England)

Words by Aisha Sembhi