Album Review: Yungblud - Idols

(Locomotion/Island Records, June 20, 2025)

By Redlocz Full Flava

Photo credit: Tom Pallant

With his latest album IDOLS, YUNGBLUD takes a real step forward—both in sound and in mindset. This is an artist who’s clearly outgrown the “angry youth with a megaphone” phase and is now aiming for something bigger, more theatrical, and at times, surprisingly vulnerable.

From the very first track, “Hello Heaven, Hello”, you can tell this isn’t just another collection of pop-punk bangers. It’s a sprawling, nine-minute opener that blends classic Britpop energy with modern rock ambition. It’s bold and probably one of the most defining moments of his career so far. It shows YUNGBLUD isn’t afraid to slow things down, stretch songs out, and experiment with storytelling.

What’s clear across this whole project is that he’s drawing from a wide range of influences. You can hear echoes of Bowie, The Cure, even bits of U2 and 90s alt-rock—but he’s managing to filter it all through his own style. “Change” is a standout for me. It’s got that glam-rock strut but with a modern twist, and lyrically, it feels like YUNGBLUD talking straight from the gut about transformation and personal growth.

Photo credit: Tom Pallant

Now, while there’s definitely a lot to admire here, I won’t lie—there are a couple of tracks that didn’t hit me the same way. Some of the more radio-friendly cuts feel a little safe, like they’re there to tick a box rather than push the creative envelope. But honestly, even those moments don’t drag the album down—they just make the highs feel even higher.

Tracks like “Zombie” and “Ghosts” bring real emotional weight. “Zombie” in particular feels like it’s coming from a very raw and honest place—dealing with trauma and mental health but doing it in a way that feels genuine, not performative. These songs show his growth as a songwriter and as a person.

What’s important here is that YUNGBLUD isn’t standing still. IDOLS feels like him leveling up—not just making music for mosh pits and festival singalongs, but creating songs that could live on bigger stages, or even in the history books down the line. This is only Part One of a two-part project, so it’ll be interesting to see where he takes it next.

Overall, IDOLS is loud when it needs to be, soft when it matters, and full of moments that show YUNGBLUD is stepping into a new era with confidence.

The Idols UK &+ Ireland Tour dates are as follows:

15.04.26 Dublin, 3Arena

17.04.26 Leeds, First Direct Arena

18.04.26 Cardiff, Utilita Arena

20.04.26 Glasgow, OVO Hydro

23.04.26 Birmingham, Utilita Arena

24.04.26 London, The O2

25.04.26 Manchester, AO Arena