The Gospel Youth just seem like the kind of guys you’d like to be mates with, and their music ain’t half bad either. The culmination of collective years of effort within various musical projects, it looks like this band is finally going places and rightly so.

‘Moods Like English Weather’, their first release since signing to Rise Records, is the latest track to follow their unbeatable formula. Upbeat melodies + contemplative, sometimes self-deprecating lyrics + Sam Little’s soulful vocals = singalong material.

The song is a little less pop punk and a little more pop rock than some of their previous efforts. ‘Moods Like English Weather’ misses out on the gut-wrenching emotion of ‘Hospital Blues’, the soaring melody of ‘The Miles We Are Apart’ and the build-up of ‘Hurricane’, but it’s strong ad polished and ready for the mainstream success they’re surely destined for.

With a debut full length album on the way (‘Always Lose’ comes out on 14 July) and a stint on the Warped Tour this summer, it’s an exciting time for The Gospel Youth. Let’s just hope they announce a tour here soon.

KATHRYN BLACK