Mother Vulture are closing out the countdown to their sophomore album with ‘Knuckles’, a moody, bass-heavy slice of fuzz rock that proves they’re not done surprising us yet.
The track opens with a bassy groove that immediately signals something different is afoot. There’s a distinct 70s twinge running through its veins, but this is no retro throwback. Mother Vulture have taken those influences and filtered them through something thoroughly modern and genuinely creative. The hand click moment? The “shhh”? It all brings a vibe that sets this apart from the usual rock fare.
If your first thirty seconds leave you uncertain, stick with it. ‘Knuckles’ reveals its true character towards the end, building to moments of real umph that reward patient listeners. Frankly, it’s been a while since something this different has landed in our inbox.
Cartoon Violence arrives on 15th January 2026, and if ‘Knuckles’ is anything to go by, Mother Vulture weren’t exaggerating when they called it “our best work yet.” The Devon four-piece have clearly been experimenting, pushing their sound into new territory.
The band hit the road from 31st January, kicking off at Exeter’s Phoenix for the album launch before winding through Cardiff, Southampton, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester, and beyond, culminating at London’s Rough Trade East on 7th March.
Fresh off a sold out support run with Reef, Mother Vulture continue building momentum. Between their Gretsch guitar partnership and festival appearances at Bloodstock and ArcTanGent, they’re carving out their own corner of British rock. If you’re looking for something genuinely different in 2026, look no further.
