Rising Belfast quartet Wynona Bleach have shared the final preview of their forthcoming second album, Animal Style, with the release of new single ‘Not Cool With It’. The track arrives ahead of the upcoming LPs release on May 29 via Fierce Panda Records and Propeller Sound Recordings.
‘Not Cool With It’ finds the band at their most vivid and dynamic yet. While rooted in their signature murky alt-rock textures, the single bursts with melodic clarity, weaving together garage-rock grit, shoegaze atmospherics and alternative-pop sensibility. Distorted, driving guitars anchor the track, while dual vocals and playful melodic turns add a bright, almost technicolour contrast.
Speaking about the song, the band explain:
“This song is about glamourising hollow, plastic and empty ideals and the fake promises made by cool people aren’t to be trusted. It’s better to be yourself. It came from a bedroom demo by Jonny who sent it straight to James before he was even a member of the band. It was the first song they both collaborated on.”
The upcoming album Animal Style was produced by the band’s own Jonny Woods alongside acclaimed collaborators Andy Bradfield (Björk, Rufus Wainwright, The xx) and Avril Mackintosh (Bryan Adams. Together), they help shape what the band describe as their most complete and incisive body of work to date.
The record’s creation story reflects a period of transition and expansion. Recorded in an old ballroom above a working men’s club in Belfast, the album marks the group’s evolution into a four-piece while collaborating remotely with their London-based production team. Following the sessions, the band embarked on an ambitious US run, playing 22 shows including multiple showcases at SXSW 2025, as well as stops in New York and Nashville. A personal invitation to perform at Apogee Studios from legendary mixer Bob Clearmountain further cemented their growing reputation, ultimately leading to their partnership with Propeller Sound Recordings.
Describing Animal Style, the band note it is “a return to basic loves” – a record that leans into guitar-driven songwriting while paradoxically embracing restraint: “a more guitar-focused album with less guitars.”
Since forming in 2018, Wynona Bleach have steadily built a reputation as one of Northern Ireland’s most exciting emerging acts. Their debut album Moonsoake (2022), recorded in an abandoned Portuguese factory, earned critical acclaim and led to high-profile opportunities including supporting Alice in Chains on tour. The band have also shared stages with Ash and performed at major festivals such as Reading & Leeds.
With nominations at the Northern Ireland Music Prize, international touring under their belt, and growing support from stations like BBC Radio 6 Music and KEXP, Wynona Bleach’s trajectory has been steadily upward. Now, with Animal Style on the horizon and ‘Not Cool With It’ offering a final glimpse into its sound, the Belfast quartet appear poised to take their biggest step yet.