Suede never quite fit into the blokey Britpop box in the 90s, though their self-titled debut could be said to have pioneered the genre, and they have subsequently done much to distance themselves from the label, instead pointing to the importance of glam-rock and grittier post-punk in shaping their sound. Now 10 albums into their career, and five into their dazzling second act post-reformation, ‘Antidepressants’ drives that idea home in fine style.
Stomping opener Disintegrate is a mission statement lead single that establishes the record’s darker themes. Gnarly basslines bleed beneath Brett Anderson’s visceral lyrics as he beckons the listener: “Come down and disintegrate with me.”
‘Antidepressants’ is an album concerned with mortality, but equally informed by a sense of disquietude in the modern era.
There are hints of Joy Division and even The Cramps in the spooky undercurrent of the album’s title track, a rather on-the-nose number about a dissatisfied homeowner, while Sweet Kid is the macabre cousin of 2018’s Life is Golden, an uplifting ode to parental love. “And if my body belongs to the worms / Oh well, my blood still belongs in your veins,” Anderson sings.
As a live spectacle, Suede are unmatched among their contemporaries, and many of these songs already seem primed for the stage. A staggering punk number in the same vein as 2022’s That Boy on the Stage, Criminal Ways is one of them, as is the existential romp Trance State. Contrastingly, Somewhere Between an Atom and a Star is a moment of scaled down beauty for the band.
‘Antidepressants’ reaches its pinnacle during its final two tracks. June Rain is a sombre portrait of someone nearing the end of their life, with Anderson opting to speak its first verse, establishing a sense of intimacy: “I close my eyes and walk into the traffic flow.” It is rich in vivid imagery, conveying a state of absolute desolation: “And you left me there like a fingerprint on your back window.”
Life is Endless, Life is a Moment is a slow crawl of a closer with an ominous, gothic bassline and haunting backing vocals during its chorus. “Hate me if you must, love me when I’m dust,” Anderson sings. The vocalist has been adamant of late that the band’s best work is yet to come. ‘Antidepressants’ suggests that he could be on to something. Suede have refused to rest on their laurels, continuing to push boundaries and develop.
Suede Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Sat September 13 2025 - LONDON Royal Festival Hall
Sun September 14 2025 - LONDON Royal Festival Hall
Wed September 17 2025 - LONDON Purcell Room
Fri September 19 2025 - LONDON Queen Elizabeth Hall
Fri January 30 2026 - FOLKESTONE Leas Cliff Hall
Sat January 31 2026 - PORTSMOUTH Portsmouth Guildhall
Mon February 02 2026 - BRISTOL Bristol Beacon
Tue February 03 2026 - GUILDFORD G Live
Thu February 05 2026 - EDINBURGH Usher Hall
Fri February 06 2026 - LIVERPOOL Liverpool Uni Mountford Hall
Sat February 07 2026 - YORK York Barbican
Mon February 09 2026 - LINCOLN Engine Shed
Tue February 10 2026 - NORWICH Nick Rayns LCR
Wed February 11 2026 - CAMBRIDGE Corn exchange
Fri February 13 2026 - SHEFFIELD Octagon
Sat February 14 2026 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE O2 City Hall
Mon February 16 2026 - COVENTRY HMV Empire
Tue February 17 2026 - BATH Bath Forum
Thu February 19 2026 - NOTTINGHAM Rock City
Fri February 20 2026 - SOUTHEND Cliffs Pavilion
Sat February 21 2026 - BRIGHTON Centre
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