News - THE XCERTS

Distorted-pop-trio THE XCERTS are set to release their brand new album Learning How To Live And Let Go, out August 18th via UNFD.

The announcement back in April came alongside the release of new single “Jealousy”. Pre-order the album here and listen to “Jealousy” on all streaming services here

Read through for an album review!

The XCERTS consist of frontman Murray Macleod, bassist Jordan Smith and drummer Tom Heron and released their debut album In The Cold Wind We Smile in 2009. The band have toured the world over since their debut, building an incredible fan base of loyal fans and have released four albums to date, including the acclaimed There Is Only You (2014) and Hold Onto Your Heart (2018).

Learning How To Live and Let Go is the band’s 5th studio album to date and marks the long awaited return for the Scottish three-piece. The band, who have released two tracks this year so far – “GIMME” and “Ache’ featuring Sam Carter - are entering a new age of the band, evolving their pop rock sound to a more production heavy output, adding a wider range of influences to their arsenal and gaining the confidence to move on from the sound they’ve cultivated over the previous four albums. The album is available for pre-order now.

On the thinking and influence behind Learning How To Live And Let Go, frontman Murray Macleod stated: "The album is rooted in drama, ego, love, lust, despair, alcohol, euphoria, anxiety, comedy, modern living, sex and friendship but the overarching theme is that of acceptance. I was involved in a prolonged toxic relationship and the fallout from that when it came to a head, lead me to indulge in a pretty fuzzed out lifestyle to deafen the noise in my head. Don’t get me wrong, I had a blast at times but breaking point wasn’t enough, I needed more of the unhealthy and as many recreational distractions as I could get. When I kind of came to after this period in my life, I didn’t walk away from it with a huge Hollywood-esq epiphany, I just felt somewhat quietly healed. The album isn’t about letting go of one person, relationship or situation in particular, it’s about learning how to live without feeling like a prisoner in your own skin and learning how to let go of the parts of you that cling on desperately, only to simmer and hurt. Don’t get me wrong, I’m deeply flawed but self-acceptance and letting life ride is my key to finding inner peace and that exists somewhere between calm and chaos…maybe?" 

The album pre-order and announcement is accompanied by the release of “Jealousy”, another impressive new cut and turn of direction for the band who have already shown this year that they’ve got so many more exciting things to come. 

 
 

Album Review from Cassie Seiler insomnia music mag Journalist

In the beginning there was only three, and now there are still three. At just 13 years old, Murray Macleod and Jordan Smith had no idea of the adventure they were about to embark on. The journey began in 2001 in Aberdeen Scottland, and has been making waves ever since. Now with Tom Heron at their side for drums, the band was ready to release 4 singles and start touring. In March of 2009 they released their first album, In The Cold Wind We Smile. Later that year they played at Hevy Music Festival in Folkstone, UK.

This brings us to today, almost 14 and a half years later. THE XCERTS are preparing to release their 5th studio album. In only 12 songs, be prepared to live in euphoria, survive heartbreak, learn to love yourself and heal wounds deeper than one can imagine. Murray Macleod followed his heart with every single one of these songs, and he himself healed while writing them and during the darkest points before.

We start hard with GIMME. Strong bass notes, and deep guitar melodies, a song full of fight and the wanting to win. You will be lead into the world of sorrow, numbed with whatever can be found just to keep on going. Followed by Car Crash Culture, Jealousy, and Ache( featuring Architects vocalist Sam Carter) By the 5th song, Drag Me Out, you will have felt all of the heart wrenching pain that comes with learning to love yourself.

Now I can tell you one thing now that is for sure. I have not listened to an entire album as many times as this since I was around 14 years old. The raw emotion that has been poured and spilled into these songs is unheard of. The honesty of real life these three give us through their music is mind boggling. Every single song is a single chapter of a story. And by the end; you find yourself re-listeningto catch anything that may have been missed.

A nostalgic tone is set by song six, Everything I Cannot Live Without, telling a story of love that’s been lost. A much more quirky upbeat Lovesick leads us into Inhale(her), Lust in Translation, and a self incriminating Blame.

Just like every good story, this album comes to an end. My Friends Forever leads us into a tale of heartache and yearning for those who will always be there for you. By the time we make it to It Ain’tEasy, we will have felt the feelings of our younger years; the understanding we have as we age and the acceptance that it takes time.

In an absolute conclusion of this album, I would personally say that these three men have grown and lived a life that is worth a time of story telling. It reminds us all that we aren’t alone in this thing called life. And just like any fantastic story, fiction or not, this entire album is worth listening to a hundred times or more. When you read a story over and over, you learn more each time, and the same goes for these songs.

After listening to these songs, I feel more heard, more understood, and less alone.