Album Review: The Lathums - Matter Does Not Define

With Matter Does Not Define, The Lathums deliver their most complete and confident record yet, a powerful fusion of introspection, melodic optimism and indie sharpness that cements their place among the UK’s most compelling guitar bands.

Anchored by the poignant lyric “When will they learn that it’s not matter that defines a being? It’s the reflections of the lessons they leave” from “Reflections of Lessons Left”, the album sets out its tone early: one of emotional clarity without ever tipping into self-pity. That line, penned long before the album was even in motion, becomes its thesis — a meditation on legacy, loss and meaning.

Frontman Alex Moore’s vocals are more assured than ever, carrying warmth and grit in equal measure. His ability to inhabit a range of emotional registers, from the joyous bounce of “Heartbreaker” to the quiet ache of “Long Shadows”, gives the album a striking emotional arc. His bandmates Scott Concepcion, Ryan Durrans and Matty Murphy match that versatility with a sound that shifts fluidly between jangle-pop, ska, folk and soaring indie-rock.

Singles “Dynamite” and “Stellar Cast” showcase The Lathums’ knack for balancing infectious rhythms with lyrical depth. The former punches with sharp snares and driving guitars, while the latter leans into a playful ska groove that echoes The Specials by way of Arctic Monkeys. Tracks like “Leave No Stone Unturned” and “Unrequited Love” show a more restrained, mature side — space is given for the melodies to breathe, and the storytelling to resonate.

What makes Matter Does Not Define stand out isn’t just its thematic cohesion or melodic range, but its unrelenting sense of purpose. This is a record that knows exactly what it wants to say, and does so with both subtlety and scale. From brass-laced arrangements to stripped-back acoustic closers, there’s a live-ready immediacy to the whole thing that makes it feel as much like a communal moment as it is a personal one.

Three albums in, The Lathums aren’t chasing trends. They’re refining what they do best: honest, wide-eyed indie with a soul. Matter Does Not Define is a moving, melodic step forward, a record built for both reflection and release.