Mouth Ulcers – Prevail (2026)
Should you take a fancy to artists like The Cure, Bauhaus and Twin Tribes, chances are you’ll quite enjoy the music of Mouth Ulcers. Described as “music for vampires to dance to”, the UK-based quartet take the best of vintage post-punk and adds a bit of a twist, reshaping the genre into something youthful, intoxicating, and urgent in a new generation. With only three tracks to their name, including the single we’re about to review, Mouth Ulcers can be considered newcomers to the scene, but their sold-out gigs in the UK and the Netherlands are turning heads far beyond the group’s London borders. Join us as we delve into their most recent release, ‘Prevail’.
Keeping production duties in-house, ‘Prevail’ sees drummer David Zbirka sprinkling his production glitter across the melody. Twinkling with an eerie light, ‘Prevail’ sparks with duality from the first note to its ending. Creepy, haunting, and skin-chilling, the track is one that leaves you breathless with a disconcerting, icy shiver dancing down your spine. Yet, while gothic tragedy and dark as hell, the combination of Zbirka’s pulsating drums, Jamie-Lee Culver’s bass, Josphine Rose’s soaring guitar, and Zak Watson’s hushed vocals has an odd sense of calm. It’s weird, but amidst the chill lives a soothing rhythm to keep you intrigued in its unsettling disquiet.
Melodically, ‘Prevail’ would be a perfect addition to the Queen of the Damned soundtrack. An intoxicating and enchanting tune; however, the lyricism is a little more poignant and dark. One that explores inner struggle, but with a comforting, creepy allure, the band explain:
“The meaning behind ‘Prevail’ was inspired by the film ‘stalker’ by Tarkovsky. The mental and physical struggle of surviving “the zone”, a hostile and reality-warping environment which threatens to erase one’s sanity.”
In addition to the single, Mouth Ulcers released an official music video for ‘Prevail’. You can view the video below and/or on their YouTube channel. Please note that this video uses lighting effects that can trigger migraines and/or seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. Viewer discretion is advised.
VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED
Find out more about Mouth Ulcers on their Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Soundcloud, Bandcamp and Spotify.
This artist was sent to us by Jawdropper Music.
Listen to more post-punk music on The Other Side Reviews Post Punk playlist:
