Formed last year, London-based outfit Mouth Ulcers — Zak Watson (vocals, guitar), Josephine Rose (guitar, vocals), Jamie Lee Culver (bass) and David Zbirka (drums) — are part of a new generation of dark post-punk that’s actively reshaping the genre into something urgent, youthful and intoxicating.
With the release of last year’s “Western Horror Story” and “A Perfect End” the British quartet quickly developed a sound that they’ve playfully dubbed as “music for vampires to dance to” — i.e. brooding, groove-driven and irresistibly cool.
Recently, the rising British outfit made their live debut with sold-outs the UK and The Netherlands, And building upon a growing profile, the band signed to LAB Records, who will be releasing the quartet’s highly-anticipated debut EP, Silent Pictures on July 10, 2026. The EP reportedly sees the band firmly cementing the sound that has received praise from The Line of Best Fit, So Young, Rough Trade and Louder Than War, as well as airplay from BBC 6 Music‘s Lauren Laverne, Chris Hawkins and Steve Lamacq, BBC Radio 1‘s Daniel P. Carter, KEXP and Radio X, a blend of Joy Division, The Cure and Bauhaus, built on melodic bass lines, wiry guitars and cavernous baritone vocals.
The EP will feature the previously released “Prevail” and its latest single, “Space.” “Space” is a brooding yet hook-driven and dance floor friendly bit of goth-inspired post punk that sounds like it draws from Echo and the Bunnymen and The Cure. The band explains that, “‘Space’ explores how nostalgia can feel like both a physical presence and a permanent loss. Something that’s a common theme across the whole EP, seeing how the past is a part of you but you have to leave it behind to survive.”
Directed by the band, the accompanying video for “Space” continues a run of visuals that seem indebted to 120 Minutes-era MTV. complete with footage of the band playing the song is a haunted and extremely British forest at night and a ton of double exposure-based footage.
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Speaking ahead of the release of ‘Space’, MouthUlcers added: “‘Space’ explores how nostalgia can feel like both a physical presence and a permanent loss. Something that’s a common theme across the whole EP, seeing how the past is a part of you but you have to leave it behind to survive.”
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