The third album from Bath’s Young Martyrs is easily their best release to date. Its ten tracks – straddling rootsy rock, melodic rock and a whole wave of Americana sounds with a pinch of UK influence – showcase a mature sounding band. More importantly, ‘Might Just Be Enough’ presents the work of musicians who have a natural gift for well crafted songs.
By opening with lightly strummed electric guitar and presenting a soaring vocal, the title cut kicks off the record with a melodic, unassuming sound that suggests Young Martyrs aren’t about the “instant gratification”, preferring instead to let their music wash over the listener. This allows their Americana strains time to work their magic, and although the arrival of the drums and bass brings a little extra weight, this does not derail the melody. What’s most impressive here, though – and this becomes evident the minute a bigger sounding chorus hits – is the band’s use of harmony vocals. Throughout the main hook and into the end of the track, the confidence with which the band blend their voices gives the performance a timeless feel. In some ways, this is Young Martyrs at their most pure, especially given that this track – and other parts of this long player – never sound as if they’re heavily influenced by any one particular artist, allowing the band’s music to stand on its own merits.
‘Sugar On My Tongue’ takes a slightly different route, but is no less impressive. From its opening bars with muted chords tapping into a great pop-rock sound, coupled with blues tinged lead guitar, its a track that flaunts a confident edge, but it grows into something far greater than first impressions even suggest. As the tune motors forth and the melody swells, vocalist Tom Corneill breaks into a really soulful performance that sounds like something from decades past, in a perfect synergy with the retro guitar sound. Then, having grabbed the listener’s fullest attention, the chorus arrives, and Young Martyrs explode into an absolutely joyous affair that invites its audience to sing loudly, sharing something that finally blends the band’s love of melodic rock, country rock and classic sounding AM radio pop into a something that’s almost perfect. If you’re not sold on this album by the time the last notes of this number drop into silence, you probably never will be.
‘Only You’ feels a little more commercial with its blend of indie pop and Americana, leaning a little more heavily upon ringing guitar sounds, but lovers of the Martyrs’ harmonies will not be disappointed, nor will admirers of Tom’s lead. Although the music feels a little straighter and a little more direct – this centres around a far more prominent lead guitar, and some great drumming from Lee Cole – there are some fine flourishes to help bring everything in line with the Martyrs’ softer side, and some high toned “woo-hoo” vocals, used as a simple hook, help to make this an album highlight. After rocking out – but gently – the minimalist ‘Count To Ten’ feels a little slight, at least at first. However, time spent with the number will allow another fine vocal to embed itself, while some of Rich Beeby’s muted guitar work sounds rather smart. This is one of those numbers that’s definitely a victim of unfortunate album sequencing: there are some great melodies here, and the band’s harmonies are flawless; it would have definitely fared better as a low-key album closer.
Elsewhere, ‘Gravity’ makes great use of muted guitar tones and a high tenor voice, introducing hints of ‘Bends’ era Radiohead to the Young Martyrs’ sound, working Tom’s vocal cords just a little harder while the percussion free music takes more of a back seat, and the gorgeous ‘Talk To Me’ mixes mellow acoustic sounds with a 90s edge with a sturdy, melodic indie rock backdrop, allowing the arrangement to push Phil Smith’s bass far more to the fore, whilst still allowing Tom’s effortless vocals to take centre stage. These rather more slow-burning tracks feel as if they’re the heart of the current Young Martyrs sound in so many ways, but those hoping for a little more punch should get plenty of enjoyment from the brilliant ‘Is There Anybody Out There’, another slightly rockier number that shows a little more musical range. The arrangement fuses Young Martyrs’ distinctive elements with a slower, more solid riff, over which harmony vocals provide a wonderful melodic contrast. By also employing the simplest of chorus hooks, this is a little more direct, but shouldn’t be considered any less sophisticated.
The radio-friendly angle also comes through on ‘Seventeen’, a pre-release single that serves up a pop rock sound that’s much closer to parts of the band’s previous LP. Against a huge tom sound, well arranged guitars set a soft melody in place while Tom reaches inside of himself for an aching vocal. By the end of the first verse, it’s clear that this is a strong track, but it builds from there, with a rocky chorus making the best of the band’s indie rock chops, and a cracking lead guitar break where Rich – likely not deliberately – appears to drop into part of the lead break from Journey’s classic ‘Who’s Crying Now’. If you happen to have read anything likening Young Martyrs to Kings of Leon, tracks such as this make it slightly more obvious why: there’s something in the solid rhythm guitar work and rocky melody that hint at KOL’s more famous works, but that’s as far as it goes. These guys are arguably better songwriters, and their material is helmed by a guy who can actually sing…
By taking a slightly less punchy approach than bits of 2023’s ‘Time Is Not On Our Side’ (featuring the excellent ‘Never Gave You The Blues’), ‘Might Just Be Enough’ often presents a more mature sounding Young Martyrs, but the material should still appeal to many of the band’s extant fans. The best bits of this album also have the potential to bring new ears to the fold: those unfamiliar with the band should make a beeline for the radio-friendly ‘Is There Anybody Out There’ and ‘Seventeen’, then check out ‘Only You’ and ‘Talk To Me’ for a broad insight into this band’s great sound. Whichever way you approach it, though, ‘Might Just Be Enough’ is a solid record, and one that deserves to make Young Martyrs much better known.
August 2026
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