Math-pop innovators Wot Gorilla? have released a second cut from their forthcoming new album, and first in nearly 15 years, ‘Stay Home’, which will be released 20th Feb 2026 via Drongo Records. Vocalist and guitarist Mat Haigh says of the new track: “‘Clowns’ is about the impact of climate change and the frustrating reality that the people with the most power to make a difference seem to be turning a blind eye. It’s like money always comes first, no matter what. I’m basically asking—why deny something that’s backed by so much science? And even if you’re not totally convinced, what’s the harm in doing something positive anyway? The title relates to people taking the piss out of those who care enough to speak up and try to protect the planet. That attitude really confuses me.”
The first single revealed from ‘Stay Home’ – ‘Young Man’s Game’ – saw the band exploring the experience of still playing in a band as an older person. Haigh commented: “They say being in a band is a young man’s game—and that’s definitely true in a lot of ways. But music continues to be a driving force for us, and as long as we have something worth sharing, we’ll keep doing what we love.” It appeared in the Kerrang! Chart and received a plethora of coverage across the internet.
‘Stay Home’ marks a sharp, self-produced evolution for Wot Gorilla? It was recorded entirely by the band, with mastering by Joe Gibb (digital) and Pete Maher (vinyl). The band’s unique brand of math-rock is louder, leaner and more precise than ever, incorporating post-hardcore intensity and pop sensibility with new warmth and bite. “Wot Gorilla? have always thrived on tension — between precision and chaos, melody and math,” says Haigh. “Stay Home is the sound of us reconnecting with why we started this band in the first place.” The album distills over a decade of angular riffs, complex rhythms and melodic urgency into their most cohesive statement yet.
The process of creating ‘Stay Home’ was slow and steady, to say the least. Drums were laid down over two intense days at Hope Mill Studio in Manchester — but only after weeks of painstaking click-track mapping and tempo-change planning, ensuring every twist and technical left-turn landed exactly where it needed to. From there, the rest of the album took shape in far less conventional surroundings: guitars, bass, vocals and experimentation were tracked between Grant’s house and the band’s rehearsal space over nearly three years. Some of the music dates back to before the pandemic, which meant the gradual, DIY recording process became a way of rediscovering songs that started life in a different world. The title ‘Stay Home’ — shared with a key track on the record — nods to that isolation period: not just the literal instruction of lockdown, but the inward focus required to rebuild momentum when the scene went silent.
With full control over their sound, Wot Gorilla? weren’t afraid to chase new tones, push arrangements and refine performances until they clicked. That freedom meant technical hurdles, late-night breakthroughs, and the odd existential “What time signature even is this?” moment — but resulted in a record made by Wot Gorilla? stretching every muscle they’ve built since 2009.
Formed in 2009 in Sowerby Bridge, Halifax, Wot Gorilla? have carved out their own corner of the UK’s math and post-hardcore scene with a wiry collision of intricate rhythms, melodic hooks and restless energy. Veterans of Reading & Leeds, 2000trees, ArcTanGent, Live at Leeds and StrangeForms festivals, they’ve shared stages with the likes of Vennart, The Get Up Kids, Delta Sleep, Cursive and Rolo Tomassi, earning a reputation for tight musicianship and dynamic live shows.
With UK tour dates lined up for February and March 2026, ‘Stay Home’ finds Wot Gorilla? sounding more focused, fearless, and formidable than ever.
SEE WOT GORILLA? LIVE:
26-Feb-2026 — 1 in 12 Club, Bradford
27-Feb-2026 — The Rainbow, Birmingham
28-Feb-2026 — Voodoo Daddys, Norwich
05-Mar-2026 — The Blind Pig, Sowerby Bridge
06-Mar-2026 — Cafe Kino, Bristol
07-Mar-2026 — The Castle, Luton
WOT GORILLA? ARE:
Mat Haigh – Vocals / Guitar
Grant Beeden Clayton – Guitar / Backing Vocals
Jonny Newman-Hey – Bass / Backing Vocals / Sax
Jason Howard – Drums
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