Young Martyrs have today dropped their new video for the track titled ‘Sugar On My Tongue’, from their upcoming third album,‘Might Just Be Enough’, arriving in the Summer of 2026.
Young Martyrs have always carried themselves like a band aiming for something bigger than pub circuit nostalgia, and ‘Sugar On My Tongue’ feels like another confident step in that direction. The track moves with a loose swagger that never slips into self indulgence, balancing rough edged guitar work with a melodic pulse that sticks long after the final chorus fades out. Tom Corneill’s vocal performance is especially sharp here, sounding restless and romantic in equal measure, like someone trying to talk themselves out of a bad decision while already halfway through making it.
The video leans into that emotional push and pull with a gritty charm that fits the song perfectly. Bristol becomes more than just a backdrop as neon takeaway lights, empty streets and cramped rehearsal spaces give everything a slightly feverish atmosphere. Rhys Davies shoots the whole thing with a sense of intimacy that makes every glance and awkward silence feel loaded. Lorien Tear and Sadie Evans bring a believable tension to the screen that keeps the narrative from drifting into cliché, capturing the strange mix of longing, embarrassment and hope that comes with wanting someone who may never fully want you back.
Musically, Young Martyrs know exactly when to let the song breathe and when to crank the pressure. The shuffling rhythm section gives the verses a hypnotic sway before the guitars cut through with flashes of rawness that stop the track from becoming too polished. You can hear the influence of classic British indie rock throughout, but nothing about ‘Sugar On My Tongue’ feels trapped in revivalism. It sounds lived in instead of borrowed, driven by a band that understands atmosphere is just as important as hooks.
What makes the whole package work so well is how natural it feels. Nothing here comes across as manufactured for playlists or stitched together to chase trends. Young Martyrs play like a group completely locked into their own chemistry, and the video mirrors that same sense of authenticity. ‘Sugar On My Tongue’ lands in that sweet spot indie bands spend years chasing where vulnerability and confidence collide headfirst, leaving behind a song that feels messy, addictive and strangely comforting all at once.
About Young Martyrs
Formed in 2020, Young Martyrs released their debut self-titled album that same year. Their coinciding debut headline tour saw them sell out shows throughout the UK, which led to them sharing the stage with the likes of Badly Drawn Boy, The Hooziers and McFly, as well as playing slots at a variety of festivals including Glastonbury and Rock Oyster. Their second album ‘Time Is Not On Our Side’ was released in 2023, expanding their fanbase beyond the UK and saw them playing shows across New York City.
Their new single ‘Sugar On My Tongue’ was recorded and produced as a three-piece with guitarist Rich Beeby also taking on bass duties for the album, before the band then finalised their line up with the recent addition of bassist Phil Smith. It was recorded at both Real World Studios in Bath and Indefra Studios in Frome by the band themselves with co-production from Sebastian Brice and engineering from Ben Koch. The track was mastered by Christian Wright (Ed Sheeran, Franz Ferdinand, Blur, Laura Marling) at London’s renowned Abbey Road Studios.
Fusing shuffling drums, searing guitars and atmospheric rock soundscapes with gorgeous melodies and Tom Corneill’s yearning vocals, ‘Sugar On My Tongue’ sees the band explore the desperately vulnerable yet universally relatable feelings surrounding undeclared feelings and physical longing.
This song is one of three on the album written by lead guitarist Rich Beeby. Discussing the lyrical themes explored in the single, Beeby says, “The band rocks and rolls in this song so it needed a lyric that’s raw and does most of its thinking from the neck down. It’s about the visceral feelings of unspoken attraction and physical longing, and how those feelings might be suppressed, but can eventually develop into fantasy or obsession. It’s really down to the listener to decide if surrendering to that intoxicating lustfulness should be avoided or celebrated.”
Alongside the single, the band filmed a music video in one of their hometowns of Bristol, deciding to film the video at both local rehearsal studio Firebird Studios and Lick’n Chick’n takeaway near the cities centre. The video stars Lorien Tear and Sadie Evans who recently won Best Actress at the ‘It’s My Shout’ film awards.
The video was shot and directed by Rhys Davies of Furball Films, and follows its two lead actors as they portray the unrequited adoration of one young soul for another, and the object of the unwanted desire starting to warm to the idea. The band chose to record the video on the streets and surrounding areas of Bristol to celebrate their local culture and to tip their hat to the place where they first began to build their reputation.
LINKS:
https://youngmartyrs.com
https://www.facebook.com/youngmartyrsband
https://www.instagram.com/young_martyrs
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4CChjD2ipOwWMY1XED1LkW
https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/young-martyrs/1544432016
https://music.amazon.com/artists/B08QDV77B9/young-martyrs
https://www.youtube.com/@YoungMartyrs