Today, British band Squid releases their third studio album, Cowards. Across nine tracks, the album tells stories of characters grappling with themes such as cults, charismatic personalities, and apathy. It explores the thin line between good and evil, where reality and fiction intertwine.

Vocalist and drummer Ollie Judge explains that his earlier work was largely inspired by his immediate surroundings and everyday encounters. However, since their previous album O Monolith, that social reflection has been replaced by a more imagined world. Drawing inspiration from cult classics like Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh and In the Miso Soup by Ryū Murakami, Judge has created a universe centered on digital narcissism and self-satisfaction.

The band considers Cowards to be their boldest work yet, a result of years of growth. Bassist Laurie Nankivell reflects: “It’s fucking difficult, it takes many years to figure out a collective language you can share with five of us, and we have managed that musically, to feed off each other.” The use of unique instruments and sounds—such as a virtual harpsichord and the sound of bicycle spokes—adds an eerie effect to the album.

For the recording process, Squid collaborated for the first time with Mercury Prize-winning producer Marta Salogni and Grace Banks, conducting an intense session at Church Studios in London. Mixing and mastering were entrusted to John McEntire and Heba Kadry, who refined the album’s final touches. Alongside Squid’s signature sound, Cowards features contributions from fellow musicians, including Danish singer Clarissa Connelly, Tony Njoku, and members of the Ruisi Quartet. Thanks to this diverse collaboration, Squid has explored a new musical dimension—incorporating choral vocals and fragments of ancient folk songs.

With Cowards, Squid has succeeded in creating something unique and extraordinarily powerful—an album where ominous melodies and echoes of a haunting past merge. Cowards marks a return to the band's roots while simultaneously expanding into a broader sonic landscape. “We were thinking of an album of great songwriting. Simple ideas that resonate in a very different way to O Monolith, which was dense and complex,” explains guitarist Louis Borlase. While their previous albums were thematically and musically rooted in British subjects, Cowards looks outward. Judge describes how influences from their global tour seep into every track. Locations like New York, Tokyo, and Eastern Europe provided inspiration and anchoring points for the songs—a creative approach reminiscent of the character studies in Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska.