Album Review

Walt Disco, Walt Disco Review

Words by The Pit Standard

Released on 2 October 2026, Walt Disco’s self-titled third album finds the Glasgow band trading some of the glam-pop flamboyance of their earlier work for something considerably heavier. Distorted guitars, darker melodies and a rawer sound take centre stage, giving the impression of a band reconsidering what they want to be rather than simply changing their image.

Rating: 4/5 stars

There are clear traces of 90s and 2000s alternative rock running through the record, from the dramatic guitar work associated with Placebo and the Smashing Pumpkins to the hazier textures of Cocteau Twins. Yet the album isn't simply an exercise in revisiting those influences. Walt Disco bring their own sense of drama to the sound, building songs around tension, volume and melodies that take unexpected turns.

The opening track, “My Body Knows When to Run”, establishes that shift immediately. Industrial textures and off-kilter melodies sit against distorted guitars, while the driving percussion gives the song a restless momentum. Frontwoman Jocelyn Si's lyrics confront the fear and uncertainty surrounding gender dysphoria and the wait for medical care. It is an intense introduction, with the music reflecting the distress at the heart of the subject.

“Lies” follows with a more immediate melodic pull. Its bittersweet quality and memorable chorus make it one of the album's most accessible tracks, while its lyrics question the versions of ourselves we maintain to keep everyday life moving. The contrast between the song's infectious energy and its underlying unease is central to what makes the record work.

Si's voice is at the centre of the album, shifting between an expressive, forceful delivery and something more exposed. On “Don't Do This Alone”, the arrangement builds around her vocals, growing in intensity as the song explores the difficulty of admitting you need help. It brings a different kind of force to the record, one that comes from vulnerability rather than sheer volume.

Elsewhere, “Warmface” interrupts the album's emotional flow with a more disorientating approach. Everyday sounds and sharp guitar work give the track an uneasy atmosphere, while its defensive stance adds another dimension to the record's themes of identity and relationships. “Total Surprise Machine” takes the guitars further into shoegaze territory, with a shifting bassline adding movement beneath the layers of sound.

The album's most affecting moments arrive towards the end. “My Body's Still Mine” begins quietly before growing into a much larger arrangement of synths, layered vocals and distorted guitars. Its exploration of bodily autonomy and self-acceptance gives that gradual rise a real sense of purpose. The closing track, “Wonderland”, then offers a more measured conclusion, leaving the album with a sense of possibility rather than pretending that everything has been resolved.

The self-titled record also carries the weight of a band who came close to breaking up. Having previously explored electronic production and expansive orchestral arrangements, Walt Disco have returned to playing together more directly, trusting the chemistry between them rather than building everything around elaborate production. The result feels immediate, even when the arrangements become dense.

That change won't necessarily appeal to everyone who came to the band for their more flamboyant glam-pop, and the intensity can occasionally feel relentless. But the commitment behind the shift is difficult to miss. Si's writing gives the heavier sound a reason to exist, while the band retain the melodic instincts that have always distinguished them.

Walt Disco is a rawer, heavier record than the band have made before, but their instinct for a big melody remains intact. What makes it work is the way Si's deeply personal writing sits alongside the noise, particularly on “My Body Knows When to Run” and “My Body's Still Mine”. “Lies” gives the album a chorus that stays with you, while “Wonderland” brings it to a quieter close. Walt Disco have taken a considerable risk with this record, and the result feels worth it.