The Empty Page – Death On Our Side (Kycker)
The Empty Page are back with new single Death On Our Side, effortlessly melding punk and shoegaze while giving commentary on the reality of life in modern Britain, where a generation have no pension plan other than to die before they need one
Artist: The Empty Page
Track: Death On Our Side
Label: Kycker
Release date: 21 January 2026
Find it: Bandcamp
Expansive, hard-edged, and just oh so good The Empty Page has delivered another incredible single with latest release Death On Our Side.
Shimmering vocals break against gritty guitars, and – in typical style for this band – they tackle a tough subject with equal parts weary resignation and determined rage. Here it’s the plight of a generation who have been left with no retirement plan other than to die young. The anger, fear and sadness for the individual and for us as a society echoes in each note, and thematically and melodically there is both nostalgia and of-this-moment-now vibes.
‘In fields where strange static crackles / you and I climb the pylons / Small lives are plundered / and underfunded / But we got death on our side’
This is the second in a series of single releases recorded at Nave Studios, a former church in deepest Leeds, with producer Matt Peel (Eagulls/Dream Wife/Bodega). “We’ve long been fans of Matt’s work, so it was great to work together finally. The studio is so cool, and Matt’s references from Radiohead to Smashing Pumpkins align perfectly with the songs we’ve been writing”, says Kel.
This band never misses and Death On Our Side is further proof of that.
Death On Our Side by The Empty Page is out digitally now. Read our review of previous single When We Gonna Run? and find an interview with Kel from the band in issue 1 of Popoptica zine – order your copy here.
Find The Empty Page: Instagram | Facebook | Bandcamp | Website | TikTok
Live dates:
- 22 January – Gorilla, Manchester (supporting Marky Ramone)
- 31 January – Brudenell, Leeds (Handfest Punk Weekender)
- 7 March – Prince Albert, Brighton
- 14 March – Manchester Academy, Manchester (Louder Than War Live Fest)
- 25 March – Blue Posts, Soho, London (Kick Out The Jams)
- 2 – 3 May – Loopfest, Shropshire
Image: Debbie Ellis
If you have enjoyed reading this piece on Popoptica you can buy us a virtual coffee via Ko-fi – every donation helps us to do what we do.
We’d love it if you shared on social media too – find us on:
Find more new music on the site here.
Sarah Lay
A long-standing music journalist she's also co-founder of independent record label Reckless Yes, an author of novels, and when not messing around with words and music, a digital strategist.
Latest posts by Sarah Lay (see all)
- The Empty Page – Death On Our Side (Kycker) - 21st January 2026
- Nell Davies – Out Of This World (self released) - 20th January 2026
- Popoptica 001: announcing the first issue of a new print music publication - 19th January 2026
