Just Mustard – ‘We Were Just Here’ Review: Bleaching a Blackened Sky with Glorious Noise

Immerse yourself in Just Mustard’s glorious noise, where dark indie rock meets euphoric melodies on their third album, ‘We Were Just Here.’

There’s a magnetic pull to Just Mustard’s music that’s hard to shake off. Irish indie trailblazers Katie Ball and her bandmates invite you into a world where darkness and light collide, crafting soundscapes that feel like a journey through shadowed streets towards a dawn breaking with color. Their latest album, We Were Just Here, isn’t just another record; it’s a sonic odyssey that bleaches a blackened sky with waves of glorious noise.

A Voice That Longs for Feeling

“I don’t wanna go where I can’t feel a thing,” sings frontwoman Katie Ball on the intricate and skittering standout track ‘Dreamer.’ It’s a line that perfectly encapsulates Just Mustard’s ethos—a refusal to drift numb, a fight to make it feel good, even when the weight of the world presses down. This yearning for emotional clarity is the heartbeat of the album, one that’s been building since their early days.

From Shoegaze Shadows to Industrial Kaleidoscopes

If you’ve followed Just Mustard since their 2018 debut, Wednesday, you’ll know their sound was once cloaked in shoegaze haze—dark, textured, and mesmerizing. Fast forward to 2022’s Heart Under, and the band veered into more industrial, kaleidoscopic territory, threatening to break through to something bigger. Their signature noise rock vibe remains, but it’s evolving, reaching for more expansive emotional and sonic territories.

Riding the Wave with Irish Icons

Just Mustard haven’t been alone on this journey. They’ve earned fans and earned their stripes touring with Irish rock legends Fontaines D.C., and even sharing the stage with goth rock pioneers The Cure. Being hand-picked for The Cure’s South American tour and massive UK/European shows next summer hasn’t just been a badge of honor—it’s also seeped into their sound. You can hear the bittersweet noir vibe, that signature Robert Smith melancholy blended with moments of explosive noise and beauty.

An Explosive Opening: Pollyanna and Endless Deathless

The album kicks off with ‘Pollyanna’—a nod to the indefatigable optimist, bursting into life like My Bloody Valentine on overdrive. It’s an urgent, thrilling explosion of sound that grabs you by the collar. Then comes ‘Endless Deathless,’ with howling guitars set to an irresistibly danceable beat that keeps the energy pulsing.

David Wrench’s production (you might know him from working with FKA Twigs, Frank Ocean, and Sampha) elevates the record’s arty rhythms and textures. Tracks like ‘That I Might Not See’ and ‘Silver’ deliver drum-driven bursts of energy—you might even catch yourself mid-headbang or mid-step on the dancefloor.

A Sonic Palette that Shifts and Soars

The title track, We Were Just Here, shines as the album’s emotional core—melding krautrock grooves with shimmering dream pop synths, it’s a refreshing synthy surprise that feels both nostalgic and new. Then tracks like ‘Somewhere’ and ‘Dandelion’ glide through the depths with a delicate touch, never letting the mood turn morose or heavy-handed.

There’s a brief pause in The Steps, a chance to catch your breath, though the lull is fleeting. Instead, the album keeps lifting, culminating in Out Of Heaven, a woozy, trip-hop-infused closer that feels like drifting through hazy neon-lit nights.

Glorious Noise with a Newfound Light

This third album from Just Mustard is something special—a three-dimensional tapestry of sound that captures the highs, lows, and in-betweens of emotional landscapes. It’s a psych-driven bullet train racing through melancholy and mania, finding moments of euphoric light along the way.

For goths and indie lovers alike who crave music that’s as much about lurking in the shadows as feeling alive on the dancefloor, We Were Just Here delivers in spades. It’s an album that finds hope and beauty in noise, a sonic bleach for dark skies.

Album Details

• Record Label: Partisan
• Release Date: October 24, 2025

FAQ

• What genre does Just Mustard’s music belong to?
  Just Mustard’s sound is rooted in noise rock with elements of shoegaze, industrial, and dream pop, creating a dark yet euphoric atmosphere.
• Who produced We Were Just Here?
  The album was produced by David Wrench, known for his work with FKA Twigs, Frank Ocean, and Sampha, adding unique arty rhythms to the sound.
• How does We Were Just Here compare to Just Mustard’s earlier albums?
  This third album is more three-dimensional and expansive, blending their signature noise rock with synthy, krautrock, and trip-hop influences.
• Which bands has Just Mustard toured with recently?
  They’ve toured with Fontaines D.C. and opened for The Cure, gaining exposure on major stages and influencing their evolving sound.
• What themes are explored on We Were Just Here?
  Themes of emotional numbness, yearning for feeling, hope amid darkness, and the highs and lows of human experience permeate the album.

If We Were Just Here has you hooked, why not bring a piece of that atmosphere home? Shop your favorite album cover poster and support the band’s vibe at our store: Architeg Prints.