DITZ: Never Exhale.

Nearly a decade ago, the band DITZ formed, and nothing was ever the same since. From their first EP in the same year to 2022’s debut, The Great Regression and a live record thrown in the middle- the band have made a name for themselves. They’ve become one of the best bands in this country, but also- criminally underrated. They aren’t a band for casual listening. They’re a band that when you listen to them, you listen with intent. With everything you have, and more (if you have it in you.)

In about 16 days’ time their new record, Never Exhale will be released. How early it is in the year to call it as one of the best records of the year, but it’s an accurate claim and I know by mid-September I’ll feel the same. I cannot budge on my love for DITZ. Never. Everything about their new record shows the band at their very best, and it doesn’t feel like it’s a band who are about to give us only their second full length record. This is a record that holds a lot of weight, importance, and passion. It’s a bloody unreal record and it just reinforces why I love them so much. I think any DITZ fan is going to fall madly and utterly in love with this one.

I won’t get into how great Taxi Man and Space/Smile are because with them being the two lead singles so far- you already know how great they are and beautifully set the tone of the record. The urgency on Space/Smile is throughout the record, and that raspy tone in C.A. Francis’ voice is just divine. You want more and more of it. There’s so much beauty in the lyrics on the record, and for me Senor Siniestro is lyrically up there as being my favourite. I love how C.A. Francis describes standing on a snail in the rain and the feeling and sounds it beings. The way this song kicks in just before the 2 minute mark is WILD, and I think live this is going to be one that truly sticks with you. There’s desperation in this song, and I think for me, that’s what makes it hit hardest. They are a band that HAVE to be seen live, because there’s no way that these songs should be confined to you listening to them in your bedroom.

For me, DITZ make the kind of music that you want to crawl inside of and stay there. You want every sound, lyric, note- every element of the music to just consume you in all ways possible. A person could never come close to giving you this; but music can. It always has, and always will. DITZ are a band that just never seem to stop and the bursts of energy on Never Exhale show this. There is this force in the songs that feels like you are preparing for something, they hype you up but at the same time you find a home and comfort in them.

Every song on this record serves a purpose, and that purpose is to make YOU listen. You have to. Like I mentioned, they aren’t a band that you have on in the background and casually listen to them. Oh no! DITZ are to be heard. You cannot just passively listen to songs like God on a Speed Dial and go about your daily business- absolutely not! Every emotion possible will go through you. It’s vocally one of the best moments on the record. Smells Like Something Died In Here isn’t only the best song title of 2025, but it may just be DITZ at their very best. It’s heavy, it’s brutal, it’s eerie and it should unsettle you. It’s the kind of song you’d want to hear during a horrific scene in a sketchy Horror film and something truly awful is about to happen. The atmosphere on this record is haunting and tense, and it is heightened on this song- well and truly. If a Horror film could be captured in a song, it’s this one.

On the way to work this morning, I was listening to The Great Regression and as I listen to Never Exhale, I can hear just how the band have secured their sound and built themselves to be one of the most thrilling bands we have in this country. Caleb kills the bass on 18 Wheeler, then when Sam comes in with the drums to back up the punchy tones of Caleb- it all comes together with Anton and Jack adding this extra heaviness, and it just makes for one of the most captivating moments on the record. It also has that distinctive DITZ sound- like you’re having an MRI scan, or someone is drilling your skull, and they pour their sounds into your ears, and it just swallows you up. Nothing else can be heard. It sinks deep into you. It’s consuming, and it is beautiful. This band go beyond giving you all that you need.

The Body as a Structure is the one that’s got me right in the gut. This is the one I’m most excited to see live (if they play it!) and touches on “the separation of the physical from an ingrained sense of reality” which is a beautiful way of explaining how important this song is. I feel this is going to be the song that I keep going back to. I don’t think I’m going to personally hear a song that will hit me in the gut like this for the rest of the year. There are a few reasons why this one hits me the most, but honestly? No one needs to hear it, nor does it need to be written down. It’s just one of the most powerful songs we’ll get this year.

The record ends with britney; 7 and a half minutes of greatness. The record consists of perfect moments and every song deserves its place. This the perfect way to close the record and it is the band at their most vulnerable. It’s one of those songs that will leave you crying at how beautiful it is- it’s the 2 minute mark onwards that grips you. It’s a tough listen, but if you can stomach it; then you’ll feel every emotion possible on this one. It’s heavy, and it’s by no means an easy listen. It’s one where you sit and let it consume you. It’s poetic, it’s passionate and it’s intense. That sums the record up in general, but my god on this song it exceeds it all. You have to listen to this with headphones on and with your eyes closed. Don’t let anyone or anything near you to distract you. For those 7 and a half minutes- you belong to DITZ and no one else. The build up and the release during the last 2 minutes on this song feels like something is clawing it’s way out of you, then when it all ends and the quiet hits all you are left with is how the record has made you feel, and what the hell do you do afterwards. You’re overwhelmed in the best way possible.

Never Exhale is a record that will stay with you for a long time after you’ve listened to it. Certain moments on the record will hit you as you go about your day, and you’ll feel the need to stop everything, and let the record consume you all over again. The same feeling I got when I heard them for the first time is alive and well after listening to the new record, and I think if a band can do that, then you know you’ve found something special. And you know that they have created something that goes beyond words and feelings.

Beat In My Bones podcast!

Oh dear.

What have I done? Why have I done this?! Will it be the first and last? Who knows. Who cares!

Anyway, I’ve done it.

45 minutes of your life that you won’t get back.

Songs from: L.A. Witch, Bullet Girl, Crocodiles and The Gun Club, and many more!

DITZ: The Great Regression

Well, here we are. Another phenomenal record to become obsessed with. Nearly 9pm on a Sunday- the perfect time to play some music that is hectic, beautifully loud and wonderfully aggressive. If like me, you know nothing about the band DITZ, then well, we can go into this journey together. This twisted and eerie journey. You might need to lie down after this one.

DITZ are brilliant, and that’s putting it lightly. There probably aren’t enough words to describe how great they are and how glorious this record is. I love writing about bands I know nothing about. This is their debut record, and with just one listen, I’m finding it hard to believe that this is their first record. I know you get snobs out there who are all “it takes a lot for a record to move me.” Stay away from those people. They’ll make you feel bad for enjoying the music you love. It takes a lot for me to really really obsess over a record. I can listen to something a few times, then I listen to something else and it’s stored in my mind for another day. But every so often, I’ll hear something and I just KNOW it’ll become part of my daily listening. DITZ are probably going to be added to that. I reckon playing this record tomorrow morning on my journey to work blasting in my headphones will set me up nicely for the day. I love my job so there’s no dread there at all. It’s just getting on public transport and some people not being aware of personal space. You know how it is.

DITZ are a band from Brighton, and they have hints of heavy bands like PIGSx7(they’re supporting them in Brussels in May!) , JOHN (John Newton does appear on two tracks on the record) , METZ and maybe a taste of Sly and The Family Drone. Their debut record is a mighty fine masterpiece that will melt your brain. In just 10 songs, they fast become your favourite new band. How could you not fall in love with this sound? I love the sheer chaos in this record, and I love how it really smacks you in the face- especially on Three. That song is something else. It takes on a different direction midway, and it just blows your mind. I reckon this live will be a mental experience. The whole record was made to be witnessed live. You can just feel the sheer intensity on this record, and you just know it’ll be even more intense live. There’s something about this band that just makes you zone out from your surroundings and all you can do is let the record completely take over your brain. I don’t want to listen to anything else right now. I just want to soak up this record and play it at any chance I get. Trust me- it is beyond all I’ve described. My words don’t do it justice at all.

The band have been together since 2015, so this record has been brewing for years. They do say that good things come to those who wait, and that is so apparent with this record. They honestly couldn’t have made a better record, it’s just glorious. You’ve got the stunning single, I Am Kate Moss on there and it sounds even better as part of a full record. That song was just a taste of what DITZ are capable of. The record just shows us in 10 songs what they are made of and why they need to be heard. They must be heard. The record ends with the No Thanks, I’m Full which is just under 7 minutes long. Again, this is another song that will be ridiculous live! It closes the record, but it also makes you smack the play button and play the record from the start all over again. With every listen, you’ll pick up on new things to love about the record and the band

Something I really love about the record is that each song gets heavier and heavier. Halfway through and you’ll be right in thinking your eardrums have burst. That heaviness is part of why I really love this band, and why this record is just a real gem. It’s definitely one to treasure and it’s one of those records that you know in years to come, people will be talking about how great it is. Everything from the production to the sound to the vocals to the artwork is just divine. A flawless record that you just cannot get enough of.

There’s something truly special about this record. Although it’s a record that is so easy to love, it’s definitely difficult to pick one solid favourite song. I think if you’re looking for something really heavy, the latter part of the record will appeal to you. I just adore the record. Every single song on The Great Regression is perfect, and it’ll make you wish you could join the band. Imagine being in a band like this, and creating music like this. The band may have gone through some line-up changes over the years, but this record is a solid statement as to who they are and why they deserve to be heard.