By David O’Neill
South Wales pop-punkers Who Saves The Hero? fire back in 2026 swinging harder than ever with ‘Love|Hate|Demons’ – an album that takes their trademark mix of melody and melancholy and turns the emotional dial up to eleven.
From the explosive opener ‘Enemies’ to the bittersweet closer ‘Pushing Me Over The Edge,’ the record crackles with urgency and intent. Josh Frederick the band vocalist/guitarist states that it’s a concept album based on his life experiences, with the three sections, the titular ‘Love|Hate|Demons’, representing both his and his alter egos perspective.
The band balance fist‑in‑the‑air anthems with moments of vulnerability, channelling The Story So Far’s rawness and Neck Deep’s small‑town heart, but with that distinctly Welsh fire that keeps their sound grounded and real.
Vocalist Josh’s delivery feels bigger and bolder this time, his clean melodic lines colliding with cathartic shouts as he wrestles themes of mental strain, lost connections, and self‑redemption. Behind him, taut drums and razor‑sharp guitars propel the songs with unrelenting energy, while the choruses – especially on ‘Enemies’ and ‘Bulletproof’ – are primed for crowd‑wide singalongs.
With the intro to ‘Make Your Mind Up’ featuring a guest intro by Benji Webbe, the reggae feel was added to the pop punk persona, and not unsuccessfully either.
It’s clear Who Saves The Hero? have found their stride. ‘Love|Hate|Demons’ isn’t just another pop‑punk record; it’s a statement of purpose – proof that even in 2026, the genre still has heart, heft, and hooks to spare.
File this one under repeat play, volume high, feelings loud. It’s a breathless rollercoaster across each of the tracks (the majority of which are all sub three minutes long-adding to the energy).
Get out and see them on a small stage somewhere because its going to be a long ride!
- ‘Love|Hate|Demons‘ is out today (Friday 20 February).
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