The Molotovs: Live and On Record
Photo: Krisztina E. Fazekas
Youthful fury, sharp hooks and a band already playing beyond their years
The Molotovs are a three piece punk band from London, led by teenage brother and sister Matthew and Issey Cartlidge, aged 17 and 19. It is almost impossible to clock their age once they step on stage. They play with the confidence and command of a band far beyond their years, something that makes sense once you learn they have already played well over 600 shows since debuting during lockdown. It is also easy to see why publications like Rolling Stone have tipped them as torchbearers for a renewed mod rebellion or a new wave of British punk.
Matthew walks on stage looking sharp in a pinstripe shirt, dyed blonde hair cut into a classic blue collar style, and wastes no time launching into opener Johnny Don’t Be Scared. Issey, meanwhile, is pure attitude. She snarls, strikes poses and hammers the bass somewhere between a runway model and a snarling hardcore frontman. The crowd starts tentatively, a mix of young fans and industry heads drawn by the buzz surrounding the band, but the cheers between songs quickly build. A punked-up cover of Suffragette City acts as the bridge between generations, pulling older audience members into a mass singalong. By the time key single Today’s Gonna Be Our Day kicks in, the younger school-age contingent have taken control, forming a bouncing mosh pit that sends drinks flying and forces the more stationary viewers to retreat or commit.
Photo: Krisztina E. Fazekas
The show doubled as a Christmas party at Bush Hall in West London in support of The Music Venue Trust, and the band leaned fully into the occasion. They closed with a sped-up, punked-out version of Merry Xmas Everybody, pushing the room into full chaos and prompting a few ambitious crowd surfing attempts that felt as funny as they were inevitable in such a small space. What comes through most clearly is just how connected The Molotovs already are with their audience. They feel seasoned, tight and completely at ease, delivering a passionate performance driven by pure stage presence.
Their debut album Wasted On Youth lands today via Marshall Records and clocks in at a punchy 33 minutes. It does a solid job of capturing the band’s live energy, packing the record with direct, riff-led rock songs that wear their influences proudly. Matthew’s vocals drift between Liam Gallagher swagger and Roger Daltrey bite, while the music itself leans more towards Rolling Stones grit and Green Day swagger. The album wastes no time, bursting into life with opener Get A Life, a frantic, high-speed blast of punk aggression. It delivers a cutting, confrontational message aimed at what Matthew snarls as “hateful bastards”, lashing out with lines like “If you need a shoulder, I’ve not got one to lend… how about you go get a life”. The title track Wasted On Youth is the clear standout, kicking off with pounding drums and punchy guitars before settling into a chorus about feeling stuck and restless. It also highlights an interesting dynamic that is harder to catch live, the back and forth between Matthew’s lead vocal and Issey’s softer backing lines.
Photo: Krisztina E. Fazekas
It is also worth noting that Matthew is the sole credited composer and lyricist across the record, something that feels increasingly rare and genuinely impressive at this stage of a career. Ultimately, The Molotovs remain a band best experienced live, where their energy, attitude and connection truly come alive. Wasted On Youth is a solid debut that captures a snapshot of that chaos, even if it is unlikely to change the world just yet.
Photography by Krisztina. E. Fazekas
