Had Sandy set self-titled debut album for February as Cracking Skulls arrives
Had Sandy have announced their self-titled debut album, due for release on 26 February 2027 through Brighton label Sugar-Free Records.
The Brighton DIY emo punk outfit have unveiled Cracking Skulls as the first track from the record, pairing the announcement with a new music video. Built around a push to hold on to your own identity amid the noise, the track has already become a fixture of the band’s live set.
Vocalist and guitarist Jude Allenby says: “Our first time playing this song live was when we supported Anxious at the DIE Fest aftershow in 2025. It probably wasn’t quite ready to be performed, but we love this song so much and couldn’t wait to show it to people, and it hasn’t left our setlist since.
“It’s definitely about looking inside to calm down after experiencing the chaos of the world around you. The song talks about staying true to yourself, and noticing and loving the things that make you unique. Jarred [Mascot Graveyard] told us to put the sample from The Breakfast Club into it. It’s one of our favourite movies but we hadn’t made the connection, and it just completed it.”
A fully DIY debut
Had Sandy was written, produced and mastered entirely by the band, with its songs returning to themes of self-discovery, growing up and finding a way through uncertainty.
Allenby adds: “Maybe this setback isn’t a setback, but a sign that it isn’t the right time.”
The record follows a run of self-booked shows alongside the likes of Gaffa Tape Sandy, Prom, Other Half, Greet Death, snake eyes, Turn Of Phrase and Anxious. The band’s sound draws on the emotionally charged corners of second-wave emo, with keys cutting through their urgent guitar work.
More Had Sandy on Punkinfocus: Had Sandy unveil video for I Hate My Parents And I Wanna Learn How To Swim (September 2026) · Had Sandy bottle teenage unease on I Hate My Parents And I Wanna Learn How To Swim (September 2026)
