UK band, Wolf Alice, released their fourth studio album, The Clearing, on August 22, 2025. The Clearing is a cohesive, emotionally-driven love story that encapsulates the complexities of self-identity, relationships, and the creative experience. 

After completing their three-album deal with Dirty Hit records, Wolf Alice quietly left their former label and signed on with Columbia Records in February 2024. In April 2025, the band began to tease the release of their new album on social media with a vintage, hard-hitting, and confident presence. Much of the artwork posted was reminiscent of their previously cited 1970’s influences, such as David Bowie, Fleetwood Mac, and Siouxsie and the Banshees.

The Clearing presents the best elements of Wolf Alice, from lead singer Ellie Roswell’s stunningly edgy vocals, to unique song structures that make it impossible to categorize them into a single genre. This record is the epitome of “fake-it-till-you-make-it”, with an ideal balance of carefree anthems and intimate, avant-garde ballads.

Intense theatrically seems to be the driving force behind The Clearing. Nearly every track acknowledges the experience of performing, with statements like “The sun goes down, the curtain lifts” (Thornes), and “I dance so you will watch me” (Leaning Against the Wall). This approach to storytelling is similar to David Bowie’s messaging when he once wrote, “It was cold and it rained, so I felt like an actor” (Five Years). The way music impacts emotional processing is also touched on in this record, with statements like “the song that’s playing now will always remind me of you” (Passenger Seat). It takes a master of authenticity to channel everyday experiences into art and allow consumers to see their perspective so clearly.

With their theatricality and “take-it-or-leave-it” attitude, Wolf Alice has developed into unapologetic rockstars. Their newfound confidence comes in opposition to their third studio album, Blue Weekend (2021) and their debut album My Love is Cool (2015). Although Blue Weekend was a masterpiece of its own volition, the perspective was significantly more uncertain, shy, and withheld. Notably, one of their more popular tracks, Delicious Things, entertains the question “Do I belong here?” for the entirety of the song. Similarly, My Love is Cool was an incredibly strong and ethereal debut album, but tracks like Your Loves Whore are significantly more naive than tracks in The Clearing. Wolf Alice has never been afraid to step in a new direction, but this divergence opens the door to a more nuanced and complex image, which will surely transfer to their live performances.

Wolf Alice has always delivered their full artistic potential on tour. However, due to the instrumentation of their previous records, certain tracks have had to lose layers of composition to accommodate live shows. After all, Roswell only has so many vocal cords. Unlike many other artists, when Wolf Alice is performing, they minimize the use of backing tracks, synthesizers, and live vocal modifiers. In place of Roswell’s harmonic contributions for records such as Blue Weekend, the tracks are often stripped back and supplemented with acoustic accompaniment. The Clearing doesn’t rely nearly as much on Roswell’s layered vocals to provide impact. Instead, the composition is quite interactive between the guitars, piano, strings, and rhythm. We even get to enjoy drummer Joey Amey on vocals on their tenth track, White Horses. Incorporating an even distribution of parts provides an open platform for the band to convey a complete representation of their album while on tour, a concept that only supports the bold, confident themes of this record.

Most of this album could be described as lighthearted, playful, and bold, but there are a few tracks that take a more sentimental approach. Safe in the World and Play it Out explore the lingering uncertainties of self-identity and intimate relationships. Play it Out imagines what life could look like if you give yourself the things you really want, while Safe in the World expresses how missing someone from a former relationship can provide comfort and continued development. Even if that person no longer fits into your life, lyrics such as “I felt safe in the world knowing you were there” demonstrate a mature and thoughtful perspective of someone you care about.

Alternatively, Play it Out pushes the boundaries of gender norms in a relationship, allowing the listener to engage in possibilities beyond what’s expected of women. The chorus states, “I will rule the world, rock the cradle with a babeless hand . . . “ “. . . in my mind I didn’t put it there, [it] was some motherf*ckers plan”. Essentially, this song is an eloquent portrayal of an empowering realization, leading to reflection and resentment. Musically, the lyrics “play it out” land on what’s known as a deceptive cadence, a chord progression meant to delay the resolution of a phrase. When “play it out” is repeated, it lands on a half cadence, once again delaying the resolution. The music and lyrics express the same message, making this track one of the more powerful and impactful stories on this record. 

As a complement to their pre-existing image, The Clearing is an exciting and diversified addition to Wolf Alice’s catalog. This demonstration of talent and artistry is quite promising, especially considering it’s their first album with a major label. It’s no surprise that they’ve produced another masterpiece, and it’s no question that they’re paving their way to a legendary continuation of their career, rivaling evergreen artists such as The Beatles, Billy Joel, and Bob Dylan. They’ve already made their mark on the UK scene, and after they complete their rounds on “The Clearing Tour” in North America, they will surely become a staple in the music industry.