THE MOLOTOVS ANNOUNCE MAJOR TOUR AS DEBUT ALBUM WASTED ON YOUTH CHALLENGES FOR NO.1

London, Tuesday 3rd February 2026 – The Molotovs have today announced a major UK tour after midweek results put them challenging for No.1 in the Official Charts with debut album Wasted On Youth (Marshall Records). 

The chart success of Wasted On Youth is the outcome of a touring-led, fan-built campaign - rather than hype or algorithms - with the industry catching up on huge demand.

Despite still being teenagers, siblings Matt (17) and Issey Cartlidge (19) have played more than 600 shows, amassing new fans everywhere they go.

The band take the step up in September with the 'Welcome To Urbia' tour including the 2,300-capacity Forum in London, as well as major venues in Nottingham, Brighton, Glasgow, Newcastle, Sheffield, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Cardiff and Birmingham.  

In the Official Charts midweek figures on Monday, the band were at number 2 in the album charts, just behind Lily Allen and ahead of Olivia Dean. They are also ahead of guitar bands Cast, despite the recent Oasis support slots, and Kula Shaker.

The band joked on Instagram that they are "in a chart war with some new, unsigned band called Lily Allen". 

Lily replied: "It's all love baby, @TheMolotovs, hope you win the war."   

The band's chart success is down to a focus on physical sales, with more than 6,000 pre-orders from the rapidly growing live fanbase, built over the last two years with the sale of 15,000 tickets.

Matt said: "After tearing up every dive bar and stage on the circuit, finally unleashing Wasted On Youth feels electric. We've lived these songs on the road, pouring every ounce of sweat into every live show. To see that raw energy bottled into our debut album is massive - it's the payoff we've been chasing."

Issey said: "We're delighted with the chart success of the album but that's not what we're about. Our passion is for getting out around the country, and around the world, playing for audiences new and old - connecting with people who love music as much as we do. That love of music can help build a positivity and optimism sorely lacking elsewhere in 2026."

Recorded at Marshall Studio with producer Jason Perry, and mixed and mastered by Blair Crichton from Dead Pony, Wasted On Youth, features Matt and Issey with drummer Noah Riley. It includes the hit singles 'More More More More', 'Today's Gonna Be Our Day', 'Rhythm of Yourself' and 'Get A Life'.

The band have honed their craft supporting, and taken inspiration from, legendary figures including Iggy Pop, Sex Pistols, Blondie, The Damned and The Libertines. 

Wasted On Youth is a life-affirming burst of new wave, punk, indie, and garage, opening with the blistering 'Get A Life', a direct strike against the toxic culture of social media negativity. From there, the band dives into the complexities of coming of age. Whether it's the pressure of academic expectations in 'Daydreaming' or the hazy, rehab-bound fantasies of 'Popstar', the lyrics reflect a generation caught between societal demands and their own creative instincts.

"A lot of pressure is put on young people to know exactly what they want to do in life, which is just unrealistic," said Matt. This sentiment anchors the title track, 'Wasted On Youth', an anthem of self-doubt and the relentless passage of time. Yet, the album isn't just about the struggle; it's a rejection of the "small-town mentality" found in 'Geraldine' and a fierce defence of individualism in 'Rhythm Of Yourself', a track born from the band's refusal to be moulded by industry trends.

From the lockdown-induced frustrations of 'Newsflash' to the frantic energy of lead single 'More More More More', Wasted On Youth is as much a sonic riot as it is a cerebral one. It concludes with the defiant 'Today's Gonna Be Our Day', a powerful "call to arms" urging listeners to reject apathy and stay informed.

• Artist: The Molotovs (Mathew Cartlidge & Issey Cartlidge).

• Release Title: Wasted On Youth (Debut Album).

• Record label: Marshall Records

• Official Release: 25th January 2026.

• Production: Produced by Jason Perry; Mixed/Mastered by Blair Crichton (Dead Pony).

• The Sound: A "chemical compound" of New Wave, Punk, and Indie Sleaze.

• Core Philosophy: Modernism as progression; optimism through individualism.

• Tracklist: 1. Get A Life, 2. Daydreaming, 3. More More More More, 4. Come On Now, 5. Nothing Keeps Her Away, 6. Wasted On Youth, 7. Geraldine, 8. Newsflash, 9. Rhythm Of Yourself, 10. Popstar, 11. Today's Gonna Be Our Day.

• Tour: September 2026 major UK tour

• Ticketing & Direct Link: https://themolotovs.os.fan/ 

The Molotovs UK tour dates:

• Thu 03 Sept 2026 - Tamshed, Cardiff

• Fri 04 Sep 2026 – Palais, Nottingham 

• Sat 05 Sep 2026 – Chalk, Brighton 

• Thu 10 Sep 2026 – TV Studio, Glasgow

• Fri 11 Sep 2026 – Digital, Newcastle 

• Sat 12 Sep 2026 – Foundry, Sheffield 

• Thu 17 Sep 2026 – The Wardrobe, Leeds 

• Fri 18 Sep 2026 – Arts Club, Liverpool 

• Sat 19 Sep 2026 – Academy 2, Manchester 

• Thu 24 Sep 2026 – O2 Academy 2, Birmingham

• Fri 25 Sep 2026 – O2 Forum, Kentish Town, London 

• Fri 02 Oct 2026 - Ulster Sports Club, Belfast

• Sat 03 Oct 2026 – The Grand Social, Dublin

Wasted On Youth track-by-track:

Matt from The Molotovs talks about the inspiration behind the songs on debut album Wasted On Youth. 

• Get A Life: "It's about people who spend their time hating and spreading negativity. It's become easier than ever through social media, so it's a fight against that."

• Daydreaming: "'Daydreamin' is about being confused, naive, and lost for direction in life and someone telling you to wake up and stop daydreaming. A lot of pressure is put on young people to come out of their GCSEs and A-Levels and know exactly what they want to do in life, which is just unrealistic in my eyes."

• More More More More: "This was the first single and it's the moment at shows when the dancefloor goes from bouncing to pure chaos."

• Come On Now: "Yeah, so here's the problem: I've got no clue what 'Come On Now' is about. I actually have no clue."

• Nothing Keeps Her Away: "It's about someone the protagonist continually shrugs off, thinking they're a bit of a stalker, until he realises that she wasn't all that bad and he was just being a knob."

• Wasted On Youth: "'Wasted on Youth' 'is about self-doubt and the feeling that time just passes you by. The lyric says, 'Will you reminisce of all the things you did then? The seed of every problem is always growing from the stem.'"

• Geraldine: "It's supposed to be a letter from a separated friend to another, talking about how no matter how far away they are from each other, their bond will never be severed."

• Newsflash: "'Newsflash' is about the impact of lockdown on a generation - lost social skills, leaving people insular. And it's just I guess the frustrations about it."

• Rhythm Of Yourself: "It's about individuality, being your own man, and not being swayed by trends and herd mentality. More specifically it's about being f***ed over in the music industry by people who try and change you to go with the trends. 'Change your clothes, change your face and hair, and tell me it's only fair' is one of the lyrics."

• Popstar: "'Pop Star' is a young person's hazy dream of becoming a pop star, describing going out with supermodels, being number one, and washing up in rehab because, supposedly, as the lyric says, that's how it's done."

• Today's Gonna Be Our Day: "'Today's Gonna Be Our Day' is a call to arms for my generation to make change, take an interest in what's going on in the world. Don't be apolitical, stay informed. It's about making your surroundings a better place, and you could start today."

About The Molotovs

London-based siblings Matt (17) and Issey Cartlidge (19) are The Molotovs, a high-octane duo at the forefront of a burgeoning revival of authentic guitar music. Eschewing the typical path of viral shortcuts, the pair built their reputation the hard way: playing more than 600 shows across the UK's relentless live circuit. This grueling schedule has transformed them into one of the tightest, most explosive acts in the country.

Their debut album, Wasted On Youth (Marshall Records), serves as a fierce rejection of the "lost generation" narrative. Rather than leaning into apathy, The Molotovs champion social optimism, individuality, and a direct call to arms for Gen Z to take up space and stay informed.

Recorded at Marshall Studio with producer Jason Perry and mixed by Blair Crichton (Dead Pony), their sound bottles the raw, sweat-soaked energy of their live performances. From the chaotic spirit of 'More More More More' to the political urgency of 'Today's Gonna Be Our Day', The Molotovs aren't just playing rock and roll - they are revitalizing it for a new era.

Marshall

Marshall unites musicians and music lovers through a shared passion for high-quality sound and built-to-last products. For over sixty years, we've amplified the sound of the world's most talented artists and brought their music to crowds and solo listeners everywhere. That same drive is the foundation of Marshall Records. Our mission is to help fuel the next generation of musicians and provide access to state-of-the-art equipment, a cutting-edge studio, and full label services to help them achieve their full potential.