Swedish quartet Isolated Youth have released ‘Love Locked In A Dark Room’, ahead of the release of their debut album miserere mei on 4 April via Birthday Productions and Memorials Of Distinction. As the first track written for the album, ‘Love Locked in a Dark Room’ is where the story of miserere mei begins. It was the first song that the album’s co-producer, Faris Badwan of The Horrors, heard during a live streamed performance at the Norrtälje Art Center, located in a remote coastal city outside of Stockholm, where Isolated Youth hail from. Serving as the blueprint for the entire album, ‘Love Locked In A Dark Room’ is a pop song cloaked in a blues-driven, guitar-rich gothic veil. Featuring classic blues pattern strumming from guitarist William Mårdbarg in the verse, it descends into an emotive chorus, all complemented by the icy, eerie tones of frontman Axel Mårdbarg’s distinctive voice.
With lyrics inspired by the works of Swedish poet Tomas Tranströmer, William Mårdbarg shares:
“Being out on a ‘cold, dark, violent night’ and, to some extent, feeling trapped in nightly environments without an escape plan. Or perhaps like being underwater and looking up to the surface, finding someone else in this setting, and suddenly realising later the same night that there’s something bright and pure that cuts through the noise and brings you back above the surface. Then, everything else that happened feels like a nightmarish, strange dream, and in that moment, realising that you don’t want the other person to leave… Like love locked in a dark room.”
Hailing from the remote coastal town of Norrtälje, Isolated Youth’s upcoming debut album miserere mei is deeply shaped by the atmospheric Nordic landscape they grew up in. Formed by brothers Axel and William Mardberg, along with drummer Andreas Geidemark and bassist Elmer Hallsby, the band channels a raw and atmospheric style that draws influence from icons like The Chameleons, The Gun Club, and Siouxsie & The Banshees. With Axel’s piercing falsetto and William’s intricate, Johnny Marr-esque guitar lines, Isolated Youth have crafted an album that promises to feel both nostalgic and deeply contemporary.
Faris Badwan, who discovered the group during a live stream, was immediately captivated by their unique blend of post-punk urgency and emotive vulnerability, becoming what William describes as “a lovely, weird gothic uncle we never knew we had.” Joining as both producer and mentor, his input helps to expand Isolated Youth’s distinct dynamics into a simultaneously expansive and intimate sonic world. Described by co-producer Max Hayes (Primal Scream, Rolling Stones) as “an actual real rock album”, Isolated Youth have masterfully translated the electrifying energy of their live shows into studio recordings, crafting a gothic post-punk/alternative rock sound. The album’s title, which translates to “Have Mercy On Me” speaks to the challenges the band faced during the recording process, including health issues, pandemic-related obstacles, travel difficulties, and personal trauma.
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