ALBUM REVIEW: KODALINE - WE WERE ONLY YOUNG (02/10/26)

Kodaline are waving a fond farewell with the release of their fifth and final studio album, We Were Only Young, and it goes without saying that there will not be a ‘dry eye in the house’.

Leaving fans with warm feelings of nostalgia upon listening, Kodaline have triumphed in showcasing their talent through soulful, contemplative, and reflective tracks. The album encapsulates the intricacies of love and the profound connections that transcend time and distance in a bittersweet and vulnerable ode to the band's successful career.

Kodaline’s wholesome approach to music echoes all the way back to how they met. The very foundation of the band was built upon childhood connection, with vocalist Steve Garrigan and guitarist Mark Prendergast meeting around the age of eight in their school choir and growing up just minutes away from each other. It is safe to say that Kodaline were destined to foster connectivity not only among themselves but also with their fanbase.

Built from humble beginnings, Kodaline have journeyed through an absolutely phenomenal career, over a decade ago reaching No. 1 on the album charts in Ireland and No. 3 in the UK with In a Perfect World, and later catapulting into mainstream channels with hits such as ‘High Hopes’ and ‘Love Like This’.

Fasten your seatbelts, Kodaline are welcoming you on one nostalgic journey with their new album! We Were Only Young oscillates between tales of love and memories of Kodaline’s early days as a boy band, which have shaped more recent shifts in their career. One cannot forget that this album is a final opportunity for Kodaline to reconnect with their fanbase, who have stood side by side through pivotal moments spanning over two decades, and will be keenly awaiting their comeback.

Now, it’s time to sit back, ponder, and listen - have the Irish triumph been able to strike the balance right? Will Kodaline loyalists embrace this hopeful ending and be ready to let go?

It goes without saying that ‘Who Will Save You Now’ is a haunting track, and lead singer Steve Garrigan is in full throttle mode; there really is not a single thing holding him back.

The beginning of the album is transformative, impactful, and bold, launching the listener into the world of a beat-driven story, surrounded by raspy and powerful tones. Who really will save us now? Faced with this question, Kodaline touch upon the precarious state of the modern world, a subtle gesture tapping into unconscious fears of how current events will shape the future of humanity. However, despite this externalised perspective, we begin to realise how much of a cinematic album this is for Kodaline, and we have to say, it is a very exciting way to begin.

As the album gets underway, a narrative arc begins to emerge, spearheaded by ‘All I Ever Need Is You’. Of course, no Kodaline album would be complete without an emotional pit-stop to pull upon our heartstrings. The poignant love song is simultaneously a testament to our collective youth and the constant that is love, which transcends life's greatest challenges and defies the passing of time. We are once again impressed by the variety Kodaline offers us: on the one hand, tracks with gravitas and a real sense of momentum, whilst ‘All I Ever Need Is You’ slows the pace of the album and allows us to pause for a moment of reflection. Fans will be mourning the loss of Kodaline just as much as the band themselves.

‘Vultures’ changes the pace for listeners and helps to build the momentum of the album, a continuation of the lyrical themes of never letting go of that one thing we adore. Imagine open roads, windows down, hair blowing in the wind, and ‘Vultures’ playing on the car stereo; this is the energy of the track. The success of ‘Vultures’ will be one to watch, as Kodaline brings us a fast-tempo track with a catchy melody, offering an alternative to the reflective, soulful melodies which shape the musical motif of the other 12 songs.

As part of the human experience, we all sometimes catch ourselves saying, ‘if only with hindsight.’ Well, buckle up, Kodaline have produced a track expressing this sentiment perfectly. ‘Hindsight’s’ use of backing vocals adds a sense of unity to this contemplative track, tinged with a melancholy optimism. The band, like many of us, leans into the collective experience here and opens the door for listeners to embrace the human spirit and our relation to time, exploring the tangibility of memories and their role in reflection.

Here, Kodaline and fans will be able to share a raw moment, unified in reminiscence and sentimentality for the band and life as a whole. After all, we are all finding meaning in the music we listen to.

Although their final studio album, We Were Only Young is a testament to Kodaline’s deep and long-lasting connection with their fanbase and paves the way for a transition from their boy-band era towards a new chapter. Their timeless presence and authenticity are encapsulated in the track ‘All I Ever Need Is You’, with the lines, “people grow, and people change. But we will always be the same”, acting as a metaphor for how Kodaline’s sound will venture far beyond their final album and themselves, as one of Ireland’s most globally recognised alt-rock bands.