Review

By Amanda Holborn | 06/07/2026

Some albums demand your attention from the opening note. Others creep into your consciousness gradually, revealing fresh details every time you return. Role Model Hermit firmly belongs in the latter camp. The debut from London trio Mary in the Junkyard is an absorbing, slow-burning collection that feels less like a conventional indie record and more like a strange modern folk tale, stitched together from fractured memories, unsettling imagery and quietly breathtaking musicianship. Having already built a formidable reputation with This Old House, the band arrive here sounding utterly confident in their own peculiar universe. Their self-described "weepy chaos rock" barely scratches the surface. Across these 11 tracks, folk, post-punk, art rock and chamber pop dissolve into one another, creating something that feels unmistakably British without ever leaning on nostalgia. Opening track Mantra III immediately establishes the album's eerie emotional pull. Sparse percussion, restless guitar lines and ghostly strings create a dreamlike atmosphere where repetition becomes hypnotic rather than comforting. It's an invitation into a world where nothing behaves quite as expected. That sense of unease never disappears. Blood and Seek And Destroy inject sharper edges without sacrificing intimacy, while the record becomes increasingly adventurous as it unfolds. Traditional song structures gradually dissolve into drifting arrangements filled with harmonium, viola and ambient textures, giving the second half a cinematic sweep that feels entirely earned. The emotional heart of the record arrives with Crash Landing, a stunning centrepiece that expands the band's already impressive palette. Patiently layered percussion, mournful strings and Clari Freeman-Taylor's captivating vocal performance combine to create one of the year's most affecting moments. Every listen uncovers another subtle flourish hidden within its expansive arrangement. Elsewhere, Thou Shalt Sprout embraces darker territory, unfolding like a forgotten folk horror passed between generations. Scratchy strings, spacious drums and cryptic lyricism blur the line between myth and autobiography, reinforcing the album's remarkable gift for world-building. Throughout Role Model Hermit, recurring images of animals, faith, childhood and nature transform deeply personal emotions into something closer to folklore. The surrealism never feels self-indulgent; instead, it gives the songs an emotional universality that's difficult to shake. Among the current wave of adventurous British guitar bands, Mary in the Junkyard already sound like they're operating on their own frequency. Role Model Hermit doesn't simply fulfil the promise of This Old House; it establishes one of the most distinctive debut albums British alternative music has produced in years.