Irish indie-punks New Pagans announce second album, release double single

Irish indie-punk group New Pagans have shared the news today that their second album Making Circles of Our Own is arriving on February 17th 2023 via Big Scary Monsters, dropping a double single to celebrate.

To mark the news, the quintet - composed of Lyndsey McDougall, Cahir O'Doherty, Claire Miskimmin, Allan McGreevy and Conor McAuley - have streamed 'Karin Was Not A Rebel / Fresh Young Overlook', tracks six and four from the album.

'Karin Was Not A Rebel' celebrates the underrated and overlooked artist and designer Karin Bergöö Larsson, one of the foundational modern interior designers. Highlighting the beauty that Karin brought to the world, the triumphant new single presents a key theme in Making Circles of Our Own - a celebration of people proud to be themselves, resisting the constraints of others, and who left behind a legacy of creation, exemplars of hope.

In contrast, the more melancholic 'Fresh Young Overlook' is a love/hate letter to the music industry. Being a working musician is all-consuming, and every aspect of life is infiltrated: and for New Pagans, the only acceptable response is to seek the joy in life as far as possible.

The new songs follow the first single from the album, the stunningly uplifting 'Better People'.

Making Circles of Our Own ultimately details the journey to self-assurance, deftly led by singer and wordsmith Lyndsey McDougall, whose transportive lyrics demand instant repeat listens.

New Pagans' critically acclaimed March 2021 debut album, The Seed The Vessel The Roots and All was a self-reflective and self-critical release.

"Boasting more short, sharp shocks than a dodgy phone charger, The Seed, The Vessel, The Roots And All is a beautiful record from start to finish and may very well help elevate New Pagans to god-like status in the rock world over the months ahead," Hot Press' Edwin McFee said at the time.

Meanwhile, Making Circles of Our Own is described as "more poised, curious and outward-looking", but not without its own moments of angry power. Focusing on the societal limits placed on age and gender, the album is a strong statement of intent from the group.

Influenced by Pixies, The Xcerts and Muncie Girls, Making Circles of Our Own was recorded in the Glens of Antrim in Ireland by the band, and self-produced. Following their European tour with Skunk Anansie earlier this year, New Pagans then toured with English folk-punk heroes Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls on four dates across Germany.

Revisit our March 2021 interview with New Pagans here.

Making Circles of Our Own Tracklist

1. Better People
2. Find Fault With Me
3. A Process of Becoming
4. Fresh Young Overlook
5. There We Are John
6. Karin Was Not A Rebel
7. Bigger Homes
8. Hear Me, You Were Always Good
9. Comparable Reflections
10. The State of My Love's Desires