From Breakdowns to Breakthroughs: NewDad’s Altar Hits the Mark
Written by Amanda La
Since the release of their debut album, Madra, over a year ago, NewDad has soared to new heights. No longer just an opening act, having previously supported artists like Fontaines D.C., Inhaler, and Luke Hemmings, the band is now setting the stage in their own right. Scheduled for Coachella 2026 and headlining their own shows internationally across Japan, China, North America, and the EU, NewDad has been making their name known. And to reach this level of success? It’s impossible to achieve without some give. Growing pains are an undoubtedly painful, but necessary part of any real transformation. It’s a truth that NewDad grapples with in their newly released second album, Altar. The album signals a new chapter for the Irish trio, and just in time, given the departure of bassist Cara Joshi earlier this year, presenting a shift in dynamic that echoes the album’s central exploration of change and sacrifice.
Altar traces the band’s move from their hometown, Galway, to the bustling streets of London. It’s a journey many of their Irish peers have made in an effort to grow their careers, all while trying not to lose themselves in the process. The album covers a wide breadth of emotions: ‘Pretty’ is a lament for home through melodic reflections, while ‘Roobish’ displays the full force of vocalist Julia Dawson’s raw screams as she releases all her pent-up anger. The instrumentals tie in seamlessly, with Sean O’Dowd’s heavy-hitting guitar riffs and Fiachra Parslow’s rhythmic drumming reinforcing the emotional undercurrents that drive each track.
It’s not hard to hear how dedicated NewDad is to continuing to shape their sonic identity. Their signature sound remains familiar and ever-present, but more polished. It feels like the band has developed a deeper understanding of knowing when to push barriers and when to refrain themselves. The twelve tracks are cohesive, yet distinct enough from one another to stand on their own.
Known for weaving dream pop elements into the aggressive post punk sound, the band continues to deliver this deliberate fusion on Altar. The willowy and distortive mix is serendipitously fitting as it mirrors the ebbs and flow of dreams and desires while mimicking outcries of anguish felt during times of calamity. Like two sides of a coin, the tenderness and intensity are a sonic encapsulation of everything the album is trying to tell lyrically.
This album is one that many can relate to. While a certain set of circumstances is unique to the group, the songs ultimately explore the universal reckoning that comes with growing up. It covers formative experiences that we all encounter: leaving home, finding your own path, and confronting the complex feelings that follow these decisions.
And just as Dawson sings the final line of the bleeding-heart closer, “Make me forget about the way things are,” the album delivers on that very promise. Altar creates a hauntingly atmospheric experience that suspends reality and takes you out of your head — at least, for the duration of the listening experience. And sometimes, that’s all that is really needed: some time away to return with a new perspective.
Standout songs on the album include: “Everything I Wanted,” “Misery,” and “Puzzle.”
