A band that spend a lot of time thinking about thinking, Mental Health Day are new to our blog through their third album, Altruistic.

By Graeme Smith

Born from a couple of lifelong friends processing the changes that were happening in their mid-30s lives, Mental Health Day have been releasing music since 2016. With each new album their sound evolves as their situations change. Their third dwells on family frustrations, performative kindness, and the how avoiding conflict can be unhealthy.

The compositions across the album feel suitably introspective, blending pure indie rock with elements of psychedelia and folk pop. Extended album opener Get Along To Go Along feels like something Fleetwood Mac would write in 2025. Good Things is punchy, jangly rock that feels like a fraught meditation.

Drawn in Dust is an early highlight thanks to its vulnerably, fatalistic storytelling and driving instrumental. The Scenery has a dramatic, Muse-like quality to it because of its blend of big riffs and atmospheric piano. Mixology rounds off the first half of the album with an intimate, acoustic diversion.

The album’s second half gives us the frenetic Fine, the soul-searching and simmering The World to Come, and Thoughts and Prayers. The latter is another highlight thanks to its visceral lyrics that call out hollow gestures.

Things end much as they began, with Panic giving us some ‘70s-esque protest folk-punk and Look Away giving us a psych-filled, lively finish.

Mental Health Day are an act who write with heart and honesty, making their music feel relatable and compelling. It consoles and encourages, giving us permission to take a breather and reflect.

Altruistic is out now and you can give it a listen below.