Where has Ecca Vandal been? Nine years have passed since NME labelled the artist’s self-titled album “one of the year’s brightest debuts” for the way she attacked storming guitar riffs as easily as punchy synth beats. Much like Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes or Nova Twins, Vandal juggled her fiery punk spirit with plenty of vocal dexterity, earning support slots with Incubus and Queens Of The Stone Age. But after the pandemic interrupted her momentum, she didn’t come racing out of the blocks to chase after it.
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Vandal refused to rush her second album. Carefully crafted in producer Richie Buxton’s bedroom in Melbourne – the city where she grew up after moving from South Africa as a child – she hit reset, bided her time and named the 17-track opus ‘Looking For People To Unfollow’ after the excess baggage she cleansed from her own social media. First single ‘Bleed But Never Die’ arrived two years ago, giving the build-up a similar degree of breathing space, during which she’s been invited to play at Coachella and with both Deftones and Limp Bizkit.
While those two iconic acts have their signature traits on lock, Vandal is more of an unpredictable livewire. After ‘Eyes Shut’ and ‘Sorry! Crash!’ introduce ‘Looking For People To Unfollow’ as an album of blistering punk-rock, the guitars later take a backseat in favour of broad, bass-heavy beats that nod to reggaeton (‘Do It Anyway’), trap (‘Came Here For The Loot’) and her South Asian heritage (‘Then There’s One’). No matter the instrumentation, Vandal’s ever-present vocal bite ensures this chaotic medley retains some consistency.
The record’s 17 tracks enable that chaos to unfurl, rather than boxing Vandal’s multi-faceted personality into a compact package. The concision lies within the individual songs: 10 of them don’t cross the three-minute mark. Her lyrics cut to the point; ‘Do It Anyway’ examines her bad habits, ‘Bleed But Never Die’ is a defiant display of resilience, and ‘Cruising To Self Soothe’ is an uplifting rock anthem: “I’m still flying ’cause I’m better than ever”. Such affirmations of confidence maybe explain why Vandal’s artistic choices feel so decisive.
Although that firepower and sonic versatility existed on her debut, that newfound ruthless streak makes ‘Looking For People To Unfollow’ such a potent reintroduction. It’s a subtle shift, but one needed to confirm that Vandal has established her own definitive identity to build upon. What many acts achieve in two years might have taken Vandal nine. But the end result vindicates her approach, surely leaving her with the belief and patience to upscale her artistry in years to come.
Details
- Record label: Loma Vista Recordings
- Release date: October 17, 2025