Consolers have wasted little time making their presence felt. Since arriving in April 2025, the Belfast five piece have built momentum the old-fashioned way. Big riffs. Bigger choruses. Fronted by Sonja Sleator, and completed by Daniel Lynch and Ethan Hanna on guitars, Sean McCann on bass and Iain Minford on drums, they have leaned into the emotional core of alternative rock without getting tangled in nostalgia. Their debut album Deep Breaths captures that first surge of belief when a band realises the songs are landing and the rooms are filling up.
Produced and mixed by Jonny Woods, known for his work with Wynona Bleach, the record carries a punchy mid-nineties sensibility. When you see his name these days you can be assured of the highest possible quality.
In an interview with RTE Sleator was asked to describe the band’s music.
“Honest, sweary and catchy. In lyrics, I try to write the truth about how I feel things. It helps get a lot of aggression out but isn’t always exactly radio friendly! I also love hooks and do my best to write songs that are catchy and will stick in people’s heads.”
Well, I certainly appreciate a good hook so let’s dive in and see what’s what.
‘Inhale’ opens the album with urgency. I played this one on my DKFM radio show recently and it jumped out immediately. The riff is sharp and direct, the rhythm section drives it forward, and Sleator’s vocal sits right at the centre of the storm. This is how you kick off an album. That wall of energy that hits you when the chorus kicks in is just superb.
The bass line holds everything together on ‘Watcher’. It anchors the early stretch with a pulsing groove. The vocals here search around in the space left while the guitars weave around, building momentum without overcrowding the mix. The mood is definitely darker but that chorus, once again, lifts everything into the light.
‘Sink On In’ tightens the screws. The bass is once again playing a big part in the early stages of the song. This time its slightly funkier. Guitars are a total mood and are a perfect foil for Sleator’s powerful vocal performance. The rhythmic break mid-way through is really cool too.
It’s a fuzzy start to ‘Left To Prove’ and man it carries a defiant edge. The chorus lands with soaring and justified confidence. The interplay between the two guitars gives the track width and bite. You can hear how tight this lineup has become in a short space of time.
‘Down’ brings a slightly more introspective tone. The pace drops, the arrangement breathes a little more, and Sleator’s phrasing takes centre stage. Her technical range is one of the album’s defining strengths. She can push when needed, but she also knows when to sit back and let a line settle for maximum impact. The chiming autoharp adds another new texture that just keeps you tuning in.
Consolers shift the energy again. ‘Make Me Feel’ has a stop start motif that plays nicely into the lyrics. The rhythm section locks in with precision, and the hook is immediate. It speaks to the band’s instinct for structure. They understand how to build a song that connects quickly.
‘Play’ is two, or is it three, songs in one. It opens like an ancient Gaelic folk song before seamlessly evolving. That evolution first appears to an indie ballad before the chorus pulls the rug out from under us. Yup, it’s yet another killer hook and we’re off. Maybe its three songs in one after all.
If there was any doubt whether Consolers were ready for big stages ‘Town’ puts all qualms to rest. From the steady verses to the soaring chorus this is a perfect song, Guitars stab and sing before letting loose. This is going to be a live favourite if it isn’t already.
An ode to the easter bunny next perhaps on ‘Zombie Jesus Day’. Perhaps not. It’s a pointed jab at organised religion and by god (pun definitely intended) they give it a bloody nose. “God is a lie, it’s all in the mind” sings Sleator over a kickass backing from the band. Yet another banger!
‘Boiled Over’ captures something raw and immediate. There is a looseness to it that feels authentic, as if the tape simply happened to be running when the band found the groove. That sense of fun and shared energy is hard to fake, and it gives the track real character.
The album comes to an end all too soon with ‘Driving Me’. It pulls together the elements that define Deep Breaths. Strong hooks. Tight musicianship. A vocal presence that elevates everything around it. The band finish on a massive high. Confidence oozing from every note.
Deep Breaths feels like a band stepping fully into themselves. Consolers channel big guitar energy, sharp hooks and emotional honesty into a debut that sounds assured from start to finish. Sleator’s voice leads the charge, shifting from controlled intensity to full lift when the chorus demands it, while the rhythm section and twin guitars lock in with focus and bite. From the explosive rush of ‘Inhale’ to the defiance of ‘Left To Prove’, the scale of ‘Town’ and the punch of ‘Zombie Jesus Day’, this is a record built on conviction and connection. The hooks land, the performances feel alive, and the whole thing carries the belief of a band who know the songs are strong and the stages are getting bigger. Consolers have taken a deep breath and delivered a debut that hits hard.
Deep Breaths is out on February 20th 2026 . You can check it out over on the Consolers Bandcamp page.
You can follow Consolers on social media here…
Photo Credit
Casey Ryan
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