REVIEW: Uninvited - Are We Gonna Be Okay?

Writing a great EP in 2026 is an art form that needs to be studied; every song has to be single worthy, catchy enough to appease the algorithm, good enough to placate the demons in your head that drove you to write music in the first place - all whilst knowing that few people consume albums (EP or LP) like they used to. That fact clearly did not dissuade UNINVITED from producing one of the most captivating EPs with Are We Gonna Be Okay? Between Jay Eliver’s incredible voice, guitars that don’t seem to do the same thing twice across the four songs and the inspired lyricism, this is an album for anyone grappling with the existential crisis that comes with trying to forge a love life in a world that feels like it’s on fire at all times.

The marching drums of Age of Mass Anxiety welcomes you into the EP and then takes a swift left turn into a groovy, classic pop punk track with lyrics so self aware of the current landscape facing the youth of today that it’s hard to tear yourself away. Packing a statement for the opening track, the composition is unrelenting, barely stopping for a second to allow the listener to acclimate, but that might have been a conscious decision because this record sings from different sheet music from the midway point.

Down is as close as the album gets to a downer song, although the desire to dance throughout would beg to differ. The track plays with quieter sections that only add extra zing to the big impact guitar solo and gang vocal finish. And just when you think you need a break from the existential crisis that the opening two tracks ushered into the nether regions of your brain, track three (Love Me (Not)) banishes it and reminds you of the sinking feeling of not understanding if love is requited, complete with math rock-esque guitar solo. Whoever this song is about, might regret their decision when they hear crowds’ inevitable, unabashed love for UNINVITED when this self-pitying song makes it onto a set list.

And to close we’re reunited with those marching drums from track one, but that’s the extent of a reunion we’re given. That’s All I’m Saying is a witty way to wrap up an album that you don’t want to end. It has the vibe of “you don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here”, which will only make you want to hit play on the album all over again.

This is an EP of two halves, the first half is about the existential dread of living in the world that we do. The second half almost feels bad about being a bit of a bummer and tries to remedy it, but it’s still a bit sad about the state of its love life. The final outcome? A tight 15 minutes that is highly entertaining, deeply thought provoking and somehow emotionally soothing. When this EP finally graces venues across the UK it will leave crowds dancing and crying, questioning their love life (or lack thereof) and every decision a government has ever made - but at the end of the day isn’t that what pop punk is meant to do?

Score: 9/10

Are We Gonna Be Okay? will be released on 13th November 2026 via Final Girl Records.

Words: Jade du Preez

Photos: Diana Dumi