The Wesleys - Explosive Device EP (2025) Hi-Res

Since their formation in 2022, Montreal’s The Wesleys have carved out a space in contemporary rock defined by a flagrant, heartfelt sincerity and an indelible melodic construction. The quartet, comprising Henry Girard, William D’Amours, Quentin Chisholm, and Pablo Garcia, synthesizes a diverse palette spanning garage rock, jangle-pop, and punk energy, yet remains restless and never confined to a single lane. Their songs function as a raw emotional conduit, channeling life’s curve balls, encompassing love, heartache, and anxiety, all wrapped within unforgettable, lingering hooks.

The band’s new release, the EP ‘Explosive Device’ marks a significant evolution, pushing their signature sound forward through the introduction of fresh sonic tones and textures while fiercely retaining the raw energy that has become their calling card.

Recorded in Montreal with the seasoned production hand of Monty (Scott Munro of Preccupations) and masterfully mixed by Adrian Popovich (Tricky Woo, American Lips), the four-track EP captures The Wesleys at their most collaborative and adventurous. The decision to feature Girard, Chisholm, and Garcia each taking turns at the microphone highlights the group’s collective command of craft and dynamic range. Tracks showcase an energetic blend of fuzz-filled rock and roll with snappy, tight drumming and quick, purposeful guitar riffs. While retaining the driving rhythm of their earlier work, ‘Explosive Device’ allows the guitars to occasionally shimmer in the background, creating a compelling, psychedelic sway reminiscent of a slightly more upbeat Clientele, or the tightly-wound jangle of bands like Rolling Blackout Coastal Fever and Ducks Ltd.

In a move that connects their foundational period to their current velocity, the vinyl edition of ‘Explosive Device’ is fittingly paired with digital EP ‘Outside Voices’ (2022), marking the debut EP’s first physical release. This coupling serves as a compelling narrative document, telling the concise, energetic story of the band’s inception and the full-speed-ahead trajectory they are now charging toward. ‘Explosive Device’ is a confident, dynamic statement that secures The Wesleys’ position as purveyors of vital, hook-laden power pop with their work standing proudly alongside influences such as Teenage Fanclub, The Clean, The Replacements, Pixies, and The Feelies, drawing on their blend of urgency and tunefulness.