Towards the end of summer, I was looking for an anthem to review. (Most people go blackberry picking. Each to their own.)

I was therefore so glad I stumbled across Hertfordshire indie-rocker Conor Bond's latest track, ‘Too Emotional To Be A Cynic’.

It was the title that first piqued my interest. Lyrically, it's about navigating grief, guilt, and the overwhelming uncertainty of loss. I thought this was an intriguing subject to tackle, and when I actually listened to it, I loved how he contrasted those difficult, vulnerable themes with the music.

Bond cited his influences as Pinegrove, Weezer, and Elbow. I certainly heard those. Personally, I think it's got a Sam Fender feel about it and I definitely heard a bit of classic Snow Patrol in the sound and the way the track builds, but I genuinely think this stands on its own.

Rather than just following a standard formula, there are some really smart, subtle changes midway through the guitar riffs that keep it interesting.

I also felt you can tell he has spent time in front of an audience (indeed, he has toured extensively). It feels unifying , written for a crowd of people to enjoy. The culmination of the track is exactly what you hope for!

The production on this is brilliant, too. It really helps give the song its epic quality. It is exactly the type of track I’d expect to hear accompanying a massive stadium sports montage, or soundtracking thousands of people holding their phone lights up in the dark at a festival.

But, simply put, it's an anthem.

Too Emotional To Be A Cynic by Conor Bond was out 12th August 2026.