Toronto-based Celtic-Punk collective Nameless Friends announce their sophomore album The Quiet Part, Loudly, arriving April 15th, 2026. We’re very excited to be premiering the new single and video ‘I’m Afraid Of Failure’.
The upcoming album marks the band’s first collaboration with renowned engineer Nyles Spencer (The Tragically Hip, Broken Social Scene, Alvvays) and draws heavily from years of cross-Canada touring. It offers an unflinching exploration of identity, injustice, and resilience, looking outward at systemic oppression while turning inward toward personal transformation.
The new single ‘I’m Afraid Of Failure’ is a full-throttle celebration of perseverance wrapped in Celtic punk chaos, the track opens easing in a false sense of calm with its fizzing distorted chords ringing out under the celtic-folk tinged vocal melody. The track quickly steps into the frenzic punk energy with driving drums and the fuzzy main riff, reminiscent of an early 2000s Tony Hawks soundtrack. Boxy production, a heft celtic flare and the energy which I’m sure characterises their live shows makes for a track which is fun yet carries a heartfelt and honest message.
Self-described by the band as “Great Big Sea on speed,” the track barrels through self-doubt with the bruising force but lyrically talks about the brutal, daunting heartbreak of caring enough to try, and choosing to try anyway. “This song is about trying,” says lead vocalist and producer Number One. “It’s about that feeling when you give enough of a shit that it actually hurts, but you do it anyway. We wanted to capture the raucous, bloody energy of the crowds we’ve played for in PrinceEdward Island and Scotland — places where people know how to celebrate and mourn in the same breath.”
The accompanying video mirrors that energy, capturing the band at their most feral and communal. Sweat, motion, and barely contained joy colliding in a visual love letter to crowds that sing louder when things hurt the most.
Building on the foundation of their 2023 debut Blasphemy, The Quiet Part, Loudly continues Nameless Friends’ signature blend of gravity and irreverence as they speak truth to power.
“This album is a love letter with constructive criticism to our home country,” Number One explains. “If you didn’t care about improving the relationship, you wouldn’t bother giving the criticism. It’s about choosing to position yourself in the middle of not just a culture war, but in some cases real, literal violence and deciding to be who you are anyway.”
Watch the new video below and keep an eye on the band’s social media for updates on the upcoming album due in April!
