The Clause – Victim of a Casual Thing Album Review - Birmingham’s indie Heroes Find Victory In Vulnerability
- HARRY K
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
WORDS HARRY K
The Clause
"Victim Of A Casual Thing"
For a band who started as a bunch of schoolmates jamming after lessons, The Clause have pulled off something extraordinary. Their debut album, Victim of a Casual Thing, has gone straight to #1 on the Official Independent Albums Chart and cracked the UK Top 20, all without a label or major backing. In a landscape where DIY success stories are few and far between, this feels seismic — and, crucially, the record actually delivers on the hype.
From the off, “Prologue” eases you in with cinematic calm before the storm hits. “Nothing’s As It Seems” bursts through the speakers with jagged guitars and that familiar Midlands bite, while “Tell Me What You Want” is an indie-funk juggernaut designed to make 3,000 people bounce in unison. “Weekend Millionaire” captures everything The Clause are about — escapism, attitude, and a wink to the everyday chaos of youth: “If life’s fucked up, do not despair, just live your life as a Weekend Millionaire.”
But it’s not all bravado. “Pink Moon” slows the pulse and shows the band’s heart — a hazy, soulful track that reveals a maturity beyond their years. Closer “Don’t Blink” ties the album together perfectly: part celebration, part reflection, and totally euphoric.
There’s a confidence running through this record that only comes from doing it the hard way. You can hear the lineage — AM-era Arctic Monkeys, the swagger of Kasabian, even flashes of Catfish and the Bottlemen — but The Clause aren’t copying anyone. They’re carving out their own sound: slick, swaggering, and shot through with real emotion.
Victim of a Casual Thing feels like a statement. It’s proof that indie guitar music still has something to say, and that ambition and authenticity can still beat the industry machine. The Clause have gone from Birmingham dreamers to Britain’s next big guitar band — and if this is only the beginning, their story’s about to get massive.
4 1/2 ★★★★½
TRACK LISTING
Prologue
Nothing’s As It Seems
Tell Me What You Want
In My Element
White Lifelines
Elisha
Exception
Weekend Millionaire
I Don’t Care
Fever Dream
Pink Moon
Don’t Blink
FOLLOW THE CLAUSE
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