With so many fields to pick through in the musical landscape these days, perhaps one of the more interesting bands to come around of late is England’s Wet Leg. Formed in 2019 by Vocalist/Guitarist Rhian Teasdale with her friend, Guitarist Hester Chambers, their goal was to do something authentic and playful, and this creative outlook bred a unique sound that unifies Alternative and Indie Rock textures with a traditional Punk Rock attitude. A mix of catchy vocals and standout melodies, the band’s 2022 self-titled debut album peaked on charts around the globe, went gold in the UK, and even earned them a Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in early 2023.
A heck of a way to start a career, soon the duo of Teasdale and Chamber transformed into a five-piece band, welcoming in touring contributors Henry Holmes (drums), Josh Mobaraki (guitars), and Ellis Durand (bass) into the mix. A factor that became a positive step in their growth, they came together in the fall of 2024 to write and record the follow-up album, moisturizer. Released on July 11, 2025, through Domino Recording Company, moisturizer benefits from a mix of excitement and energy. Something that could have been a result of expanding the band’s membership, it could also have been due to the extensive time Wet Leg spent on the road in support of their debut album, so you could assume they yearned to keep that spark of intensity alive.
Translating all of this into the new songs, you can tell they had a ton of fun recording them. With that all in mind, there are elements of Garage Rock, Pop, and more in each. Also, keeping with the idea that the mood should develop naturally, there is a cohesive rhythm from one track to the next. Including the diverse palette of singles (“CPR,” the edgy “cathy these fists,” the more mellow almost Beatle-esque “davina mccall,” and catchy “mangetout”), there are also very inviting tracks like “liquidize,” “jennifer’s body,” the Post-Punk vibed “pillow talk,” and more somber “11:21.”
Showcasing a diverse range of emotions, one thing is clear: the songs of moisturizer are pretty genuine, dressed with a sense of humor, and explore love with an eye for self-discovery. Really pointing Wet Leg’s compass in the right direction, with moisturizer, they retain the magic of their debut album while also showing signs of growth as songwriters.
Pushing the envelope and still finding success, 2025’s moisturizer has plenty to offer fans of Alternative music, including the very addictive Pop-leaning standout “pokemon.” A song for which the band premiered a new music video in early December, if you are new to Wet Leg, it is a good introduction, but do not expect their other music to follow the same path. Part of the curiosity about this band stems from the rapid success of their debut, as moisturizer is up for three Grammy nominations in 2026 (for Best Alternative Performance for “mangetout,” Best Alternative Album, and Best Album Cover). Hoping they get at least one of these nods, moisturizer is a rather intriguing listen, with Cryptic Rock giving the album 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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