Lizard County Bring Melodic British Indie To Their New Double A-Side

Lizard County are at the point where a double A-side feels like the right way to introduce the band, because “Your Majesty” and “Hard Reset” reveal more together than one standalone single probably could.

The Halifax four-piece consists of Alastair Bentley on vocals and rhythm guitar, Nathan Bowen on lead guitar, Maxie Broadhead on drums, and Harrison Farndale on bass. Their sound sits quite comfortably within melodic British indie, with guitar-led arrangements, clear hooks, and lyrics that give the songs a little more shape than a release built solely on energy.

There is already a useful sense of direction here because Lizard County understands that a catchy, memorable chorus and a clear emotional draw will often do more for a young band than another layer of guitar or some other flashy modern production trick.

Two Songs Give Lizard County More Room To Introduce Themselves

The real advantage of “Your Majesty” and “Hard Reset” arriving together is that listeners get a better view of the band’s instincts.

One song can set the mood and give you a first impression but two songs begin to reveal the choices a band keeps returning to. In Lizard County’s case, those choices seem to be melody, direct lyricism, and guitar parts that keep the songs moving without swallowing the vocal.

The double A-side format also gives the band room to show a little variation while keeping the release coherent. The tracks share the same core identity, though each one gives the group a different route into it. That helps the release feel like the beginning of a catalog rather than a single isolated moment.

For a new act, that matters. Listeners need some reason to understand what the band is trying to become, and Lizard County gives them enough here to start forming that picture.

Melody And Lyrics Stay At The Center

A lot of young guitar bands lean heavily on volume, momentum, and the rush of playing together, which can be enough in a small venue but often feels thinner once the track is heard away from the room.

Lizard County seems more interested in writing songs that hold up after the initial energy fades. Their material is still built for live performance, but the hooks and lyrics carry real responsibility within the arrangement.

That gives the band a clearer emotional heart of the whole thing.

The guitars support the song, the rhythm section keeps things moving, and the vocal remains the part listeners are likely to remember first. It is a simple approach, though it is also one many bands take years to trust. The biggest thing here is that Lizard County do not sound overly concerned with proving how complicated they can be.

The songs move directly, and that directness gives the release its personality.

Building From Halifax’s Piece Hall Academy

Lizard County is also part of Halifax’s Piece Hall Academy, an artist-development program supporting independent talent through live opportunities, releases, mentorship, and the practical side of building a career.

That environment should be particularly useful for a four-piece guitar band because so much of the learning happens in front of people. A room tells you where an arrangement loses momentum, which chorus connects immediately, and which sections feel better in rehearsal than they do onstage.

The program also keeps the band connected to the West Yorkshire scene around them. That regional identity gives Lizard County a real place to build from, with local shows and regular performances helping the songs develop alongside the group’s chemistry.

“You Majesty” and “Hard Reset” feel like early markers rather than finished statements. Lizard County already has a clear direction moving forward and enough personality in the writing to keep moving forward. The next stage will come through more songs, more rooms, and the gradual process of finding which parts of their sound feel most natural.

For now, the double A-side does what an introduction should do. It gives listeners two reasons to remember the name and a clear idea of where the band might go next.