From Montreal With Grit: The Wesleys Detonate With New Vinyl Release: Explosive Device, Out Now
The Wesleys return with Explosive Device, a bold, four-song collection that finds the Montréal quartet refining their punchy, heart-on-sleeve sound while venturing into new sonic corners. Out November 7 on vinyl via Meritorio Records (U.S. and Europe) and Petit Village Records (CAN), the EP comes paired with Outside Voices (2022), their first-ever physical release and a perfect snapshot of their evolution from scrappy newcomers to confident songsmiths. Lead single “Release Me!” lights the fuse as a brash, melodic burst that channels the urgency and tension at the heart of The Wesleys’ songwriting.
Since forming in 2022, Henry Girard, William D’Amours, Quentin Chisholm, and Pablo Garcia have delivered a brand of rock ’n’ roll that cuts through the noise. Melodic yet raw, loose yet deliberate. Their music lives where garage grit meets jangle-pop clarity, driven by the push and pull of love, loss, and late-night reflection. That volatility, equal parts catharsis and control, remains their calling card.
For these new tracks, Pablo says:
“All the songs on our previous recordings we all recorded at different times and locations. With Explosive Device recorded all at once in the same studio, connected these songs together more cohesively.”
On Explosive Device, the band doubles down on collaboration, with Girard, Chisholm, and Garcia each taking a turn at lead vocals.
“All the songs started out without any real ideas for vocals,” says Pablo. “Only after fleshing out the song musically, we look at who we think best suits the song. For the song “Explosive Device”, the melody presented itself to me. For the song “Permanent Vacation”, Quentin threw his hat in to write the vocals.”
The result is a record that feels both varied and unified, with each song revealing a different angle of the group’s chemistry. The guitars ring with sharp clarity and overdriven warmth, while the rhythm section punches with unrelenting momentum.
Recorded in Montréal with Monty (Pre-Occupations) and mixed by Adrian Popovich (Tricky Woo, American Lips, Physical Congas), Explosive Device brings a live-off-the-floor energy into sharp focus. The sessions embraced imperfections, leaning into the rawness that makes the songs hit harder. It’s an approach that mirrors the band’s ethos: trust instinct, keep the emotion front and center, and never polish away the pulse. From the jagged propulsion of “Release Me!” to the sonic introspection of “Magic Wand”, the EP balances melody and muscle in equal measure.
Paired with their debut Outside Voices, this release captures The Wesleys’ first chapter. From the spark that started it all, to the moment it catches flame. Together, the two EPs chart a rapid and fearless progression, the sound of a band pushing forward with conviction and a wink of danger. With Explosive Device, The Wesleys don’t just reaffirm their love for rock ’n’ roll, they light it up with songs that burn fast, bright and unforgettable.