(Artist Update)

Written by: Ginny Gaines  

The Wombats had already given fans a full album earlier in the year called Oh! The Ocean, but instead of slowing down, they decided to keep the wave rolling. By the time fall arrived, they had more songs ready, songs that didn’t quite make the album, but were too good to sit on. So, on October 23rd, 2025, they released a short new EP called Oh! The Ocean: X-Rated, a tight little 19-minute burst of new energy. Think of this EP as The Wombats opening a small treasure chest that had been sitting off to the side during the album sessions. Inside were six songs, bright, emotional, and full of the band’s usual clever twists. The whole thing leads up to the star of the show: a new single called “X-Rated.”

The band introduced “X-Rated” with a smile and a shrug, calling it a “summery pop song about long-term relationships hitting rough patches.” In simple terms: it’s about that moment when the spark dims a little, and you’re trying to figure out how to get it back. The lyrics talk about how things used to feel exciting and “X-rated,” but now… something’s off. It’s honest, a little bittersweet, and still catchy enough to get stuck in your head all day. Musically, “X-Rated” walks the line between laid-back and high-energy. The verses feel breezy and relaxed, like floating on a calm ocean, and then the chorus comes in hot with big guitars and a jolt of emotion.

The rest of the EP continues that same vibe: it has bright melodies, emotional lyrics, and that signature Wombats balance of fun and heartfelt. These songs sound like they were carved from the same block as the main Oh! The Ocean album, but just a little looser, a little wilder, a little more willing to play around.But here’s the twist: this EP isn’t the end of the Oh! The Ocean chapter, it’s actually the bridge to something bigger. The band announced that a full extended version of the album would drop in December, adding even more new material. So X-Rated works like a little appetizer before the main dish returns with new flavors.

The timing wasn’t random, either. The band had been touring heavily, and releasing the EP gave fans something fresh to latch onto while they kept rolling across stages. Everywhere they performed, “X-Rated” quickly became a new crowd favorite. All in all, Oh! The Ocean: X-Rated feels like The Wombats cracking open a window and letting in some warm sunlight. It’s short, sweet, and full of personality, with just enough to tide listeners over while the band gears up for the extended album’s release. It also shows where the band is creatively: older, wiser, still playful, and still not afraid to explore the messiness of relationships or their own maturing sound. It’s the kind of release that says, “We’re still here, still growing, and still having fun doing it.”

That's a wrap for my update on The Wombats...Thank you for reading and in closing, please just know, Soundwave Music Media will be here and I will always do my best to bring you the rock music report! Please consider supporting me and the crew by purchasing a Soundwave shirt or hat and support our sponsors! Rock On! Until next time...🤘

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