Dryadic roar back with their brilliant new album 'Permission To Speak'

Right from the very start, 'Permission To Speak' sets itself up as one of those rare albums that throws the door wide open and steps forward with an unflinching and incandescent energy.

Dryadic have always carried a fierce live reputation across the UK and Europe, sharing stages with the likes of Grace Petrie and Heather Peace, and lighting up spaces from Glastonbury Festival to Brighton Pride. But this album feels like the moment everything crystallises.

At the centre is Zora McDonald, writing and performing with a clarity that feels both liberating and electric. These songs pulse with lived experience that feels sharp, funny, and defiant throughout. This is storytelling that stands tall and proud.

Tracks like 'Mansplain' crackle with unapologetic bite, marrying razor-sharp commentary with irresistible hooks. 'Rainbow Family' glows with communal warmth, delivering a celebration that feels expansive and inclusive. 'Smiling in the Dark' shimmers with romantic uplift, while 'Ghosts' digs deep into inherited wounds before emerging into hard-won light.

What’s most exhilarating about 'Permission To Speak' is its emotional bravery. It’s bold without being brash, and vulnerable without ever feeling small. It confronts invisibility and answers it with volume, colour, and conviction at every turn.

Pressed to vinyl for the first time, this album deserves to be experienced as a whole, unbroken listening experience. Here, Dryadic have delivered a rallying cry that feels luminous, unafraid, and utterly unforgettable.