There’s something quietly reassuring about Dodgy releasing a song called “It’s Not The End” in 2026. Three decades on from their Britpop breakthrough, the band aren’t chasing former glories – they’re building on them. And on this evidence, they’re doing it with real purpose.

Arriving ahead of their forthcoming sixth album Hello Beautiful (due this May), the single finds Nigel Clark, Mathew Priest and Andy Miller sounding settled, confident and – crucially – still capable of delivering the kind of melody most bands spend careers chasing.

From the opening bars, “It’s Not The End” leans into warmth rather than bombast. The guitars shimmer with that unmistakable Dodgy glow, the rhythm section moves with calm authority, and Clark’s vocal carries the kind of lived-in honesty that only comes with time. It’s reflective without ever feeling heavy; melancholic but ultimately uplifting. Classic Dodgy, just viewed through a slightly wider lens.

What stands out most is the restraint. Where many comeback singles push too hard, this one breathes. The arrangement is patient, allowing the emotion in the lyric to land naturally. When the chorus arrives, it lifts in that familiar Dodgy way – not oversized, not overworked, just quietly euphoric and built to stick.

Clark recently described the track as taking on “a life of its own” in the studio, and you can hear that organic quality throughout. Nothing here feels forced. Instead, it’s the sound of a band completely comfortable in their own skin, trusting their instincts and letting the song do the heavy lifting.

Importantly, “It’s Not The End” doesn’t trade purely on nostalgia. Yes, the melodic DNA that powered Homegrown and Free Peace Sweet is present and correct, but there’s a maturity in the songwriting and pacing that gives the track extra depth. It feels like a band taking stock – not looking back, but looking forward with clear eyes.

With a full UK tour ahead this spring and the 30th anniversary celebrations of Free Peace Sweet later in the year, Dodgy are clearly entering a busy – and creatively healthy – new phase. If this single is the tone-setter for Hello Beautiful, they’re not simply back on familiar ground – they’re quietly raising the bar.

“It’s Not The End” does exactly what great Dodgy singles have always done: it connects, it comforts and it lingers long after the final note fades.

Sometimes the simplest statement is the right one – this is Single of the Week for a reason.

It’s Not The End is out now. Dodgy will also go on tour this Spring. Head to www.dodgyology.com for more info.

It’s Not The End ★★★★★ (5/5)