The Puzzling Meridian of Alt-Rock

W: Mandy Morgan

Meridia's Double A-Side, 'Falling Through The Cracks' / 'On The Inside' (Live), is out Friday, November 14th, 2025. The remastered album, 'The Puzzling Meridian', is released on Friday, November 21st, 2025. Both releases will be available on Amazon Records and distributed by Proper Music.

Rising from Plymouth to Bristol, Meridia is the new name in high-octane alternative rock, ready to make their mark on the music landscape with a powerful new double A-side and a remastered debut album.

Meridia began as the brainchild of songwriting duo Elliot Goodwin and Joey Cocker. After meeting as adolescent musicians gigging in their hometown of Plymouth, they discovered an undeniable kinship that led them to take the ultimate leap: moving to Bristol and isolating themselves to focus solely on their art. They soon roped in long-time friends and fellow musicians George Wilson (Bass) and Ethan Bennett (Drums) to complete the four-piece.

“We don’t know what makes our pairing work, why we’ve stuck by each other for so long despite our individual struggles and woes,” the duo admits, “but it didn’t stop us from leaving everything behind to completely isolate ourselves with nothing but each other and our art, to solely focus on building our dream from the ground up.”

For someone new to their world, Meridia's sound is best described as deeply emotional and conceptually driven. Their songs are often spun into a broader, narrative picture, reflecting lives “wrought with feeling that can only be expressed through music.”

"It’s certainly emotional, and spans a broad range of genres whilst still rooting itself in a high octane style of alternative rock. It’s fun and doesn’t take itself too seriously however we believe it truly resonates and keeps people coming back."

Their influences are dynamic, ranging from the classic groove of The Stone Roses to the wild, genre-bending mastery of King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard—a band they call "modern legends" and "absolute geniuses." This eclectic mix feeds into their exploration of "the highs and lows of being alive, and particularly the balance in-between."

The band's hard work since forming at the end of last year is culminating in a significant set of releases, brought to the fore by Amazon Records.

On Friday, November 14th, 2025, they will release a new double A-side single featuring the edited and remastered version of ‘Falling Through The Cracks’ alongside a live version of ‘On The Inside’ (Digital Only).

The lead track, ‘Falling Through The Cracks’, is described as: “A dance song hiding behind the driving guitar and powerful vocals of a rock classic. We guarantee you’ll get sick of humming the chorus for days after you listened to it.”

This is quickly followed by the re-release of their 10-track debut album, ‘The Puzzling Meridian’ (AMA25D01), on November 21st, 2025.

The album, originally self-produced in Elliot’s half-furnished bedroom during their first sleepless month in Bristol, has now been remastered by Ed Woods at Ginger Sound. It captures a sense of unease and alienation, fueled by existential anguish and exploring themes of balance in love, addiction, and time.

Looking ahead to 2026, the band plans a packed schedule: “Nationwide gigs and a busy festival season!”

When it comes to performing, Meridia is a band built on genuine friendship, which they cite as their greatest strength. “We bicker like brothers, have known each other for what feels like a lifetime... when we play together, the connection is undeniable.”

Their pre-show routine is minimal, only requiring “beer and a place for Elliot to hide from pre gig small talk.” Their only other essential is a dedicated 10-minute vocal warmup found on YouTube, led by their hero, "Christover David Mitchell."

They acknowledge that being new to the industry is their greatest weakness, sometimes finding it overwhelming. But their approach is relentless: “We’re running at this full pelt and the only way to truly tell if a screen door is open or closed is by slamming into it face first (not by checking first).”

In the modern music landscape, they feel they fit perfectly into the recent wave of diverse and personality-driven alt-rock, pioneered by bands like Wunderhorse and Fontaines DC. It is this movement they aspire to join, especially hoping to collaborate one day with Jacob Slater of Wunderhorse.

For Meridia, the music is a vital release, especially for Elliot, who continues to navigate his autism. They are committed to supporting one another's happiness and health, ensuring their art is a celebration rather than a reflection of the "tortured artist" trope.

The 10 tracks Meridia couldn’t live without: