Yungblud has unveiled his latest single, a poignant ballad titled “Zombie,” accompanied by a music video starring Academy Award-nominated actress Florence Pugh. Directed by Charlie Sarsfield and produced by Untold Studios, the video complements the release of Yungblud’s album, IDOLS, which is now available worldwide. This album marks Yungblud’s most ambitious work to date and represents the first installment of a planned double album, with the second part yet to be announced.
The Emotional Inspiration Behind “Zombie”
Yungblud revealed that “Zombie” was inspired by deeply personal experiences involving his grandmother. The song reflects on the trauma she endured, which drastically changed her personality. He described the track as exploring themes of deterioration and isolation, capturing the fear of becoming a burden or embarrassment to loved ones.
“The song was written initially about my grandmother going through serious injury and trauma, leading her to become a different person to who she was before. It’s about the feeling of deterioration and ugliness; shutting out the world and the people we love out of the fear of becoming a burden or an embarrassment.”
—Yungblud
“We all want someone or something to comfort us no matter how we are right now or who we become in the future. But it’s f*cking scary.”
—Yungblud
Details on the IDOLS Album Release and Collectible Editions
The IDOLS album, released on June 20 through Locomotion and Capitol Records, is available digitally, on CD, and across six distinct vinyl editions. These vinyls include standard black, limited edition signed Distant Smoke marble, Shattered State splatter, indie-exclusive signed Supermoon silver, Amazon-exclusive Wishing Well magenta, and Spotify-exclusive Hell and Back two-color variants. Each vinyl comes with one of six collectible double-sided photo lithos that, when combined, form a cross-shaped image.
To enhance the collector experience, pre-orders were opened for frame mattes designed to hold the vinyl inserts or alternate cover CDs, allowing fans to create a cross-shaped collage portrait to display in A1 or A2 frames. Additionally, Yungblud introduced pre-orders for two more alternate cover collage CDs starting with this release. Fans were also teased with a Blood Records exclusive blood-filled vinyl, endorsed via video by rock legend Steven Tyler.
Significance of This Release for Yungblud and Fans
The collaboration of Florence Pugh in the “Zombie” video adds a powerful visual and emotional layer to Yungblud’s heartfelt track. The IDOLS album’s wide range of collectible formats shows a deep engagement with fans and offers something special for vinyl enthusiasts. As the first half of a double album, IDOLS lays the foundation for an expansive project that continues to explore themes of personal pain, connection, and resilience. The forthcoming second part of the album will likely build on these messages, maintaining Yungblud’s momentum in blending music with meaningful storytelling.
