Dawn Of The Freak The Haunted Youth

• 1 Dawn Of The Freak 02:30
• 2 Teen Rebel 04:18
• 3 Stranger 03:39
• 4 Gone 06:58
• 5 Shadows 03:49
• 6 Broken 04:42
• 7 I Feel Like Shit And I Wanna Die 03:36
• 8 House Arrest 04:03
• 9 Coming Home 04:25
• 10 Fist In My Pocket 05:07
• Total Runtime 43:07

Info for Dawn Of The Freak

What a year it’s been for The Haunted Youth! And the best is yet to come for the band centred around Joachim Liebens (29) with the release of debut album ‘Dawn Of The Freak’ on November 4, marking the pinnacle of a dazzling ride that started in the spring of 2021.

The Haunted Youth became indie darlings in Belgium and The Netherlands from the very first single they released. And what’s more, early singles like ‘Coming Home’ and ‘Gone’ also attracted attention in the UK and US straight away, earning praise from such big names as Consequence and NME. The Haunted Youth even made ‘Song of the Day’ (‘Coming Home’) and went in heavy rotation (‘Broken’) on influential radio stations such as KEXP and KCRW. Furthermore, the band gained international Spotify support, featuring on several playlist covers both in Belgium and internationally.

The international release of the album is preceded by the single ‘Teen Rebel’, a dream pop anthem you think you’ve known all your life and that will stay with you all your life. The previous singles also return on ‘Dawn Of The Freak’, like close friends that wrap their arms around you, raising the glass to celebrate life with all its highs and lows. Because for all the highs The Haunted Youth have experienced so far, Liebens has had his share of lows in life. For him making music is a way of facing the demons of his past and writing them out of his system. “It’s therapy, a way of dealing with my existence”, Liebens says. “And I hope this album will be universal and accessible enough for others to enjoy it in the same way.” As dark as the lyrics often are, as a whole and musically the album exudes salvation and connection, implying that it’s okay to feel like shit sometimes. And “it’ll all be over someday soon, I promise you”, Liebens leaves a glimmer of hope in closing song ‘Fist In My Pocket’.

Liebens put his heart and soul in ‘Dawn Of The Freak’, writing all the songs and producing the album. The music of The Haunted Youth echoes the shoegaze and dream pop of musical heroes like Slowdive, The Cure, My Bloody Valentine and DIIV. But the band also has a very characteristic and instantly recognizable sound with that typical dreamy guitar, melancholic synths and Liebens’ velvety voice. A sound both the seasoned indie connoisseur and the average festival goer love, judging by the live sensation The Haunted Youth have become in no time, and the rapturous reception at festivals like Rock Werchter, Best Kept Secret, Pukkelpop, Tomavistas, ESNS and Reeperbahn (including a nomination for the prestigious Anchor Awards!).

The Haunted Youth

The Haunted Youth
The Haunted Youth is the band of Joachim Liebens and the biggest Belgian indie rock sensation of the last few years. After the release of the critically acclaimed debut album Dawn of the Freak and touring almost non-stop, his sophomore album BOYS CRY TOO is set to release in February ‘26. With their debut single Teen Rebel, The Haunted Youth quickly became a dream pop phenomenon in Belgium and beyond. Their hazy indie sound and melancholic charm won hearts across Europe, the UK, and the US. Follow-up singles Coming Home, Broken, and especially Gone—named single of the year by Studio Brussels—cemented their status as one of Belgium’s hottest new bands. Frontman Joachim Liebens blends dreamy guitars, nostalgic synths, and deeply personal lyrics into songs that, while dark in theme, offer comfort and connection. Since the release of debut album Dawn of the Freak in November 2022, the band has toured relentlessly, playing to crowds from London to Madrid. 2025 marks the beginning of the next chapter in their journey, with the release of their 2nd album BOYS CRY TOO in February 2026. The first single, Emo Song, is about being ready to lose everything as long as you gain yourself in the process. The album signals a bold step forward in both sound and storytelling, pushing the band’s emotional and sonic boundaries even further. In 2026, they’ll bring this new chapter to life with a tour that includes stops in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Madrid, and Brussels.

This album contains no booklet.