Cowards is the third studio album by the English post-punk band Squid. It was released by Warp Records on 7 February 2025, and was met with critical acclaim by music critics.
Background.
"Cowards" was recorded after the completion but before the release of the band's second album, "O Monolith", with recording finishing on June 9, 2023. It was inspired by traveling to different countries and reading books about the countries to create what lead singer and drummer Ollie Judge described as a "book of dark fairy tales." Some of these books included Agustina Bazterrica's "Tender is the Flesh" and Ryu Murakami's "In the Miso Soup." 
The lyrics touch on a variety of topics within the overall topic of "evil itself," with "Crispy Skin" being about cannibalism and "Blood on the Boulders" about the Manson murders.
Composition.
"Cowards" has been described as both post-rock and art rock, with influences from a diverse set of other genres, including electronica, folk music, and psych rock. The album was seen as a continuation of the band's distancing from their earlier post-punk sound. Writing for "The Quietus", Cal Cashin described "Cowards" as "A "Pet Sounds", except all of the pets are scorpions, and tarantulas, and maybe some stick insects too".
Release and reception.
"Cowards" was released by Warp Records on 7 February 2025. It follows Squid's 2023 album "O Monolith".
 In a review for "Paste", Alli Dempsey wrote that "Sonically, "Cowards" might be Squid’s most actualized and in-depth venture yet." Writing for "Under the Radar", Nick Roseblade felt that "Cowards" was "the strongest album Squid has released to date".