SPRINTS is a garage punk, noise rock, post-punk & garage rock revival band from Dublin, Ireland consisting of bassist Sam McCann, drummer Jack Callan & frontwoman/guitarist Karla Chubb. Releasing their full-length studio debut Letter to Self at the beginning of last year to lightly moderate reception, I was a lot more interested about their sophomore effort here going into it based off some of the singles we got building up towards it & learning that they had signed to the historic Seattle, Washington indie label Sub Pop Records.

“Abandon” opens up with a goth rock intro singing about all hope being left behind whereas “To the Bone” turns up the gothic influences painting the image of a dark evening. “Descartes” meshes alt-rock with post-punk revival & noise rock telling those growing disillusioned & angry with the world that hope’s around the corner while “Need” questions the love of this person that Karla needs in her life.

We get more goth rock vibes on the b-side single “Beg” poking fun at the idea that often it’s those in positions of power that preach their moral codes & judgments whilst committing the most heinous crimes themselves but once “Rage” embracing a garage rock direction calling out the false prophets & false promises, “Something’s Gonna Happen” observes a wave breaking beneath the brim asking that very question.

“Pieces” makes a final call of distress pleading for help after a woman left Karla’s mind a state of undress while the final teaser “Better” takes inspiration from My Bloody Valentine’s shoegaze landmark of a sophomore effort Loveless. “Coming Alive” speaks of the attempts to break Karla apart & “Desire” sends it all off singing about a fear inside this woman bringing up a fire.

Set against the backdrop of a litany of atrocities, SPRINTS’ inaugural opus under Sub Pop Records finds themselves trying to make sense of it all during the course of All That’s Over doubling down on the visceral spirit of fierce artistic honesty that’s always been at heart. They push their dynamics into richer territory mixing alternative rock, post-punk, garage punk, gothic rock, grunge, noise rock, shoegaze, garage rock revival & post-punk revival whilst observing the world on the verge of apocalypse.

Score: 4.5/5

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