‘A Modern Job’, new EP from Irish post-punk band Sprints is just the tonic for 2022
Sprints’ new music puts a fire in your belly and helps you forget all your troubles – in the way that only punk can do
Photo: Conor O’Beirne
Sprints are described as ‘garage noise from Dublin, Ireland’. Their EP, A Modern Job, is out on 11th March on Nice Swan Records. The first track, How Does The Story Go? has a slow beat and scuzzy guitars, with lyrics like “I swear I’m the only fucker in this place who isn’t doing fine, and I’m not fine”, which sounds melancholy and downbeat, yet the tone is the opposite. It’s raucous and joyous. In the way that one can lose one’s self in a spiral of whisky-soaked oblivion in some dive bar can be joyous.
One thing I notice is that Sprints feel like they know the difference between verse and chorus, and how a track is supposed to ebb and flow and draw you in. As far as punk sensibilities go, it does this admirably, and rocks and bangs – as the cool kids (I imagine) might say.
When the chorus hits it feels like there is nothing else you can do but hit the nearest dance floor and mosh around, fighting yourself and your demons, and anyone else that gets in your way – losing yourself in a fit of sticky sweat and angry abandon.
The second track is Modern Job. And it’s a bit more driving and relentless that the last, yet it follows a similar pattern. With lyrics like “I wish I was bolder, I wish I was brave / I wish I didn’t count my days by the things I didn’t say,” it puts a fire in your belly and make you want to smash up the system. Or at least have a serious think about doing something rebellious. Maybe writing a sternly worded letter to your MP? God, I need to get out more.
Anyway... back to the matter at hand. This EP feels like a much-needed injection of aggression and adrenalin into your ear holes. Particularly as we welcome in the new year and the pandemic drags on.
Punk spirit by way of intravenous musical drip feels just the tonic.
Remember kids, smash the system.
They don’t speak for us.
