All That Is Over. SPRINTS

With All That Is Over another new album is released this year by a band that managed to land itself as my personal favourite in one of the past years. SPRINTS managed to do so in 2024 with its debut album 'Letter To Self'. An album that started, for me, with that explosive and über fantastic single 'Literary Mind'.

Only 20 months down the line, including a grueling touring schedule, the Dublin, Ireland based band returns to the pop front with a new album. Karla Chubb (vocals, guitar), Sam McCann (bass, vocals), Jack Callan (drums) and Zac Stephenson (guitar) are on a roll and they want to make the world aware of it.

Can the same band ever make such a huge impact again on an unsuspecting listener, like SPRINTS did with 'Literary Mind'? I'm not stating 100%, but I can't think of one example spontaneously. 'Literary Mind' is the kind of song that made me listen differently to alternative rocksongs. Not even 'Chaise Longue' comes close, as very soon better songs were provided, like 'Wet Dream'. So it is in the 'Mr. Pleasant', 'Hey Jude', Wish You Were Here', 'Space Oddity', 'Jack Candy', 'Take Me Out' and '(I Bet That You Look Good On The) Dance Floor' category.

That is all in the past, all that is over, as SPRINTS claims itself. With a new album, there's some sort of a new slate. From the very first moment I listened to All That Is Over, I knew that I would not be disappointed by the album. The way it starts, already signals that the album has an inner tension that makes you want to listen. 'Abandon' draws the listener in, making me wonder what will happen next. There is no release, just Karly Chubb sharing with the world that she "used to live here". That calm continues with 'To The Bones'. A single riff is played on an acoustic guitar(!) over and over. Under Chubb's voice and that guitar again a mood is created that makes me wonder will the release come. And as soon as Chubb shares that it is cold to the bone, the band goes off. After a while that single riff returns from under that unslaught. Another strong feature comes forward there as well. Chubb may have a voice like a foghorn at times, when she sings together with one of the male members of SPRINTS, things become stronger and varied.

Further on on the album the energy is released with full abandon. Starting with single 'Descartes' the band stops holding back and shows the other side that it is so good at, the alternative rock band lending some elements from punk, including some anger that the band is not afraid of showing. Porridge Radio and Wet Leg are references of other recent bands in this segment that lead the pack in my view and all female fronted. But with 'Something's Gonna Happen', I'm even reminded of Tramhaus. There's even a link in the title 'Make It Happen'. The song is fantastic by the way and shows how varied SPRINTS can sound successfully.

SPRINTS without any issue keeps that level of energy going and with All That Is Over proves it is far from a one album band. This album is at least as strong as 'Letter To Self' and may well prove to be better in the months to come. Although it is still a long way off before the band is playing over here, I'm already looking forward to it. And that number one spot this year? Time will tell, but SPRINTS is a contender for certain.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can listen to and order All That Is Over here:

 https://sprintsmusic.bandcamp.com/album/all-that-is-over