More Kicks Punch Drunk

Punch Drunk is the second album from London-based trio More Kicks. The band’s self-titled debut album was a concise and ragged lesson in pop songwriting dripping in melody, cynicism and energy—Punch Drunk marks a new era for the band. Heavier, more expansive, more twists and turns. It veers from sparkling harmonies to fearsome riffing in the blink of eye, with never a second wasted. As with the first record, it was recorded live on to 2-inch tape. It’s bottled lightning and the sound of a band firing on all cylinders. James Sullivan aka Sulli (vox / guitar), Kris Hood (drums),and Paolo Mantovani (bass / vox) have cooked up a rare alchemy. The result: a More Kicks song can touch on classic ’60s garage, ’70s NYC rock and roll, jagged ’90s guitar pop—all wrapped in a razor sharp bundle. A glance backwards and a decisive step forwards. “When the world collapsed in 2020, I realised more than ever how much I rely on music and More Kicks,” says Sulli. “This album became a total obsession and a lifeline. Stuck in one place, the songs all came from heartbreak, frustration, anger, hope. It feels like a unique set of circumstances that produced this record and I’m really proud of what we’ve done.”