SPRINTS don’t do half measures. Even for a small in-store show—200 people crammed shoulder to shoulder, tickets snapped up long in advance—the Dublin four-piece treated the release of All That Is Over like a proper event. There were stripped-back acoustic versions or teaser sets. Instead, the band played their second album in full with real intent.
The punk bite that defined their debut was still firmly in place—crunching riffs, pounding drums, and hooks that demanded movement. This time, though, those elements threaded through the new record’s darker, more brooding edges. At times, the songs leaned into something gothic, even spectral, before snapping back into head-down punk drive. That push and pull dynamic made the set feel raw yet controlled.
The Nirvana comparisons write themselves, especially with frontwoman Karla wielding a red Jag-Stang, Cobain’s signature Fender. Some fuzzed-up melodies carried the same ragged intensity, but never in a way that felt like imitation. SPRINTS have carved out their own voice: sharp and present, feeding on familiar touchpoints but spitting them back out with a distinctly Irish bite.
The atmosphere had its own charm. Inside, the energy was closer to a pub gig than a promo slot. Relaxed, unpretentious, and more than a little sweaty. I grabbed a Guinness beforehand. It just felt right, given their Dublin roots. At one point, bassist Sam McCann, clearly exhausted from constant travel, picked up the wrong guitar to start a number. The rest of the band laughed it off, and so did the crowd. It was a light moment that only added to the easy mood of the night.
The audience stayed fully engaged, although a few seemed caught off guard by the album’s slower, more atmospheric turns. Some reviewers have criticized the mix of tempos and moods, but I found it refreshing. Those stretches of space only made the heavy moments hit harder. They also gave the performance shape and depth instead of an hour of nonstop throttle. Fans adjusted in real-time, some leaning back to listen closely, before being jolted forward again when the next wave of distortion hit.
Two standouts captured that range. “Desire” channeled Siouxsie and the Banshees. Its jagged edges and moody atmospherics easily made it the most hypnotic moment of the night. Later in the set, “Better” locked into a slower, groovier stride that showcased the band’s range and gave the room space to sway. Both tracks underlined how much the band have grown since their debut. They’re not just louder but more nuanced and confident enough to take risks.
By the end, it was clear the night had landed. A few fans even slipped out a song or two early to secure their spot in the signing queue, which stretched long after the final chord. Fans clutched fresh vinyl and CDs, eager for a word or signature. For an act already tipped as one of Ireland’s most exciting new exports, it was a reminder of how quickly things are moving.
Overall, it was a fine gig that showcased SPRINTS’ live prowess and the strength of their new material. It was not their most explosive show; in-stores rarely are. Still, it was a night that proved exactly why fans are eager to follow the band’s next move. Every ot, every moment made it clear that SPRINTS are building something unmistakably their own.