‘Letter To Self’ was released in January and is the debut from Dublin band, Sprints. This is such a strong debut album that at times, is hard to believe is the band’s first full length album. ‘Letter To Self’ is predominantly garage punk/rock but you can hear it when the band dips their toes into other genres, such as grunge and pop-rock. There’s an energy throughout the entire album that leaves you wanting more.There’s power in lead singer Karla Chubbs’ voice that perfectly suits the fierce guitar from Colm O’Reilly. Bassist Sam McCann and drummer Jack Callan complete the strong line up. All four artists work well together to create a dynamic album that’s dark yet optimistic, a reminder that good things do still happen. ‘Literary Mind’ is a perfect example of this. It’s the song that gets stuck in my head the most too! A debut album that is very much worth a listen.
There’s “Letter to Self” by Sprints (Bandcamp) which was released at the start of 2024 that made me feel 14 again within a few thudded drum builds, listening to L7 and Babes in Toyland for the first time on the way home from an Idlewild gig. “Letter to Self” is an exceptional debut album, by a band from Dublin, produced by Gilla Band’s Daniel Fox in a way that feels as if everything is ricocheting around Karla Chubb as her voice rises above the glorious racket. It’s an intense and cathartic listen, tackling women’s ongoing fight for bodily autonomy, mental health storms, sexuality, identity, and catholic guilt. Karla Chubb sums it up thus: “No matter what you’re born into, or have experienced, there’s a way to emerge from this and be happy within yourself.”
Sprints’ debut album ‘Letter to Self’ embodies their substantial evolution over the past 3 years. Transforming pain into truth, passion into purpose and perseverance into strength, the Dublin four-piece have steadily grown in stature, releasing two acclaimed EPs and building a fearsome live reputation. ‘Letter to Self’ is the sound of Sprints consolidating and levelling up. Exhibiting their most vulnerable moments and imbuing their visceral garage-punk with a palpable sense of catharsis that we can all benefit from.
debut album “Letter to Self” is out now on City Slang Records!
The Fat Angel Sings 