EP REVIEW: Stimpy – DazGak!

Post-hardcore meets skate-punk on DAZGAK!’s newest record, Stimpy. The Irish quartet have been making a name for themselves since their formation in 2022, from their hometown of Cork to venues across London and Nottingham, thanks in part to their fun blend of classic hardcore and punk that also brings in some elements of math pop. Meaning none of their songs follow any rules and can go in any, and all, directions.

In part this sounds great, yet other parts of the record just sound like distorted noise. Whether you feel that description is a good thing or not, it’s the only statement you think fairly summarises sections of the EP. Another thing we can say: It’s loud. Loud from the very second the record opens with Big In Tucson, where we hear distorted shouts within a medley of garage-rock, skate-punk and pop-punk, meaning that we’ve ended up with a bouncy number that includes a little funky dream pop section. What’s interesting, and a constant feature across the EP, is having a moment of silence towards the end which feels like a moment for the band to stop, breathe, and then kick off the noise again.

As said, songs can go in any and all directions, it can be the loud, bouncy numbers described just now, it can be more moodier numbers, or at least moody on first impression before switching up into something livelier as heard on No Sweat where there’s a heavy emphasis on fuzzy bass that gives it a sci-fi atmosphere. And then we get to the tracks that are a little more experimental, as heard on Tog Go Bog that feels more inspired by 2010s era of pop-punk and includes, what we can only describe, as a witch snarling. Genuinely, listen to it and try to tell us that it doesn’t sound like that.

And then we have songs that, without sounding harsh, just sounds like grumpy teenagers making noise in a garage. We’re looking at you Soulker. Maybe you’ll be into it, maybe you won’t, the record is a mixed bag, but hey, at least we’ve having fun here.

Rating: 6/10

Stimpy is out now via Floodlit Recordings.

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