Surge, the sophomore album by French post-punk quartet Swirls, thrives on the same scrappy charm that powered their 2024 debut Top of the Line, but this time the amps crackle a little louder and the nerves sit closer to the surface. The eleven new tracks present wiry riffs, tossed-off hooks, and a kind of organized chaos that feels both careless and oddly precise. Many bands attempt this blend, but few land on something this original, diverting, and consistently captivating on the dancefloor. It’s restless, punchy, and surprisingly sincere: a garage-punk-tinged jolt that expresses burnout, boredom, and brief flashes of joy. Bonus points for the energizing vocals.

Surge—recorded and mixed by Hugo Allard—is out digitally and on vinyl LP through Howlin’ Banana Records and A Tant Rêver Du Roi Records.

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