Hitchin (UK) quartet Brutalligators sound bright and lively on their second LP, a fully DIY project recorded, produced, and mixed by drummer Rhys Kirkman. Their blend of melodic punk rock with classic indie-rock rhythms and guitar lines hits that sweet spot of indie punk done right.

At first blush, this isn’t an angry record tackling grand societal or political issues. Instead, the songs orbit relationships, identity, and gender—topics that, coincidentally or not, feel increasingly politicized. But Brutalligators approach them with warmth and defiance rather than bitterness. You hear it clearly in Nice Try, where the line “I’m still here and I’m alive, so fuck you, nice try” lands like a small victory rather than a snarl. The resilient catch phrase of “being still here” pops up elsewhere on the record as well.

Brutalligators have created a record that breathes—loud anthems, softer admissions from a band sounding very comfortable where they are right now. Buy Still Here at Fika Recordings.

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