Some great things have come out of Italy: my guy Del Piero, mozzarella (that hurt to type because I’m vegan and my god I miss mozzarella!), Litfiba and just the country in general is delightful (okay was because the government like everywhere else in the world, is shit!) There are some incredible bands from Italy too, and one in particular is couchgagzzz. Their only fault is their obsession/love for Man United but hey- we all have our faults. The band are from Bari (my dad’s side of the family are from Puglia, so maybe it’s not all so bad!)

Last year the band released their debut record, GOSPORTS. The band have described themselves as being “obsessed with steroids and sports.” And you know what? Absolutely checks out when you listen to the record. This is the kind of record you’d listen to whilst at the gym, and I think I’ve now found my new favourite band to listen to whilst I work out.

The band have also been influenced by Australian rock bands such as Gee Tee, and honestly, they’d fit in perfectly next to bands like The Chats, CHEAP-SKATE and Gee Tee. They’ve got that Pub Rock sound nailed, but there’s also this excellent 60s Psych Rock feel which is the most apparent on Bad Holes. The record is only 8 songs long, but those 8 songs matter. Every single song shows why this band HAVE to be heard. You want fast Punk songs? They’ve got you covered. It’s like being in a questionable bar where years’ worth of beer has ended up on the floor and walking on it to get to the bar is like an obstacle course. The band formed only in 2021, and the debut came out last year. In that short amount of time, they have genuinely created something worth listening to and becoming obsessed with. Again, they’re a band you need to see live. There’s something about their sound that just screams it. The songs are fast and heavy, and you’ll have them on repeat for days. Hours. Months. Eternity.

They may say that Man United are the strongest team in the world (which we all know they aren’t!) but this band are one of the strongest around. To have perfected a sound like this in just one record- what else could they possibly do next? Probably take over the world to be honest, and rightfully so.

couchgagzzz are a solid Punk band with something to say. They’ll have you hooked with just one listen, and before you know it- you too are hooked on steroids and heading up to Old Trafford on match days with a dodgy burger and overpriced bootleg scarf round your neck (I live close to Old Trafford, and I see this A LOT.) *Note- please don’t take steroids. The songs are made to be yelled back at the band in a football chant type of way. They’ve captured the beautiful backbone of Punk with their sound along with generously fuzzy vocals- this band are so easy to love and just be obsessed with. The songs are meant to be played loud and loved- the sheer speed in the songs is addictive especially on Burak Won. The way this song smacks you right in the face is heavenly!

For me, they’ve got that same energy as one of my favourite bands dr chan. There’s this hyper energy that is just off the scale on this record, and one listen isn’t enough. I want their music playing in my ears on repeat all the time. In fact, once I finish my break at work- I’m going to have the band on repeat in the hopes I focus because my brain does not do too well when it comes to concentrating!