London-based Uzumaki have brought the goods with a 4 track EP that is solid, fun and nostalgic whilst still managing to sound fresh and exciting.
A lot of releases get described as ‘eagerly anticipated’ and this one is no exception because I know I have been eagerly anticipating it for weeks.
I first came across the London 4-piece Uzumaki when they opened for WACO in Brighton in July this year, alongside California’s Decent Criminal.
I was struck by the infectious melody of their songs, the youthful fun of their performance and the sometimes intricate composition of it all – it was a great introduction to the band.
Tracks like ‘Ugly Hunger‘ and previous single ‘Loserella‘ became a fixture on my playlists whilst I awaited their debut 4 track EP- ‘Square One‘ – to come out. And it was definitely worth the wait.
These EP recordings were the first time the band entered a studio proper with all prior singles (most recently ‘Laughed’/’Loserella’) being self-recorded.
The studio they decamped to – Sick Room Studios – is remotely positioned in Norfolk where all of Uzumaki grew up and met for the first time.
‘Square One‘ brings together lead single ‘Ugly Hunger’, ‘On and On‘ (previously released exclusively via Bandcamp) with two brand new tracks ‘Flip Side‘ and ‘Hey There‘.
The opener- ‘Hey There‘- has a long instrumental intro (it’s the 2 minute mark that Alex Cheung’s vocals kick in) gradually building up and getting more nuanced and sprawling until the tempo suddenly changes. Then we hear what I think Uzumaki do so well- 90s inspired indie/pop punk with Cheung’s vocals almost innocent sounding in amongst a cacophony of sonic guitars and punk rock drums.
‘Ugly Hunger‘ is an absolute banger nestled in as track two- it’s an incredibly strong and accomplished piece of song writing- the Green Day-esque lead riff breaks into a more swirling Britpop style guitar around the chorus. This is my favourite track on the EP and one of my top tracks of 2023.
Third track ‘On and On‘ could be described as the ‘ultimate road trip anthem’ an atmospheric track with a relentlessly ever-present bass line courtesy of Conor Thompson, with Cheung singing of “driving my car into the night” and “never coming back again“.
EP closer ‘Flip Side‘ draws us in with some rollicking drums from Alex Fletcher and a great sing-a-long chanting chorus (the way the oi punks do) but it’s a much more complex track with Cheung and Nick Allen’s guitars filling up the space and an extended band jam to fade out the track.
‘Square One‘ are four very strong tracks from a band that will surely be destined for big things. Yes, there’s a strong 90s feel to the EP and you can feel the influence of 90s indie and pop punk but it doesn’t sit comfortably in any one camp- Uzumaki clearly work hard to create a sound of their own and they do it very well. And sometimes you just want well written, catchy songs performed by a band with a new vigour and fresh take on things.
I would definitely recommend giving this EP a listen and try and catch the band live if you can! They have some dates across the South over the next few months.
‘Square One’ is out NOW. Stream or purchase the EP HERE.
Tour Dates below.
Main Photo Credit: Chiara Gambuto
26/08 – Bristol – Exchange (Gruesifest)
14/09 – London – Blondies (w/ Muttering)
16/09 – Brighton – bees mouth (w/ Muttering)
02/10 – London – News Cross Inn (w/ Superbloom)
06/10 – London – Till The Fest
29/11 – Norwich – Voodoos (w/ snake eyes)
14/12 – London – Signature Brew (w/ Out of Love)
Follow Uzumaki on Their Socials
Need more Punk In Your Life?
Album review: Descendents – ‘Bonus Fat’
Well, the Descendents certainly need no introduction from us! The Californian quartet helped lay the foundations for much of what could be termed pop-punk, with
Omega Tribe urge us to download and purchase their new charity track ‘Music And Love’ in aid of TransActual
In brand-new song ‘Music And Love’ we have a tune that Omega Tribe are especially proud of. The proceeds made from digital downloads of this
Rocket From The Crypt, London Electric Ballroom, 7th Nov 2026
Ooooh boy, this one has ‘special’ written all over it. Crash your car into a giant beehive and you wouldn’t create half the buzz that
Album review: SWAMPFOOT unleash their self-titled debut
Brace yourselves, folks, because this record is HUGE. No, not in terms of popularity – not yet, anyway – but it sounds as intimidating and
Punk Rock Creatives Podcast Season 3: New Voices and More DIY Chaos!
From Kitchencore and orchestral Punk to international guests, charity compilations and recording podcasts in the car, we continue to celebrate the wonderfully unpredictable world of
SAVAK/Dealing With Damage/Sinews, London Red Sun Moon, 5th Nov 2026
All hail the Fender Jaguar and Jazzmaster! All three of this evening’s bands feature one of these guitars, which have long been the instrument of
I’m Molly Tie- I Love punk! I play drums (badly), write a lot about punk (not as badly) and I’m particularly interested in issues relating to women in the music scene.
Did you know that we are 100% DIY? We run our own game. No one dictates to us, and no one drives what we can or cannot put on our pages – and this is how we plan to continue!
