“Drunk and Rude” - Stressed Chip
Photo Credit: Artist EPK
If you’ve ever woken up after a heavy night wondering how you ended up face down on your mate’s kitchen floor with glitter on your face and one shoe missing, “Drunk and Rude” might just be your new sonic soulmate. This debut EP from Stressed Chip doesn’t ease you in—it throws you headfirst into a technicolour fuzz of feedback, sarcasm, and raw emotion, all wrapped up in a distinctly British alt-rock bow.
The opener, ‘Alter Ego Never Failed,’ kicks in like a hazy dream with your head spinning and your legs refusing to cooperate. It’s beautifully unhinged—psychedelic guitar lines dance drunkenly across a rhythm section that feels just a little…off. But that’s the genius of it. It’s not sloppy, it’s intentional: the sonic equivalent of staggering down the street with purpose. Paired with a surreal animated video about a failed trip to the moon, this track immediately sets the tone—Stressed Chip aren’t here to comfort you, they’re here to tell stories from the chaotic corners of life.
‘Stop Complaining’ is a stripped-back, punky punch in the face aimed squarely at the serial moaners of the world. The re-recorded version is raw, rough around the edges, and exactly as it should be. Recorded mostly live, you can hear the unfiltered energy and frustration bleeding through the speakers. It's tight, it's quick, and it doesn't overstay its welcome. Call it an anthem for the under-catered hospitality worker or just a general PSA to chill the hell out—either way, it lands.
‘Leave Me Alone’ is the slow-burning monster of the EP. This track is a journey, plain and simple. Tuned low and sonically dense, it rides a gritty roller-coaster of angry riffs and trippy breakdowns. The middle eight feels like you've been sucked into a black hole of echo and tension, only to be spat back out by a massive wall of sound. Lyrically, it’s a frustrated middle finger to those energy vampires we all know too well—the ones who just don’t take a hint.
Photo Credit: Artist EPK
The EP closes with its most emotionally heavy track. “Hold” is intimate and explosive in equal measure—a thumping, riff-laden intro that gives way to a verse so tender you almost forget what band you’re listening to. But don’t get too comfortable, because it ramps right back up to punch you in the gut. It’s about the toxicity of hanging on when you should let go, and the lyrics don’t sugarcoat it. It’s vulnerable, angry, and ultimately cathartic.
“Drunk and Rude” lives up to its name—it’s loud, it’s moody, it’s unpredictable, and it’s got attitude by the bucketload. Stressed Chip wear their chaos like a badge of honour. But beneath the distortion and off-kilter grooves, there’s depth: emotional weight, personal struggle, and a desire to make something real.
It’s rare for a debut to feel this honest and self-assured. If this is what Stressed Chip sound like out the gate, we can’t wait to hear what comes next.
“Drunk and Rude” is available now on all major streaming platforms
