The Lock In

Irish post-punk quartet Scustin release their upcoming EP The Lock In, a riotous and reflective closing chapter to their acclaimed debut album Confessions Of A Pub Talker. Arriving like the aftermath of a long night, The Lock In lingers, hazy, unfiltered and unpredictable, like the stale smell of cigarettes at an afters. The EP serves as a chaotic full stop on this era of the band, capturing the strange, honest and often absurd moments that emerge when the lights come up and the conversations deepen. Equal parts absurd and sincere, The Lock In expands on Scustin’s exploration of community, pub culture and identity, pushing their sound into tighter, heavier territory. Produced by Richie Kennedy (Interpol, The Murder Capital, Shame, Ride, The Libertines, The Last Dinner Party), the EP is driven by pulsating rhythms, sustained guitar tension, and bursts of sax and synth, balancing unease with release while maintaining the band’s infectious, groove-led core. The EP brings together recent singles “Dodgy Box Pyramid Scheme” and “Scustinism” alongside two new tracks, “The Ballad of Scampi Fries” and “Pub Talkin’ , ” completing the narrative arc of this phase of the band. At a time where identity and cultural values feel increasingly fluid, Scustin balance satire with sincerity, offering something both irreverent and life-affirming. With The Lock In, Scustin don’t just close a chapter, they burn it out. What comes next remains to be seen.