BUILT TO BE FELT: YARD’S DEBUT EP DEMANDS A PULSE

artist spotlight: dublin’s genre-dodging trio crash through convention on their volatile self-titled debut ep

After turning more than a few heads last year and steamrolling into 2025 with no signs of slowing, Dublin’s noise-slinging, genre-dodging trio YARD have officially dropped their self-titled debut EP. Four tracks deep and burning with intent, YARD doesn’t just introduce the band - it grabs you by the collar and drags you into their world, kicking, glitching, and fully unfiltered.

Imagine a place where post-punk meets heavy-lidded techno in a basement full of strobes and static. That’s where YARD live. Their sound is tense, grimy, and surprisingly euphoric in flashes. If you’ve caught them live, you’ll know: their shows are immersive, their energy unnerving, and they’ve got this looming, eerie mascot known only as Bucketman.

The EP opens with “Trevor”, a sprawling, cinematic introduction that sets the tone fast and hard. Think anxious synths, cathartic release, and vocals that feel screamed from a rooftop. Next up is “Appetite”, all twitchy grooves and cold stares, built around a single, unsettling line lifted from Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu remake: “I am an appetite.” 

Third track “Slumber” starts like it’s gasping for air - claustrophobic and crawling - before breaking into a dark, kinetic groove that feels born for the club. They close with “Sunlight”, which longtime fans will recognise as a live favourite finally laid to tape. It’s unhinged in the best way - full of crashing rhythms and sharp-edged synths.

“The four tracks on this EP have existed in our live set, in one capacity or another, for quite some time now. In many ways, they represent some of the earliest iterations of our vision for YARD. It’s music for escapists—those who need a healthy distraction from the challenges of everyday life. Until now, you could only hear these tracks live at our shows, which is still where they’re best experienced—but it’s great to have them out in the world for regular listening.” - Dan Malone

What YARD captures isn’t just noise, or even catharsis - it’s a movement away from predictability. It’s a debut with a spine. Messy, feral, alive - and we’re all for it.