On ‘Must Be Something Missing’, SickRichard doesn’t waste time easing you in. This nine-track EP arrives loud, heavy, and fully formed, a thumping rock collection built on urgency, tension, and a sense of constant forward motion.
From the outset, it’s clear this is a band confident in their ability to command attention, but also unafraid to pull things apart and let the music breathe when it needs to. The EP-opener sets the tone with a bold statement of intent. Vocals soar and rip through a soundscape that refuses to sit still, shifting and surprising as it barrels forward. There’s weight; thick, driving instrumentation, but it’s the movement within the track that really grips you. SickRichard understand that heaviness doesn’t just come from volume; it comes from contrast, from knowing when to push and when to pivot.
That sense of balance becomes especially clear on standout single ‘Drain’, which hints heavily at synth influences and introduces softer, almost spoken vocals. It’s a moment of release within the EP, subtly stripping back the urgency without losing momentum. Instead, it draws the listener closer, creating a tension of its own before erupting again. The track shakes, rattles, and rolls like a rollercoaster where the track ahead is hidden. ‘Nothing Is Easy’ follows as a fully-fledged rock anthem, opening with a guitar-heavy intro that recalls the grandeur and bite of Nothing But Thieves. Once again, SickRichard’s soaring vocals take centre stage, cementing themselves as the band’s signature weapon.
Elsewhere, ‘Eyes’ leans into a more rambling alternative rock territory. Softer and more indie-tinged, it still retains the power and colour of the rest of the collection, though its overall palette is noticeably darker. It proves that SickRichard can hold attention even when they loosen their grip on sheer force. Closing track ‘Pure Morning’ takes a left turn into wandering psych rock territory, offering a reflective and satisfying end to the EP. The guitar lines here are particularly strong, hypnotic, textured, and deeply pleasant to sit with, allowing the record to drift out rather than crash to a halt.
‘Must Be Something Missing’ feels anything but incomplete. It’s an EP that thrives on momentum and mood, heavy without being hollow, ambitious without losing its emotional core. SickRichard sound like a band not just finding their footing, but stomping it firmly into the ground, and daring you to keep up.
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