In a shed-turned-gym behind their family home in Trim, Co Meath, Irish hardcore duo Spearside have carved out a space for reflection, rebellion, and raw honesty. Their new EP, Couldn’t Be Told, out October 22nd 2025, marks a sonic and emotional turning point — a self-produced riot of punk energy and introspective grit that refuses to flinch.
Brothers Oisín and Cian Walsh have long been known for their frenzied, riff-heavy sound, but this release digs deeper. The title track, which dropped today alongside a DIY-shot video, sets the tone: a blistering punk anthem that channels the urgency of Judge and Youth Of Today while grappling with the arrogance of youth and the bittersweet clarity of hindsight.
“The title encapsulates the meaning of the song,” says Oisín. “It’s about watching someone go down a sad road, and trying to learn from their mistakes. Steve Albini once said, ‘If you can understand somebody else’s mistake and not make it, then you’re ahead of the game.’ That stuck with me.”
The video — filmed in the brothers’ pandemic-era home gym — is a visual manifesto of Spearside’s new chapter. It’s raw, unfiltered, and deeply personal. “From this point on, honesty is our song,” Oisín adds. “We weren’t brave enough to fully embrace that in our early singles.”
As the opening chaos of “Couldn’t Be Told” fades, the EP shifts gears. “Sentimental” pairs melancholic guitar lines with a bass groove that feels both curious and cathartic. It’s a moment of psych-tinged breathing space before the band dives back into the melee.
“Stuck Into Me” sees Cian step up to the mic, delivering a vocal performance that’s equal parts Helmet-inspired aggression and self-deprecating vulnerability. The chorus hits hard — a bruised anthem for anyone who’s ever faced their own reflection and flinched.
The EP closes with a punked-up homage to Agent Orange’s “No Such Thing,” a nod to Spearside’s wide-ranging influences and their refusal to be boxed in.
Spearside’s visual identity is as layered as their sound. The cover art for Couldn’t Be Told features a vintage photo of their father and grandfather watching a long jump competition in Cavan — a quiet moment of generational connection. It echoes the artwork for their previous EP Hatchet Man, which showed their dad playing accordion in the Breffni Boys Band during a 1970s St Patrick’s Day Parade.
These images are part of Spearside’s evolving mythology. Punk, for them, isn’t just rebellion. It’s inheritance. It’s storytelling. It’s memory with distortion pedals.
Spearside return to the stage today at Cultúr 20.0 festival at The Sound House in Dublin, with a headline show at Thomas House set for December 12th. They’re currently recording their debut album, slated for release in 2026 — and if Couldn’t Be Told is any indication, it’ll be their most honest work yet.
“We almost feel we need to get as much new music out there as possible,” says Oisín. “To make up for a year of relative inactivity. With Couldn’t Be Told, we’re doubling down on the heaviness while reintegrating the influences that got us excited about writing music in the first place.”
EP Tracklist
Couldn’t Be Told
Sentimental
Stuck Into Me
No Such Thing
