Anamanaguchi today released ‘Sucker Punch’, their exhilarating & mystifying new single co-produced by Dave Fridmann (The Flaming Lips, MGMT). Featuring vocals from the full band of Peter Berkman (guitar/vocals), Ary Warnaar (guitar/vocals), James DeVito (bass/vocals), and Luke Silas (drums/vocals), the digi-shoegaze track pairs absurdist free-verse lyrics with an unpredictable structure, as dreamy layers of guitars and digital samples bloom into an explosive, arena-ready wall of sound. The track is out now alongside a glitched-out video filmed on-tour and directed by Verebonum (Daniel Egnal + Gabriel Lee), with VFX by Gobluna.
“We made an early sketch of ‘Sucker Punch’ when we were living at the American Football house. We recorded a rough version to 4-track, but its weird form kept us from bringing it to Tarbox when we made Anyway. After experiencing the unique process of recording with Dave Fridmann, we brought it back to him knowing how fun it’d be to make this kind of track together,” explains Warnaar.
“On ‘Sucker Punch’ we went for something more free-form than algorithm-optimized–we wanted something that could feel like the climax of a surreal film rather than a pop song. And the lyrics are kinda freaky, painting the picture of this sort of commiserably pathetic character. An apex weirdo, pretending to be tough but kinda just projecting it, and who forgot about his roommate,” adds Berkman. “We wanted it to feel fully mundane and fully surreal.”
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘SUCKER PUNCH’ HERE
‘Sucker Punch’ follows their anthemic single ‘Yeah I Guess’, the critically-acclaimed introduction to their hyperpunk era that earned praise and support from Rolling Stone (Songs You Need to Know), The Verge (feature), FLOOD Magazine, Guitar World (Best Songs of September), Earmilk, MXDWN, The Needle Drop (New Music Friday), Punknews, Northern Transmissions, and more. Anamanaguchi are on-tour now supporting ‘Madeon’s Victory Live Tour,’ including upcoming shows at Brooklyn’s The Great Hall at Pacha NYC (11/14) and Chicago’s Radius (11/21). A full itinerary is below and tickets for all shows are on-sale now HERE.
These two 2026 tracks continue a prolific period since the release of their critically-acclaimed 2025 LP Anyway–which flipped their typically meticulous digital process on its head–and their expansive chiptune video game score for Scott Pilgrim EX released earlier this year. Also produced and mixed by Grammy-winning Fridmann at Tarbox Road Studios, Anyway was called “the album the band were born to make” (Bandcamp Daily), earning great reviews and support from Pitchfork (7.5/10 & My Perfect 10), Alternative Press, The AV Club, and more. NPR Music raved that the record “just absolutely rips.”
Praise for Anyway (2025)
“Anyway doesn’t ask skeptics to forget everything they know about the group; rather, it just replaces the expansive, intimidating lore of its past with more familiar touchstones” – Pitchfork (7.5/10)
“It’s totally different… very guitar heavy… just absolutely rips. I could’ve picked any song on this album”
NPR Music All Songs Considered
“It’s both a surprise and the album the band were born to make…. Despite the musical pivot, Anamanaguchi continues to hit all the right notes: sumptuous melodies, propulsive bangers, and ingenious usage of retro technology. One of the most underrated bands of the century just put out another classic.”
Bandcamp Daily (Album of the Day)
“Anyway serves as an uncharacteristic foray into analog pop-punk—a soundtrack of four friends hanging out IRL rather than over headsets.”
FLOOD Magazine
“Anyway could be likened to a digital avatar turning into flesh and blood, but Anamanaguchi have always functioned as a proper band, so the album is more of a re-emphasis of their rock roots than a total transformation.”
All Music
“…the band has never sounded more harmonious than they do right now.”
Northern Transmissions
“Anyway sees Anamanaguchi finally find their voice, both literally and figuratively.. From start to finish, [the LP] very much still has the essence of Anamanaguchi’s previous work, and features several pixellated hallmarks which the band is best known for.”
Earmilk
