In 2022, Aussie band The Prize released a thoroughly enjoyable EP ‘Wrong Side of Town’. The short release was big on entertainment, and the band’s retro sound played like a superb celebration of a power pop past, with huge nods to bands like The Nerves and The Real Kids influencing their material.

It was expected that The Prize would deliver a full length album soon after, but only a couple of digital singles materialised. These turned out to be a case of quality over quantity, though, with ‘First Sight’ being particularly catchy. That track’s repetitive hook captured the spirit of late 70s power pop even more effectively than any of the previous EP’s material, proving that The Prize’s knack for a great chorus would likely be one of the album’s biggest assets…whenever it was due to arrive.

Fast forward to the second half of 2025 and The Prize have finally confirmed a full length release is on the horizon. ‘In The Red’ will be released via Anti Fade Records in Australia and Goner Records in the US on September 18th.

As part of the build up to that release, the band have shared a new single, ‘From The Night’, which captures The Prize in genuinely rocky form. The choppy riffs driving the chorus cling on rather furiously to an old school power pop sound, but elsewhere, things take a rather tougher stance. From the outset, a howling lead guitar hints at a love of classic hard rock, and a crashy rhythm that drives the verse opts for a high octane sound that’s driven by an equally big melody, but feels a little more raw than expected. Adding a melodic vocal to a punchy sound, parts of the performance share a love for The DiVinyls, and a cheeky lyric and melodic nod to the Ramones’ classic ‘Rockaway Beach’ hints at an equal love for melodic punk. Everything combined sounds like classic Prize, and suggests that this band aren’t merely just relying on a tried and tested approach to their songcraft.

As things progress, it becomes clear that the huge lead guitar during the intro wasn’t a red herring, since The Prize fill the latter part of an already great track with harmonic lines that are even bigger than the track’s chorus hook. It makes sense: a band with three guitarists will want to put their chops to good use…

A number that sounds better – and more assured – with each successive spin, it’s fair to say that if you liked The Prize previously, you’ll absolutely love ‘From The Night’. As a preview of things to come, it’s pretty much perfect.

Take a listen below.