Rizzle Kicks - Competition Is For Losers

Out of all the reunions you could have predicted, Rizzle Kicks was probably firmly in the “unexpected” section. With catchy pop hooks and laugh-out-loud personality in plentiful supply they became a defining pillar of the early 2010s chart world - stacking out venues and claiming their spot in fans’ hearts ever since. Defined and preserved in time, what Rizzle Kicks are in 2025 is met directly by ‘Competition Is For Losers’. Throwing nostalgia to the side, it captures who Jordan and Harley are now.

Evolved and with an unsaid level of maturity, it’s an album that pulls together the sounds and styles of right now into one glorious mix that makes every second feel urgent. That’s not to say their trademark one-liners and feel-good vibes have been cast to one side. If anything they’ve found a stunning new album which floats and blends genre with ease.

The swampy sweet disco turns of ‘Gumdrops’ and the chopping ‘Vice’ feel ready-made to set fire to festival stages and headline rooms in the same way their earlier material does, while ‘It’s A Tricky One’ rolls through afterparties and late nights with a knowing snap.

Throughout, ‘Competition Is For Losers’ clicks you into the sort of feel-good groove that’s pretty damn hard to get out of, in the best way possible. Yet it’s ‘Pleasure & Pain’ sitting nearly halfway into the album that cuts deep. A gut-wrenching track referencing everything from Grenfell, Caroline Flack and a brutal look back on the emotions that came when starting out as a band - it’s s jaw-dropping hit of emotion.

At the heart of everything is the bond between Jordan and Harley, and it’s that which brings Rizzle Kicks into 2025 with a newfound vitalness. This is no nostalgia act; Rizzle Kicks have returned with a clear voice.