I got hooked on “All Worked Up” the moment it kicked in. The whole thing has this urgent, boiling-over vibe, like someone’s trying to keep it together but everything’s pressing in. There’s something about how the vocals move from low-key to unhinged that keeps you in it. One second, it’s “Maybe I don’t want to waste my time”. The next, it’s “Now let’s go and fuck ’em up”. It’s like hearing someone argue with themselves in real time. The guitar work grinds underneath, almost like it’s pacing, and the drums keep everything clenched. It’s raw without sounding chaotic, which makes it even more effective.
Knowing Vanguarde is basically Ben Ellis doing this on his own makes it hit differently. It’s one guy, building this thing from scratch in Worthing, playing all the instruments and tracking everything himself. That kind of control means nothing’s faked. You can tell this isn’t about ticking boxes. It’s more like he had to get this out of his system and didn’t wait around for anyone’s permission.
The chorus pulls you in and makes you want to yell it out your car window after a long day, or play it loud while walking home with your head down and your fists clenched. It sounds like burnout, anger, and weirdly, a little bit of freedom.
If you haven’t heard it yet, go fix that. And definitely follow Vanguarde on Spotify and socials so you don’t miss what’s coming next.
