The Overjoyed have dropped their new single titled ‘Joy Vampire’. That bassline had me with the first note, but the guitars with the bass and bombastic drums kept me throughout. This is reclamation of punk from the mass media subterfuge that is the music industry.
Just enough of that retro to claim it’s roots, the rest is where it should be going and going on with a mix of rock and rebel with anarchy as the main course and retribution as a contribution. This is music.
About ‘Joy Vampire’
Blending the unmistakable Bay Area punk aesthetic with anthemic pop sensibility, The Overjoyed craft a sound that’s both infectiously energetic and emotionally cutting. Their songs may sound happy and vibrant, but as always, there’s a biting irony lurking beneath the surface – a reflection of the band’s name itself.
“‘Joy Vampire’ started as a diss track to someone we once collaborated with,” the band explains. “His narcissistic approach to music and how he treated people around him didn’t align with what punk means to us – being genuine, supportive, and part of a community. Punk rock isn’t about being ‘cool’ or ‘successful.’ It’s about expressing your truth and standing with good people against a grim world.”
Musically, bassist Thanos Manolopoulos calls the song his proudest moment in the band’s history: “Joy Vampire was the one that pushed us out of our musical safe zone. It started the creative journey that shaped our upcoming self-titled album. The bassline just clicked – and when we added that one-note piano in the last chorus, inspired by The Stooges’ ‘I Wanna Be Your Dog,’ we knew we had something special.”
Frontman Leo Overjoyed adds: “As we grow older, we realize we can’t fit in with everyone like we used to. After a tough experience, Thanos and I poured all that frustration and emotion into ‘Joy Vampire.’ It’s about those people who drain your energy: the real-life joy vampires.”
The track, recorded at the band’s own Buduzi Studios in Athens, was produced by The Overjoyed, mixed by Marios Adamopoulos, and mastered by Christian Wright at Abbey Road Studios, giving it both grit and polish.
“Joy Vampire” follows the release of ‘Don’t Listen!’, a fast and unapologetic song that marked a raw, instinct-driven shift in their sound. Together, these singles continue the evolution that began with 2023’s Pressurepop EP, expanding on their dirtier, mid-tempo power-pop edge and moving beyond the polished ‘90s punk energy of 2019’s Aced Out.
With Vangelis Dimos (drums), Thanos Manolopoulos (bass, backing vocals), Stef Moysidis (guitars, backing vocals), and Leo Overjoyed (vocals, guitars) contributing more equally than ever before, The Overjoyed are entering their most collaborative and creatively fearless era yet.
About The Overjoyed
Formed in Athens, The Overjoyed debuted in 2011 with their EP 32, followed by full-length albums Boomdoggle (2016), Aced Out (2019), and Pressurepop (2023). Known for their high-energy shows and ironic name and contrasting upbeat music with emotionally complex lyrics, the band has toured extensively, playing in the UK, Europe, Japan, Spain, Portugal, and Turkey.
They’ve previously supported punk icons like Green Day and The Offspring and appeared at major festivals including Release Festival, Ejekt Festival, Manchester Punk Festival, KNRD Fest, and Vive Le Punk Rock Festival.
After years of relentless touring and evolution, The Overjoyed are poised to break bigger than ever. With a new album on the horizon and a dream support slot with Green Day now under their belts, The Overjoyed are entering a new story- and this is just the opening chapter.