The Restarts

Born in London in 1995, The Restarts operate in a street punk and hardcore punk vein played at high speed, with short, tense and blunt songs driven by gang vocals, staccato riffs and an energy deeply rooted in the British DIY scene. Originally formed around Kieran Plunkett, Darragh O’Neill and Mik Useless, the trio’s lineup evolved over the years — notably with Alan Campbell’s departure and the arrival of guitarist Robin Licker in 2003 — before the rhythm section underwent further changes. The Restarts made their name on London’s independent punk circuit and went on to tour extensively across the UK, Europe and the United States, sharing bills with numerous hardcore and punk acts. Their discography includes Slumworld (2002), System Error (2003), Outsider (2007), the Mobocracy split with MDC (2009), A Sickness of the Mind (2013) and Uprising (2019). The band’s sound remains faithful to a direct, abrasive approach — between hardcore urgency, street choruses and songwriting shaped by social and political themes — which firmly situates The Restarts within the continuity of English protest punk.