Personal Trainer reveal details on new album, share "Punch Drunk Love"
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Personal Trainer reveal details on new album, share "Punch Drunk Love"

Today, the Dutch alt rock collective Personal Trainer announced their new album Human Assholes, out September 4 via Bella Union. The band also shared the first single "Punch Drunk Love," borrowing the title from the cult classic Paul Thomas Anderson film, as well as dates for their upcoming EU/UK tour.

"Punch Drunk Love" comes with a musiv video directed by Thomas William Foster. Watch/listen to the new song below:

The new single takes on a mellower energy, injecting bits of jangly guitars and woody pianos before gliding into a resonant, plucky upright bass solo. Personal Trainer front man and lyricist Willem Smit keeps the vocals calm and misty, sometimes sinking to just above a whisper.

Yet, the lyrical content of the new track bursts with pining energy. "'Punch Drunk Love’ reminds me of a very strong feeling of being in love, or at least being infatuated by someone, which can then lead to obsession," says Smit via press release. "The band is joined on this song by Susanne Linssen of Hospital Bombers, one of my favourite Dutch bands, and (ex-member) Franti Maresova."

Human Assholes will be an album focusing on the raw outpouring of creativity. Inspired by the Dutch phrase “mijn ei kwijt kunnen,” which roughly translates to "unloading my egg," Personal Trainer aimed to write an album based on environments that have allowed them artistic freedom. Noting that each song was written and recorded with all members of the band in the same room, Smit says:

"Every take that a group of people does simultaneously is a moment that has just happened and is shared by a group of people: if accidents happen, or if things do or do not go off the rails, that is part of what is happening in that performance. You give up some control, but for me, the decision-making became that much easier."

The sound of the new record, then, aims to prioritize the acoustic guitar, giving each track a live feel that pays homage to the past three years of nonstop touring Personal Trainer just experienced. "I have always looked at the role of music in my life with great enthusiasm," adds Smit. “But also in a quite down-to-earth way. It is my greatest passion, but it is also just music, and that is precisely why it is important to me. It is a kind of sandbox I can sit in whenever I want....It really felt like a ‘safe haven’ to sink my teeth into for days, while everything else wasn't going so well."

Personal Trainer also announced a brief EU/UK tour that will take place this summer and fall. After attending summer festivals like The Netherlands' The Great Wide Open, they'll be traveling to cities in The Netherlands, The UK, and Belgium. See here for more information on tickets.

Human Assholes cover art courtesy of Personal Trainer

Human Assholes is out September 4 via Bella Union. Pre-order here. Official tracklist:

  1. Marvin’s Curtain Up
  2. Scrambled Egg
  3. Punch Drunk Love
  4. Bone
  5. Moping
  6. Places!
  7. The Burrows
  8. Barely Guillaume
  9. Hole
  10. Human Assholes
  11. Rim Shot / Event Horizon
  12. Tempo
  13. Tyres Skid
  14. Object Permeance
  15. Letter From A Scentless Realm

Tour dates:

07/17 Knokke-Heist, BE @ Kneistestival 2026
07/25 Balen, BE @ Rock Olmen
08/27 Oost-Vlieland, NL @ Into The Great Wide Open 2026
08/28 Oost-Vlieland, NL @ Into The Great Wide Open 2026
08/29 Oost-Vlieland, NL @ Into The Great Wide Open 2026
08/30 Oost-Vlieland, NL @ Into The Great Wide Open 2026
09/18 Amsterdam, NL @ Carré Terras op de Amstel
10/20 London, UK @ Scala
10/22 Manchester, UK @ Band on the Wall
10/24 Bristol, UK @ Thekla
10/27 Brugge, BE @ Cactus Club
10/28 Antwerpen, BE @ Trix
10/29 Hasselt, BE @ Club AFF


The Needle Drop may earn an affiliate commission via purchases on ticket links through this article.

Victoria Borlando

New York, NY

freelance music journalist and critic

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