PUP Releases Bombastic ‘Paranoid’ Single

PUP released their first single in two years, “Paranoid.” The track follows the band’s acclaimed 2022 album, The Unraveling of PUPTheBand.

While PUP — Stefan Babcock, Nestor Chumak, Zack Mykula and Steve Sladkowski — have not officially announced the follow-up to The Unraveling of PUPTheBand, Sladkowski told Consequence last fall that the band is “cooking up” new material. The first taste arrived today in the form of “Paranoid,” helmed by renowned producer John Congleton.

“My favourite part of this song is the breakdown 1:45 in,” PUP guitarist Stefan Babcock said of “Paranoid.” “It’s the heaviest moment in the song, Zack and Steve are going so hard, I’m yelling about all this sad stuff that’s going on with me, and Nestor is just playing the melody from ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’ on the bass. It cracks me up every time I hear it. So fucking funny. It’s a very PUP moment.”

“Paranoid” arrived with a music video by longtime collaborator Jeremy Schaulin-Rioux.

“What started out as a way to keep the bruising and heartbreaking lyrics to ‘Paranoid’ front and center turned into a little love letter for rock band merchandise and the unsung heroes who run the merch table. Special thanks to co-director Clem Hoeney and all the real PUP fans who came out and went so hard for a hundred takes!”

Watch the music video for “Paranoid” below:

PUP is set to head out on Sum 41’s farewell tour on Saturday (January 11). Scroll down for PUP’s itinerary and ticket info.