The Sore Losers
| Company type | Independent |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Founder | Jan Straetemans, Cedric Maes, Kevin Maenen, Alessio Di Turi |
| Headquarters | Belgium |
| Products | Rock music albums and singles |
| Website | www |
The Sore Losers is a rock ensemble from Belgium, established in 2009 by Jan Straetemans (vocals, guitar), Cedric Maes (guitar), Kevin Maenen (bass), and Alessio Di Turi (drums). Their music fuses elements of rock, country, blues, and garage, resulting in a unique, unpolished rock style.
History
In March 2010, The Sore Losers advanced to the finals of Belgium's Humo's Rock Rally competition. Shortly thereafter, they secured a contract with Excelsior Recordings and launched their debut album, self-titled, in October 2010. Their track "Beyond Repair" remained on De Afrekening (Studio Brussel) for 21 consecutive weeks, matching the longest chart presence of that year. They appeared at Pukkelpop in 2010 and were scheduled to headline the main stage in 2011 before the event was canceled due to extreme weather conditions.
Their sophomore release, Roslyn (February 2014), reached number 5 on the Ultratop albums chart and sustained its position for an entire year. Singles such as "Working Overtime," "Don't Know Nothing," and "Tripper" achieved top rankings on Studio Brussel's De Afrekening and Hotlist charts. The band performed at Rock Werchter in July 2014 and sold out a headline concert at Ancienne Belgique in December, which was broadcast on Acht. They received nominations at the Belgian Music Industry Awards for 'Alternative' and 'Breakthrough Artist'. In February 2015, Roslyn was released across Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, followed by a club tour in Germany alongside Triggerfinger.
November 2015 saw the recording of their third album, Skydogs, completed within ten days at Vox Ton studios in Berlin under the guidance of Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb. Released on 18 March 2016, it garnered widespread critical praise throughout the Benelux region. The album’s sound is influenced by early works from Black Sabbath, Jack White, The Stooges, and The Black Keys, emphasizing rock and psychedelic elements. In April 2016, they sold out another headline performance at Ancienne Belgique. In France, Skydogs was honored as "Album de la semaine" by Canal+ and recognized as "Best Album of 2016" by Rock & Folk Magazine. Extensive touring followed across France, including opening slots for White Denim, Boss Hog, The Bellrays, and Lords of Altamont before leading their own headline shows.
March 2017 marked The Sore Losers' entrance into the U.S. market with performances at SXSW in Austin and various industry showcases in New York. Their single "Nightcrawler" premiered on TeamCoco, Conan O'Brien’s digital platform, accompanied by a live video debut through Guitar World.
Their fourth studio project, Gracias Señor (2018), was released under their independent label Ultra Elektric Records. Produced by James Petralli and Steve Terebecki from White Denim at DAFT Studio, it saw distribution in Benelux and France via Caroline Music. That year included a return to Pukkelpop and a sold-out tour.
On 22 October 2021, The Sore Losers unveiled their fifth album Ultra Elektric through Suburban Records. Recorded between June 2020 and April 2021 across GAM, DAFT, and their own Ultra Elektric Studios, this release showcases the band’s ongoing artistic growth and self-reliant production approach.
Influences
The Sore Losers draw their musical influence from blues rock groups of the 1960s and 1970s such as MC5, Led Zeppelin, and The Yardbirds. Their band name is taken from a cult classic film directed by John M. McCarthy. Their third studio release, Skydogs, pays homage to the nickname of guitarist Duane Allman.
Albums
- 2010: The Sore Losers (Excelsior Recordings/V2)
- 2014: Roslyn (Excelsior Recordings/V2)
- 2016: Skydogs (Excelsior Recordings/V2)
- 2018: Gracias Señor (Ultra Elektric Records / Caroline Music)
- 2022: Ultra Elektric (Suburban Records)
Singles
- 2010: "Beyond Repair"
- 2014: "Working Overtime", "Don't Know Nothing", "Tripper"
- 2016: "Cherry Cherry", "Emily", "Got It Bad"
- 2018: "Dark Ride", "Eyes On The Prize"