The Nicotine Dolls have dropped the official music video for “Gimme Sympathy,” a high-energy track from their forthcoming self-titled sophomore album. The video arrived last night, giving fans an early look at the band’s heavier, more swaggering direction just days before the record arrives October 23 via BMG.
The band—fronted by vocalist and primary songwriter Sam Cieri alongside guitarist John Hays, bassist John Merritt, and drummer Abel Tabares—has built a dedicated following through raw, emotionally direct rock that blends indie grit with soaring hooks. After years of grinding in small clubs, subway busking, and a Broadway stint (Cieri appeared in Once), plus breakout moments like their viral “What Makes You Sad” and covers such as Tina Turner’s “The Best,” they released their debut full-length an Attempt at Romantic in 2025. The new self-titled effort marks a clear evolution: co-produced by Cieri and Marti Frederiksen (Aerosmith, Ozzy Osbourne), with additional input from Desmond Child, it leans into blown-out guitars, pummeling rhythms, and unfiltered explorations of desire, regret, and survival.
“Gimme Sympathy” has been singled out in pre-release coverage for its “fuzzed-out swagger.” Early descriptions and fan reactions frame it as a grimy, hard-rocking cut with in-your-face attitude—grittier and more immediate than some of the band’s earlier confessional material. It has already appeared in recent European setlists, and the official video matches the energy: cinematic and chaotic, with “bad boy” vibes that evoke Aerosmith and Velvet Revolver territory according to early comments. Viewers have praised the visual storytelling, the band’s chemistry, and Cieri’s versatile, raspy delivery amid heavy riffs and driving intensity.
The timing is deliberate. With the full album dropping Friday, the video serves as both a preview and a statement of intent—Nicotine Dolls moving from intimate emotional excavation toward something more audacious and forceful while retaining the honesty that has defined their work. Tracks elsewhere on the record range from the forward-looking “Here to California” to defiant cuts like “To the Wolves” and groove-driven frustration in “Little Games,” all underscored by the same unbridled energy.
For a band that has consistently prioritized vulnerability and live connection—evident in their strong social presence and devoted crowds—the premiere of “Gimme Sympathy” feels like another step in sharpening that identity. The video is now streaming, and the album follows in two days. Fans already calling it a banger have good reason to be locked in for the full record.
