Specky Cult are back, with a whole new sound and bold punk inspired direction on their latest single Swish.
Gone is the acoustic feel of previous releases, replaced by a punchy, full-bodied sound that immediately grabs you.
The Sex Pistols feeling bass riff which greets you at the beginning of the song sets the theme for the more full-bodied sound that the band has gone for, setting the tone for the rest of the track.
This is immediately joined in the mix by heavy and thumping guitars, which the song’s catchy melody is constructed from.
Lying over the top of this is a set of lyrics which take aim at the current beauty standards and the impact they have upon individuals.
These are delivered with the emotion and personality that you’d expect from a Specky Cult, with the group continuing to build their reputation for strong lyricism.
Add to this a catchy and memorable melody, which reaches its glorious climax during the chorus and you have another great single from Specky Cult, which highlights a different side to the group.
If you’re a fan of indie and post-punk, Swish is sure to offer plenty of thrills and fun. Make sure to also check out their previous album, which I reviewed earlier this year.
Goodsprings’ fun new single shows the band continuing to develop, with an almost big band feel to this swinging ska tune.
Injecting playfulness into your songwriting is the key to producing amazing, fun music, and Goodsprings have done exactly this on their new single, Lo Mejor De Lo Mejor.
It’s fortunate that they’ve managed it with the English translation of the title of the track literally meaning “The Best of The Best”.
The fun nature of the title runs throughout the track, which combines elements of ska, jazz and reggae to produce a lively swing song.
This playfulness is also reflected in the lyrics, which are delivered with a cocky snarl, mirroring the song’s message as a love letter to those who don’t care to fit in.
This unpredictability is an element of the song I thoroughly enjoyed, keeping me on the edge of my seat.
Combined with the big band atmosphere, this leads to delightfully, quirky results, particularly evident in the breakdown of the track, where the group engages in a scat-like section over a tight bass groove.
I also wanted to praise the amazing brass work, which elevates the track to such a high level bringing a gorgeous flourish, particularly in the choruses.
Overall, this is yet another strong track from Goodsprings, building on their good work from their previous single, Horrors. The fusion of genres works well, producing a charming track with a unique energy. Make sure to check it out if you’re a fan of groups like Sublime or Slightly Stoopid.
Irked’s self-titled EP is a rip-roaring explosion of punk rock that combines spectacular lyricism with pure energy.
First track, Snakes, immediately greets you with feedback, acting almost as a power up screen for the EP and providing a perfect preview of what is to come when the bass hits.
In the verse, the instrumentation is controlled yet threatens to explode at any moment. This expectation is fulfilled by the time the track hits the chorus, where we are greeted with a scream and a cacophony of guitars, meeting the anticipation that the track has built up.
The lyrics use intense imagery to bring singer Helen Walkinshaw’s experience of sleep paralysis to life, with the performance matching the vivid imagery of the track’s lyrics.
This gives way to Backstreets, which hits you once again with its primal punk energy while offering a sharp critique of gender dynamics, the dismissal of male misconduct, and the effects of this.
The frustration in the lyrics is perfectly encapsulated by the instrumentation, which fizzes with aggression. At times, this cedes to allow Walkinshaw to emphasise the song’s message and powerful commentary. The track overall is a perfect encapsulation of punk at its very best, delivering pure energy and an attack on societal norms.
Single Crippling Empath explodes straight into the chorus, bringing more incredible performances with some excellent guitar work that runs throughout the EP.
Lanzarote uses personal antidotes to reflect upon recent political history, creating a foreboding atmosphere that the worst is still to come. This is all painted over a canvas of riffs, which help to build up the atmosphere, while allowing the lyrics to shine through.
The EP concludes with Move, which begins once again with drum rolls and feedback before exploding into life. There is more great guitar work, with the entire fretboard getting a workout at times, as well as an energetic performance from the rhythm section, which maintains the energy throughout the tracks on the EP.
Lyrically, the song provides a snapshot of the frustration and obstacles of everyday life and the resilience and determination it takes to keep moving forward, providing a defiant ending to the EP.
Overall, this is an amazing EP front to back and does everything a punk album should do lyrically and musically. If you’re a fan of bands like Amyl and the Sniffers or The Chats, then Irked may have just made the perfect EP for you.
Northern Hospitality’s latest single Break Free, sees the group snarl their way through a punk-inspired energetic track. From minute one, you are greeted by aggressive and snarling riffs, perfect for getting the mosh pit started. This is before the drums fade in, creating a full frontal assault on your ear drums.
Frontman Gaz Price snarls over this terrific backbeat, which never lets up, venting his inner turmoils and frustration at life.
Each verse is interrupted by another expertly crafted riff, which matches well with the thunderous drum beat.
From listening to the track, it is clear why the band is starting to pick up attention, having played alongside the like of Pete Doherty, Kaiser Chiefs and Feeder, building a name for themselves within the region.
If you’re a fan of punky melodies that are as catchy as they are aggressive, then you should definitely check out the track.
Last Case Scenario’s latest single is an energetic ode to youth, combining pop punk riffs with singalong choruses to great effect.
The Newcastle group combines a number of different influences on the track, from the riotous energy of bands like Green Day to the pop punk delivery of groups like Sum 41.
Altogether, this leads to a song that yearns for the good times and spontaneity, something reflected in the energetic nature of the track.
Opening with a distorted guitar riff, the track immediately hits you with a party vibe, something reflected in the lyrics celebrating having a good time with friends.
This is all powered by in your face drums and a punchy bassline that propels the track forward. The singalong nature of the chorus reminded me of Green Day and very much puts the “pop” in their pop punk sound.
The give and take between those two influences is further emphasised by the gorgeous guitar solo, which is played with precision and energy, adding a touch of rock energy to the already raucous track.
New elements are regularly added to the mix to draw the audience in, with the use of repetitive guitar lines adding a different flavour.
Overall, the track is a great pop punk track, which will delight fans of bands such as Blink 182 and Paramore.
Newcastle’s Goodsprings return with ‘Horrors’, a track that fuses the raw energy of punk with the rhythmic soul of ska, delivering a powerful political message.
The track bubbles with anger, starting with an opening guitar line immediately hitting you with high energy. This raucous guitar line is over a bed of ska inspired organ reminiscent of bands like The Specials.
However, those expecting a traditional ska track in the style of Madness will be surprised. While the influence from ska bands is present, the group also draws from various other genres such as classic rock and punk, featuring complex, heavy guitar lines and political spoken lyrics, which see the band confronting apathy, racism and austerity and the impact it has had on Britain.
The driving drum beat powers the track, maintaining the punk energy and moving away from traditional ska beats, resulting in a song filled with power and intensity.
The track also features an excellent brass section with the group welcoming in new collaborators with Lucy McCartan on trumpet and Natalie Ziklova on keys which brings the traditional fun of a ska track.
Overall, the track injects a variety of different influences into the ska genre to good effect. You can check out Horrors on 8th June on SoundCloud and follow the band on Instagram here.
Saturday, May 18th, 2024 saw Marrapalooza return to a sun drenched Ouseburn as five familiar haunts played host to a day of DIY music.
The festival, which started in 2023, is a celebration of DIY music, with a range of alternative bands from across the country descending on Ouseburn for a day of live music.
My day started at Cobalt Studios, where I saw Thursday Club, kicking off a great day of live music with a great performance. Combining post punk and hardcore influences, the group raced through an excellent set, which got people on side straight away, setting the tone for the day.
Thursday Club performing at Cobalt Studios
After taking some time out to enjoy the sunshine, I made my way up the hill to Little Buildings to catch local lads, The Hollows. Clad in immaculate suits, the group somehow managed to deliver an energetic punk set in the stifling heat.
The heavy distortion on the bass on some of the tracks was a nice change of pace, bringing a different flavour to the gig, which allowed them to stand out.
The Hollows performing at Little Buildings
Next to The Cluny, where Straight Girl provided another electrifying set of riotous dance music. I first saw Straight Girl when they supported Dream Wife on their 2022 tour and was treated to one of the best shows I’ve seen from a support artist. It meant that expectations were high and they did not disappoint, showing once again that they are a natural born performer, dragging the audience along with them.
Despite only having a laptop and a few vocal pedals, Straight Girl lit up the stage, bringing a chaotic and charming energy which was infectious. Their set, backed by dark and distorted dance beats, included a few new tracks that sounded great and illustrated that they have evolved even further during their time away. If you get the chance, make sure to check them out.
Next up were Mumbles from Manchester at Little Buildings again. Before seeing them, I didn’t know much about the band. However, they completely won me around with a sensational set of sprawling songs.
The amount of talent which the group possesses is scary, with colourful guitar parts which were absolutely ludicrous at times. These decorated lavish and grand arrangements, which demonstrated the group’s talent for songwriting.
They are very much Manchester’s answer to London’s Windmill scene with creativity oozing out of every line they write.
I then took a walk down the winding stream and under the bridge to Tyne Bar to catch Model Village which provided a completely different vibe in the cleared out beer garden of the famous pub.
With a set of infectious indie pop cuts, powered by synth lines, they got the crowd up and dancing, and provided a soundtrack to the hundred or so nights out, unfolding under the arch.
Other Half performing at The Cumberland Arms
I then took a hike up to The Cumberland Arms perched atop of Ouseburn’s highest reaches for Norwich’s Other Half. This is the second time I’ve caught the group at this venue with both occasions showing the group in fine form.
Fresh from flooding their Travelodge room, the group provided fun, laughs and most importantly an amazing performance with enough distortion to blow your eardrums back down the hill.
Marrapalooza and events like these are incredibly important, with a packed bill of DIY bands powering a DIY festival, which is run for a love of music, rather than a love of profit. They’re always well worth your time, and I had an amazing day out parading around Ouseburn in the sunshine, seeing amazing bands many of which I hadn’t heard before.
Whilst providing culture to the region, events like this are so important to providing a platform for up and coming musicians. The organisers of the event even took a hit to provide Ouseburn with a top class day of music, with the festival ending the day with a £2,000 deficit due to the organisers trying to keep costs down for festival goers.
That’s why it’s so important to support live music events such as this. There is currently a GoFundMe to try and make this a trilogy of events in 2025, which I will leave a link to here and if you get the chance to support an event such as this, make sure you do, you won’t regret it.
Humbug North East 