This debut album from Welsh punk rockers came out swinging in July with it rocketing to number 1 in the Rock & Metal chart and to 32 in the main album chart. Whilst being slightly aware of them, it wasn’t until they came to Cambridge for the Shiny New Model festival in October and they absolutely blew the doors off The Junction, I hadn’t sat up and taken notice.
The eponymous album, kicks things off with Girl Band Starter Pack which sets the mood for an album which is fast paced and ready to “get hyped up” for a night out. Simple humorous tales of a Friday night routine, out in a nameless town or city. Perfect fodder to be a pre drinks anthem.
Gok Wan is a similar set of fast paced melodic guitars, with a social commentary on “nothing tastes as good as skinny feels” a quote from Kate Moss in the early days of indie sleaze in 2009.
The rest of the album follows this same template however it doesn’t get repetitive or boring, mainly due to the lyrics which are sardonic enough to keep you listening along, with each track digging at a different topic that most under 40 can probably relate to.
From Tit School poking at not needing a silver spoon picture perfect upbringing, via Do Something‘s possible nudge and wink towards making mistakes in the public eye. Stopping off to deliver a mantra of “Vape, phone, keys, lip gloss” on Pockets‘ rant against why women’s jeans don’t have pockets.
All the way to the album’s climax in Thelma & Louise story of unconditional friendship, Panic Shack delivers great fast songs that almost all could and should be sung at full voice in Indie clubs over the next few decades.