The Top 5 Bands Bringing Punk Back
Political, abrasive, and relevant. When we think of punk, we think mohawks and studded leather jackets. It’s been a long-asked question, but, is punk really dead? The genre had a relatively short-lived period in the late 70s early 80s dominated by political unrest and artists like the Sex Pistols and while it may seem dated, recent political and social frustration has seen punk make a come back. Punk is here to stay and still has as much forcefulness as ever. Here are five of the top new punk bands to check out.
1. Fontaines D.C.
Increasingly becoming one of the most popular bands in the world, with poetic lyrics talking about Dublin life and Irish identity, Fontaines D.C. make guitar driven music with a real punk attitude and the five-piece can’t seem to go wrong. Touring with indie legends like Arctic Monkeys on their North American tour in 2023, not only are the Fontaines admired by fans but by others in the industry too.
Releasing their first album Dogrel in 2019, which received massive praise with The Guardian calling it the “perfect debut” , the Fontaines have only continued to better themselves with every album: their second follow up, A Hero’s Death has also received high praise. It led NME to naming Fontaines D.C. the best band in the world in 2022. Their most recent release Skinty Fia became the Dubliners first number one album in both the UK and Ireland catapulting them to stardom and bringing punk back to the mainstream.
2. Shame
Taking influence from old school artists like Lou Reed, Stiff Little Fingers and The Fall, coming in at number two on this list is Shame. Forming barely out of their teens in South London in 2014, this band are here to stay with their energetic and sometimes bizarre live shows.
Lead vocalist Charlie Steens' political, socially aware and humorous lyrics are shouted behind ferocious punk rock and Shame mix the traditional punk attitude with modern day issues creating the perfect recipe for punks' revival. Although they haven’t yet received recognition they so desperately deserve by music critics and awards alike, Shame are still definitely making an impact on the music scene.
Their third and most recent album Food for Worms was given praise with Pitchfork rating it a 7.7 out of 10 and brought in big numbers of crowds whilst performing on the Woodsies stage at Glastonbury last year, Shame's energetic and intense performance lead to Clash Music calling it one of the best performances of the whole festival and “was an absolute riot”. It’s clear to see audiences are obsessed and love this band, in a few years' time who knows just how much greater this band will become.
3. Amyl and The Sniffers
Taking their name from the Australian slang term for poppers, Amyl and the Sniffers embody the true essence of the "I don’t care" punk attitude. Lead by the charisma and attitude of lead singer Amy Taylor, this Melbourne based band make punk inclusive to all.
Amy Taylors screaming vocals talk about how she’s treated as a woman in society making a clear political and social statement and they are always interesting to listen to. Touring with legendary bands such as, Green Day, Weezer and the Smashing Pumpkins, the Sniffers always manage to put on an electrifying shows, Louder than War described their shows as “great fun” with stage dives and mosh pits. Amyl and The Sniffers are becoming very popular with their most recent album Comfort to Me getting a four star review from The Guardian: this is a band you need to listen to.
4. Idles
While Joe Talbot famously said his spiky Bristol quartet "isn't a punk band”, IDLES very much acted and sounded like a punk band for the ages. The band hark back to the classic roots of punk, raging against the government and their policies on austerity, Brexit and the NHS - speaking up for a generation that felt abandoned by those in power at a time when they needed them the most.
On more recent albums, like their last, Crawler, the band have taken a more personal tone. As described by The Guardian, listening to IDLES is a bit like "being punched and hugged at the same time," such is the power of their message but the compassion in their tone. They are one of the most essential voices in British music at the moment with a powerful message. Their new album TANGK is released in 2024 and is sure to be another essential listen and could even earn the band another number one.
5. Sleaford Mods
When it comes to urgent voices in British music right now, they don't come more important than Sleaford Mods whose music speaks on behalf of the oppressed, the poor and those in desperate need of support. Adopting a spoken-language style over minimalistic drum beats, the band have managed to mould punk into something unique and daring for the 21st century.
The band's last album, UK Grim earned a glowing four star review from the NME who said: "The more the gloom becomes normalised, the more we need a band like Mods to fight back...they are the voice we need right now more than ever." Catch them live for a thrilling experience, with frontman Jason Williamson gripping audiences like some of the all-time punk greats.
