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Review: 'Grade 2'
'Grade 2'   

-  Label: 'Hellcat Records/Bandcamp'
-  Genre: 'Punk/New Wave' -  Release Date: '17.2.23.'

Our Rating:
This self-titled LP by Grade 2 is a short sharp 35-minute blast of high-octane punk by this trio of Punk kids from the Isle Of Wight. They are signed to Tim Armstrong's Hellcat Records and the album was recorded at his Ship Rec studio. They are a trio of Sid Ryan, Jacob Hull and Jack Chatfield.

The album opens with Judgement Day that sets the pace as super speedy, with a delicious bassline driving it along, as the angry vocals come in, telling us that this indeed the Judgement Day, with some good points for fist pumping at gigs.

Fast Pace does what it says it will, with a cracking pace as this walk into town on a night out unfolds, like they have all taken a couple of speed bombs and are ready for anything. They hope it find a good new sense of direction, but of course things are getting messy, as they just keep going at it in the balls to the wall fashion of the sort of swaggering punk band they are. Oh and the keyboard solo near the end is great all 15 seconds of it.

Under The Streetlight sounds like Gimp Fist at there most anthemic, this is a good fist pumper for anyone looking for escape from small town troubles, they want change but are still figuring out how to change things for the better.

Doesn't Matter Much Now has them trying to pick up the pieces after everything has turned to hell, they are looking for the right connections, anything to stop those pesky kids from running riot again, as the tsunami of guitar flies at your brain.

Midnight Ferry is something that must have loomed large in their lives, as they try to catch the last ferry home to the Isle Of Wight, god knows what crap they'd get if they missed it, they are frantic panicking in case they miss it.

Brassic is a speedy whirl of being broke again, on your uppers, hoping to have some way to get some cash so you don't have to sell everything to keep a roof over your head, this could be a huge anthem for the current generation of struggling kids and adults, who can't make ends meet during our current cost of living crisis.

Gaslight is just under a minute of fury for anyone who would seek to Gaslight you. Don't Stand Alone is an anthem for togetherness, as we all need to get together to make sure our oppressors know that we are stronger together and they really do need to make sure things are fairer for all.

Streetrat Skallywag is a tale of one of those nasty pieces of work who make life hell for anyone walking down the wrong street at the wrong time of night, a character to be given a wide berth.

Parasite is angry as all hell bile ridden screed aimed at the sort of parasitic asshole that we all need to scream and shout at, until they get the hell out of our lives. This is perfect to mosh and yell along too.

It's a Mad World, Baby is a title most of us will now agree with, this has stuttering guitars set against the pummel your brain drumming, as they set out to liberate our minds and bring some sanity into the world.

Doing Time is super intense and super angry at anyone who wants them to sit in a cubicle wasting there lives away, they don't want a corporate job, give them freedom, give it to them now.

Celine isn't a song of love and lust for Ms Dion thankfully, but is about a girl they are lusting after, they hope she will take their hand and walk along the promenade with them, they want her to never leave them, here's hoping she's flattered by this song and returns the love.

See You Around is a kiss off for someone you used to like hanging around with, but you now realize just how toxic things are, well the guitars are set to fry your mind, like the drinks you need to dull the pain. They will always be around when you need them to help you pick up the pieces once more, if your not bouncing off the walls dancing to this as the church organ comes in for the outro.

The album closes with Bottom Shelf a cry of pain for those who have been consigned to the bottom Shelf of life, looking for a way out of the misery, hoping for something new and different to happen like the only drum solo on the album, a nifty 10 to 15 seconds of it, as this blasts it's way into your mind.

Find out more at https://uk.kingsroadmerch.com/hellcat-records/product/22006/grade-2-black-vinyl https://www.facebook.com/grade2iow https://grade2.bandcamp.com/album/grade-2 https://grade2official.co.uk/

Watch Grade 2 live on tour in Feb/March at the following UK gigs:

17.02 | The Fighting Cocks | Kingston
18.02 | Blacksheep | Ryde
03.03 | Vortex | Wakefield
04.03 | The Cab | Newport
05.03 | Mama Lizs Voodoo Lounge | Stamford
06.03 | The Waterfront Studio | Norwich
07.03 | The Lexington | London
08.03 | Joiners | Southampton
09.03 | Cavern | Exeter
10.03 | Louisiana | Bristol
11.03 | Latest Music Bar | Brighton
12.03 | The Hairy Dog | Derby
13.03 | Redrum | Stafford
14.03 | The Lubber Fiend | Newcastle
15.03 | Yellow Arch | Sheffield
16.03 | The Grand Social | Dublin
17.03 | Voodoo | Belfast
18.03 | Classic Grand | Glasgow
19.03 | Star & Garter | Manchester






  author: simonovitch

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