Lace-up your big boy shit kickers you’re gonna need them. ‘Chaos Theory’ is up and running and in your face from the kickoff and amidst all this chaos you find a brightly produced punchy punk rock that’s aggressive yet tuneful and wraps its melodies in chain mail hidden under a velvet glove. Ross Sutcliffe’s vocals are right in your grill. No mucking about here it’s down-the-line street punk but like Argy Bargy and such bands the choruses are uplifting and the gang vocals are easy-sing-a-longs and no doubt a joy live. the riff after the chorus is a whopping Chug that sounds like they’re dragging an 18-wheel jugganaught with nothing more than a strand of dental floss.

The hard and heavy aggressive style continues into ‘Savage’ howling guitar solos and thunderous drum rolls. There’s a chink of light on ‘Drink Up Boys!’ like the jig is up with a sing-a-long chorus’. I do like the sharpness of the guitar tone on ‘Drop Too Much’ it’s sharp and big. It’s like granite cracking hard but the solos are fluid before you’re softened up for ‘Heathens’ crashes in. It’s unmistakably a UK punk sound I couldn’t imagine this coming out of the USA or Europe for example don’t ask me to explain why its just a feeling it gives me. Side one is wrapped up with the bass-thumping intro of ‘Hack The World’ that’s joined with more of that razor-sharp riffage. I really like the vocals doing a sort of shout-out and response style – possibly the stand-out track on the first side. It best you take a break, have a drink, go for a walk, then take in side two.

The title track opens side two and a stylish big chorus high tempo track it is too. Love the simple big riff and rock-solid rhythm section there isn’t much light and shade between the songs but that’s okay it helps raise the tension you need when getting to grips with street punk.

‘Standard Definition’ is a hard and heavy skank on the verse before raising the chorus and dropping the band into some skanking. ‘Kev’ is some Sham meets Oi! and done very well indeed. The LP closes with ‘Running Out Of Riot’ and some social commentary and if you’re thinking they’re gonna slow it down to close this banger off then you’re mistaken. It’s a rousing romp through familiar territory but it’s done well and therefore engaging just don’t take it out for your jogging soundtrack unless you’re called Bolt or forest gump. The Mistakes have delivered a really good album of loud, pleasing, punk rock – produced well and delivered with aggression and heart. It is indeed a good hill to die on if this is their swansong. Oh and that artwork is exceptional it is everything this album is in one painting.

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Author: Dom Daley