Fiery trio unleash long-awaited debut
Have you heard of Muncie Girls? The Devon punks are one of the most talked-about punk bands in the country, and for a good reason – they’re really, really good. The Exeter trio are set to make a big impact on the scene with the release of their much-anticipated debut album ‘From Caplan To Belsize‘ (fun fact: the title’s taken from Sylvia Plath’s novel The Bell Jar), so we’ve taken the time to give it a listen and jot down a few thoughts about it.
The collection kicks off on a positively poignant note with ‘Learn In School‘; it’s an upbeat song, complete with thought-provoking lyrics like ‘try and leave your own little mark for yourself’ and ‘don’t let them belittle your sense of worth / there’s nothing you can’t learn’. This focus on intense lyricism continues onto ‘From Caplan To Belsize‘, with bassist and frontwoman Lande Hekt’s cries of ‘there’s so many of us and there’s so few of them – we’re all thinking the same thing, it’s just a matter of when’ adding a touch of defiance to the album’s opening’s lyrical focus.
It’s not all happy-go-lucky
Don’t be fooled – this isn’t a light-hearted album. Muncie Girls also take the time to tackle more challenging topics, such as politics and sexual violence, making for an extremely varied and thought-provoking record. This is exibhited brilliantly on ‘Respect‘, where Lande tackles the subject of sexual violence; lyrically, it’s inspiring, and the chorus of ‘For the next two years you can laugh and joke about your next victim, but when you’re all grown up and your daughter cries with you, so ridiculous’ is as stirring as it is impactful. Combined with the infectiousness of Luke Ellis’ foot-tapping drum beat, it makes for an impressive and full-bodied track.
They’re best when they keep it simple
Another standout track would most certainly be the simple yet superbly effective ‘Gas Mark 4‘; not only does it have a load of Dean McMullen‘s catchy guitar riffs, but the stripped-down and impactful bridge allows the song to be broken down to its bare bones, and it’s here that the Exeter trio’s songwriting talents are allowed to shine through.
Perhaps the best example of the band’s talents comes in the form of ‘Committee‘.It’s Lande at her most political, and it really is very good. Lines like ‘They like to think that times have changed, we’re not represented in parliament or pay // Our voices are lost in a masquerade and now we have to fight to have our say’ give the track an added anger that a lot of modern punk is sorely lacking, and it’s that lyrical prowess, alongside Hekt’s uniquely British harmonies, that serves as the heartbeat of the band.
Muncie Girls have stayed true to their DIY punk ethics to make a remarkable debut album. The talented young band – who, unbelievably only formed four years ago – have managed to mix powerfully resonating lyrics that tackling topics most bands attempt to avoid with thick and heavy instrumentation to create one of the best punk records we’ve heard all year. We can’t wait to see what they do next.
