There’s something going on up in Hartlepool; we’ve had the pleasure of sharing some great acts from just north of the moors recently. The latest of which are Lurcher.

By Graeme Smith

It’s thanks to Shy Bairn Records who have brought local acts like Charlotte Greyson and All The Nines to our attention. They’re doing sterling work. For Lurcher, they’ve had to set up a punk label especially because, as Ed from the label puts it, “there’s nowt shy about them.”

Stone Island is the first release on Guttersnipe Records and it’s a raucous introduction. A rambling bassline is paired with visceral, spoken word vocals. They rail against the vacuousness of consumerism, attacking the excesses of privilege in the great punk tradition of The Stooges, Sonic Youth and Libertines. They’re not messing about, this lot.

The track is Lurcher’s first release and it’s a hell of a start. I think we’re definitely going to have to keep an eye on them. They’re saying the important things to a world that’s increasingly getting lost in the frivolities. They’re the guilty conscience we all need right now.

Lurcher are Jonathan Mudd on drums, Christoph Crinson on bass, Alex Featherstone on guitar, and Spen White on vocals.

Stone Island is out now and you can give it a listen below.