By Jim Rowland
Club Brat is a high-intensity punk/noise pop band defying traditional labels, blending jagged guitars, bass-heavy dissonance, and volatile rhythmic urgency. Originally from Peterborough and now split between Bristol and London, the five-piece formed in 2023 and quickly earned a reputation for unpredictable live shows and a relentless DIY ethos. Now signed with Venn Records, they release this incendiary new ‘Four Songs’ EP, which is all set to raise their profile significantly.
‘Four Songs’ was recorded at HUMM Studios with Dom Mitchison and Archie Jones, and mastered by Bob Weston of Shellac – a clear nod to the Albini school of stark, unvarnished production. Drawing inspiration from Fugazi, Idles, and The Pixies to drum ’n’ bass and early 2000s alternative, Club Brat refuses to be boxed in by genre, which is no bad thing.
‘Four Songs’ certainly packs one hell of a powerful punch, those inspirations aren’t too hard to spot, and the songs here are strong, marrying that power with catchy and melodic qualities.
‘25 Cameras’ and ‘Goodbye Pop Culture’ are quality slices of spiky, angular post-punk/art-rock, with ‘Watch’ following similar lines but with a harder edge. That harder edge is present on the altogether darker and twisted ‘In It For The Money’.
Club Brat have not yet reached the milestone of a full length album, but this highly impressive EP should raise their profile and set them up nicely for when that album does come along.
- ‘Four Songs’ is released today (Friday 12 September).
Club Brat tour later this month and into next:
- 18 September — Leeds, Headingley Social Club
- 19 September — Stamford, Mama Liz’s Voodoo Lounge
- 20 September — Bristol, The Golden Lion
- 25 September — London, Hope & Anchor
- 26 September — Nottingham, JT Soar
- 2 October — Sheffield, The Washington
- 9 October — Birmingham, The Rainbow
- 10 October — Brighton, The Pipeline