Blackpool to most is a magical seaside town. A windy beach, a famous tower, a funfair or two and a friendly family atmosphere. Not according to Dischord. 

If you like you’re music loud, energetic and angry then Dischord are certainly the band for you. Not content with their surroundings, the band was born from the demise of the seaside towns only rock club, and on the last night they recorded a special EP, Your Father’s Moustache to give away on the door.

They have since gone onto release their first full length album, The Wakes. A punk rock extravaganza of noise, guitars and songs for the pissed off generation. Seaside Suicide is self explanatory really. A song about Blackpool and the delights, or not, of living there. Recession, again the title gives it away, is a great track with a killer hook and lyrics that will have you chanting along within seconds. The fantastic Music Is Dead shows the bands dismay at the state of the industry today and the fact that ‘anyone can be a star’, and title track The Wakes is about the day in, day out mundane routine of working in a job you hate for money you never really have. It all sounds a bit bleak, but really The Wakes expresses the feelings that sadly many of us have towards our surroundings and society itself today, but all backed up with a killer punk soundtrack. 

A bit AFI, a bit Gallows, and in places a bit of glam punk a la King Adora shining through. Singer Chris’ deadly screams sum up the ferocious nature of the band perfectly, and the fast paced raw guitar only adds to it. The almost political message of the tracks add that bit of intelligence and honesty to the bands music, and the inclusion of soundbites/cultural references between songs also contribute to this, similar to Manic Street Preachers early albums like Generation Terrorists or The Holy Bible. 

Album closer The End: Blackout is perfect. Dark, deep and a little Manson-esque, it has an apocalyptic message, ‘pray for the day the world will die’, cheery no? In a way it sums up the whole message of the album in one song. A flawless debut, I can only predict bigger and better things for Dischord, and The Wakes is just the beginning. 

For more info head to www.dischorduk.bandcamp.com

Caris Smith