Wannabe, the debut single from Sheffield punk disruptors Arson, is a two-minute, forty-second call to arms. They tear through a teenage wasteland at full pelt, leaving twisted rock riffs, New Wave tension and CBGB’s spit and vitriol in their wake.
The Spice Girls this is not.
In an age where bands are increasingly defined by their influences, this particular racket is harder to pin down. The opening bars carry the unmistakable spirit of Arctic Monkeys, as perhaps befits a Sheffield quartet. But Arson quickly veer off in a considerably more abrasive direction, finding time for a few dramatic flourishes as they hurtle towards the dissolution of rock ’n’ roll.
There’s a punishing disconnect between the music and the band’s general persona. They appear to be four chirpy teenage lads in sportswear, seemingly fresh from the terraces and heading to the chippie for something to soak up the afternoon. Then somebody plugs in a guitar and all hell breaks loose.
The anger is palpable. Lyrics are spat out with throat-searing abandon, barely leaving time to breathe, let alone contemplate the wreckage. Guitars slash. Drums pound. No one waits for the audience to keep up.
The New Wave of New Wave was once a thing. It disappeared almost as quickly as it arrived, its largely ageing retroists enjoying a brief moment in the spotlight before musical fashion wandered off elsewhere.
Perhaps this is the New Wave of the New Wave of New Wave.
Hopefully not. That’s a bloody awful name.
These are animal men, though. Young, hungry and apparently determined to make themselves everybody else’s problem.
Wannabe is their opening salvo.
War has been declared.
And there is nothing louder than bombs.
Pictures © Max Bramley Photos
Arson’s debut release Wannabe is out now on various streaming platforms. They continue to play regular shows in their home town.
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