Panic Shack are instinctively, unapologetically themselves, creating an authentic collective voice that their self-titled debut uses to Trojan horse topics such as sexism, body image, elitism and friendship into punk ragers that will soundtrack many a gig pre-gaming session this summer. The vibe here is very much double voddies all round.
Vocalist Sarah ‘Saz’ Harvey’s delivery, sometimes confrontational, always conversational, is captivating, shifting effortlessly between hard attack and laid-back, with some throat-shredding screams thrown in for good measure.
She instantly draws you into the Cardiff band’s world, and you’re tripping over your feet alongside them on Personal Best, “smoking ‘round the back” on Tit School, and getting ready with them on the impossibly brilliant Pockets. Its subject may seem trivial to some (those who have pockets, probably) but it is as much about jeans as L7’s Shirley was about motor racing.
The hooks from guitarists Meg Fretwell and Romi Lawrence are plentiful, fizzy and relentless in their energy, with Girl Band Starter Park kicking things off right with fist-pumping form that does not wane. The dial is kept at 11 thanks, in part, to imaginative extra instrumentation courtesy of Ali Chant, who also produced and mixed the record.
Next up, Gok Wan finds them mocking diet culture and the toxic media that supported it, with its tongue-in-cheek lyrics delivered with a punk sneer and a pop sensibility that means it earns earworm status pretty quickly. “Want to be the smallest girl that’s ever lived / Want to go down in history for being thin,” Harvey sarcastically sings.
High drama is the name of the game, whether they’re talking about being energetically challenged on the snotty Lazy — “I wake up just to go back to sleep.” — or introducing Harvey’s nighttime alter-ego on the post punk-leaning We Need To Talk About Dennis.
Every track has its own unique charm, but playful call and response gang vocals, party-ready guitar melodies, Em Smith’s lively basslines and Nick Doherty-Williams’ tenacious drumming are just a fraction of what makes Panic Shack so special, though. The rest? Fun and friendship. As they profess on closer Thelma & Louise, they are ride or die besties, and that inimitable chemistry and shared pursuit of a good time is what sets them apart.
'Panic Shack' is out now through Brace Yourself Records
Panic Shack Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Thu October 09 2025 - MARGATE Where Else
Fri October 10 2025 - BRIGHTON Chalk
Sun October 12 2025 - BRISTOL Electric Bristol
Tue October 14 2025 - GLASGOW Garage
Wed October 15 2025 - SHEFFIELD Foundry
Thu October 16 2025 - MANCHESTER Manchester Academy 2
Fri October 17 2025 - GLASGOW Garage
Sat October 18 2025 - NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms
Thu December 04 2025 - LONDON Electric Brixton
Fri December 05 2025 - CARDIFF Tramshed
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