The people’s punk poet returns with his best and hardest-hitting effort yet!
We’re relative newcomers to the music of Dublin native Meryl Streek, so it was pretty handy that we discovered him just in time for the release of his third album, plus a stormer of a sold-out launch gig at London’s 100 Club. That night, we said of the man that “he speaks truth to power and pulls no punches in documenting the often harsh reality of urban working-class life” – and that’s equally true of ‘Stories They Don’t Teach You At School’.
In the words of the man himself: “We’re not pre-warned about issues like depression, addiction, homelessness and cost of living. These are matters we’re forced to deal with later in life, with zero preparation.” Such are the stories they don’t teach you at school, and throughout the record, Streek unflinchingly shines a light on people who and issues which are all too often ignored or outright dismissed by politicians and social services.
The record’s twelve tracks are comprised mostly of various musical samples and collaborations, underpinned by scattergun beats (he has a drummer for live shows), and topped off with Streek’s unmistakeable vocals, which range from a propulsive spoken-word style (e.g. on ‘Rags To Riches’) to a righteously furious rant on ‘Bullet’. There are plenty of elements of punk rock – there’s no shortage of distorted guitar noise, for sure – but punk has always been more an attitude than a sound, and ‘Stories…’ is the embodiment of this. There are echoes of High Vis, of Sleaford Mods, and of Crass – whose Steve Ignorant pops up to trade vocals with Streek on the excellent ‘Rotten Fruit’. For the most part, though, Streek is ploughing a furrow very much his own.
The record’s most affecting moment is arguably the centrepiece that is ‘Kelly’; the tale of a young woman who died in suspicious circumstances, and her family’s fight for a proper investigation into her death. Streek narrates the case in detail over sparse samples of tinkling piano keys and then sampled quotes from her family cut in over what sounds like a banjo towards the end. Who knew the latter instrument could sound so foreboding? It’s at this point that the record feels more real than ever – and that’s a high bar by Streek’s standards.
He’s not been dubbed the “people’s punk poet” for nothing, and for yours truly, this record evokes Gallows’ sophomore magnum opus ‘Grey Britain’. Both records see their authors taking a long hard look at the state of their countries before lyrically taking those responsible to task, with some serious musical muscle to back them up. Yes, Frank Carter’s mob traded in a visceral marriage of hardcore and rock n’ roll, but believe us when we say that ‘Stories…’ hits just as hard. Don’t do as we did and wait any longer to get acquainted.
‘Stories They Don’t Teach You At School’ is out now via Venn Records – order it HERE.
All Photos: DEREK BREMNER
- Welcome
- Rotten Fruit
- Rags To Riches
- Council Estates
- Depression
- Kelly
- Be The Hammer
- The Chancer
- Housing For All
- Bullet
- Life Is Not A Rehearsal
- Frankie’s Theme
Follow Meryl Streek on his Socials:
Need more Punk In Your Life?
Album review: Reason To Leave – ‘Live Laugh Leave’
Ohhhh yes! If, like us, you fondly remember the late 90s/early 00s skatepunk and melodic hardcore boom, then stuff this debut album from Reason To
Album review: Frenzee – ‘Runnin’ Amok’
o you like your music to send a huge jolt of adrenaline through your system? Then you really should get acquainted with Frenzee. Technically they’re
Album review: Dutch Punks Mouser release self-titled debut LP
Old Skool Delft Punks Mouser have just released their first ever 12-inch vinyl platter – a self-titled collection of seven songs on the fascist threat,
Dan Goatham/Tim Vantol, London Aces & Eights, 17th Oct 2026
Owwww, my poor joints. Turns out that the best way for my increasingly middle-aged self to deal with a long week at work is NOT
Album Review: Poorly Trained Radicals assure us that ‘We’ll Go On To Win’ with brand new dub-heavy release
Festival-friendly punk duo Poorly Trained Radicals dish out seven songs of resistance in ‘We’ll Go On To Win’ out on Grow Your Own Records! This
Album review: Moonraker – ‘Me And The Bells’
Here at Punktuation, we’re always keen to support younger bands, but we’ve also got love for the veterans – not least as a lifetime of
I spend my days teaching English to foreign students, and my evenings attending as many gigs as possible. Raised mainly on a diet of 90s third-wave punk, my tastes have grown to include just about anything from trad ska to thrash metal. The Ramones are my musical gods.
Did you know that we are 100% DIY? We run our own game. No one dictates to us, and no one drives what we can or cannot put on our pages – and this is how we plan to continue!
