A rapid-fire garage punk hate letter to the sicknesses which abound in the world. No holds barred, no bars held.
From the North East of England, IRKED slot somewhere between modern garage punk, ’80s hardcore and eggy post-punk. They’ve been touring extensively these past few years, which has provided some much-needed solace and loads of fun, as outside of the band, they’ve all been pals for around 15 years! Now they’re releasing their first full-length record, ‘The Grievance‘, after making “snotty radge music” since 2022.
Fourteen songs that seem to chase themselves to their end, overflowing with earworms and catchy as hell, all expertly captured by Sam Grant (Pigs x 7). ‘The Grievance‘ is as alive and vibrant as the people who made it.
IRKED are:
Michael Hill – Bass, Guitar, Backing Vocals
Simon Hubbard – Guitar
Zachary McDade – Drums
Helen (Hells) Walkinshaw – Vocals
Opening track ‘I.R.K.E.D.F.U‘ has a very long intro, taking up the first half of the song, before the pace picks up to the sound of Hell’s guttural screams. Channeling her inner Poly Styrene, she ends by spelling out the band’s intent towards all who have irked them!
‘Repeat Offender‘ is a punk blast of righteous vitriol against the perpetrators of violence and abuse towards women, and the assumption that all the victims are lying, unfairly applied because the patriarchy has discredited female voices. “I just wanna be anonymous” is a refrain repeated throughout the song.
‘Running‘ issues a short and spiky blast of defiance – “I don’t run” spits Hells emphatically, to a backdrop of sounds from the X-Ray Spex playbook.
‘Who Asked?‘ is a raw, fast-paced snapshot of nights out that stopped feeling like fun, bouncing between day jobs, night jobs, work drinks, pub meetings and half-hearted plans. IRKED say “The lyrics are lifted from phone notes and ramblings, logged as vague promises turned into promotions after 4 pints, as people’s behaviour shifts. Who Asked? observes that aggy person, booling around, creating tension, oblivious that they are a magnet for drama, the hypocritical men having meltdowns on the internet.” This classic punk banger features Vince Lisle on guest guitar:
‘The ACP‘ takes aim at middle-class artists who borrow working-class struggle as an aesthetic, while remaining protected from its reality. Sharp, direct and completely uninterested in being palatable, its is “in part inspired by people trying to get Helen fired from her job.” There’s guest saxophone from Pippa Morgan and guest guitar from Stuart Walkinshaw on this dark and dangerous song:
Stuart Walkinshaw also guests on guitar in ‘Settle Down‘. This track speaks out about the limitations placed upon women by our patriarchal society. It’s ok for men to be rebels and to go their own way, but women are told to “settle down”, amongst many other things referenced in Hell’s diatribe. The guitar rises and falls like a nagging voice.
Title track ‘The Grievance‘ tackles people’s excuses to basically be shit to each other, and the patronising and unhelpful attitudes towards those who decide to protect their mental health by speaking out. A stomping punk banger.
The modern concept that we must “keep kids safe at all times” is challenged in ‘Green Space‘. Instead of letting them play out in the sunshine and fresh air, they’re kept in, watching addictive screens. Is that really safety, or are we damaging a whole generation’s health? I love this track – there’s Stranglers-esque sax, 3 chord punk guitars, and of course Hell’s emphatic voice all making the point crystal clear!
The system is a ‘Death Cult‘ say IRKED, and of course they explain exactly why in this spot-on societal commentary about the horror of genocide. The apathetic will bleat forever, but turn away instead of doing something about it. “You’re not doing enough!” screams Hells in this riff-fuelled rocker.
‘The Hardest Man In Billingham‘ and his “daft brain” head for expensive therapy, but instead of working on himself and his problems, he uses it as just another ego fix. “There’s no “I” in team, a problem for you is not a problem for me” says it all! A top piece of guitar rock with a very important lyrical bridge about rights for the opressed.
‘The Keynote Speaker‘ has expressed nasty misogynistic opinions about a woman who publicly fought back. Drums and bass power this number along, as the story unfolds. A male voice states “a certain household name was making a speech and goes into a weird, creepy spiel, About back in the day when the band would come over, They would circle women in clubs like lions, Taking special care to avoid the ugly ones”. This exploitative culture that reduced women to objects still exists, and it must change.
Have you ever experienced the unwelcoming atmosphere of a ‘Freak Pub‘? “In freak pubs, all the seats are taken, In freak pubs, we don’t wanna see new faces” and “Stand down, this is territory ground, Chest puffed, square up, neck whip, turn around.” With its mock football chant and tones of conflict and codependence, the pub’s dirt-trodden carpet is as germ-filled as the identical thoughts of its ‘regulars’…
There’s another X-Ray Spex style purge in ‘Vomit‘ – “Repulsion has taken control” when either being in or witnessing friends in controlling relationships. A short, razor-sharp dagger of a track!
Album closer ‘Irked Vs Area Manager‘ looks at modern corporate hell – aka the day job! It’s a bass driven monologue of the hideous things bosses say to workers. However, Hells urges us to retain our autonomy – “Scare them by being authentic” – as it’s better to be unemployed than going through such a dehumanizing experience.
‘The Grievance‘ is a rapid-fire garage punk hate letter to the sicknesses which abound in the modern world. No holds barred, no bars held. Out on 1st May 2026, via Wrong Speed Records, the album is available on limited edition vinyl LP and digital download HERE
Catch IRKED live in 2026:
May
20/05: North Shields w/ Warmduscher
22/05: Hull
23/05: Shipley
June
09/06: Sunderland
15/06: Hexham Pride Festival
July
17/07: Bristol Punk Picnic
18/07: Plymouth
August
01/08: Shipley
28/08: Norwich
29/08-30/07: Greenbelt Festival
September
18/09: Worthing (w/ Lower Slaughter)
19/09: Birmingham – Kaz Fest
20/09: Sowerby Bridge
November
13/11: Todmorden (TBC)
14/11: Shipley (TBC)
29/11: Derby
Main Photo Credit: BEN HUGHES
- I.R.K.E.D.F.U
- Repeat Offender
- Running
- Who Asked?
- The ACP
- Settle Down
- The Grievance
- Green Space
- Death Cult
- The Hardest Man In Billingham
- The Keynote Speaker
- Freak Pub
- Vomit
- Irked Vs Area Manager
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