Honeybadger: State Of Play
EP via Blinding Talent
Brighton trio Honeybadger unleash their hotly anticipated new EP State Of Play, a statement of intent from a band rapidly establishing themselves as one of the UK’s most exciting emerging rock acts.
Renowned for their blistering live energy and songwriting which blends heavy, punch-to-the-gut intensity with a melodic edge, Honeybadger have successfully bottled their chaos and chemistry on the new EP, pushing their garage-punk-meets-grunge-rock tendencies to its sharpest, most electrifying edge yet.
Produced by Paul Win (Slag, Royal Blood, Architects), State Of Play bursts with urgency and precision. Opener Gonna Break explodes from the crackling sound of a guitar being plugged into an amp, launching into fuzzy guitar chords, driving drums, and grounding bass. Boxy, distorted vocals deliver half-shouted, gritty melodies that shift between guttural roars and flashes of falsetto. The two-minute offering captures the band’s punk aesthetics while delivering compelling and memorable melodic hooks.
Elsewhere, new single Get Away showcases the band’s uncanny ability to craft guitar riffs that are just as catchy as its instantly repeatable vocal melodies, all delivered with the driving sense of energy and urgency that shapes Honeybadger’s live sound.
Killswitch leans further into the band’s indie tendencies, while Mishear showcases a more atmospheric side to their songwriting, shifting from a floating, reverb-tinted verse to Honeybadger’s instantly recognisable blend of melody and intensity in the chorus.
Slowing things down slightly is my personal highlight, Itch. Opening with a brilliantly effective guitar riff, the track bounces effortlessly between its garage-rock core and expertly crafted melodic hooks, placing it somewhere between alt-rock and indie-grunge. The result is a song that carries an intense sense of urgency and drive while allowing its accessibility to flourish, drawing comparisons to Queens of the Stone Age.
The track eventually reaches a perfectly gutsy guitar solo before descending into an off-kilter final drop, closing the EP on a note that is sure to leave listeners eager to experience Honeybadger live.
Raw, unfiltered and exciting, the six-track release captures the tension, frustration and fleeting beauty of modern life at boiling point. With riffs that evoke the muscular swagger of Them Crooked Vultures and Queens Of The Stone Age, while retaining the gritty underground spirit of Drenge, Yak and Soft Play, Honeybadger strike a balance between razor-sharp accessibility and unrelenting intensity on the new EP.
From moments of fuzz-drenched chaos, to floating melodic vocal hooks, State Of Play is fierce, focused and brimming with intent. It’s the sound of a band stepping confidently into their identity and blossoming into something bigger with each release.
Speaking about the EP, the band explain: “At its core, State of Play is a reflection of modern pressure, digital disconnection and societal unrest. It tackles a world where people hide behind screens, truth is distorted at the flick of a switch, and power operates increasingly in the shadows. It’s our most raw expression of release in a world where no one can hear you scream. No polish, no Mr nice guy – just exactly how it feels to exist right now.”
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All words by Simon Lucas-Hughes. More writing by Simon Lucas-Hughes can be found at his author’s archive.
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