{"id":13640,"date":"2026-05-04T11:15:27","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T10:15:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ipamusic.co.uk\/?p=13640"},"modified":"2026-05-04T11:22:43","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T10:22:43","slug":"gimp-fist-look-forward-with-11th-album-take-the-power-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ipamusic.co.uk\/?p=13640","title":{"rendered":"Gimp Fist look forward with 11th album Take The Power Back"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ALBUM REVIEW: Gimp Fist – Take The Power Back (Sunny Bastards)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

County Durham street-punk trio Gimp Fist<\/strong> might have celebrated their 20th anniversary last year, but there’s no sign of them resting on their laurels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jonny, Chris and Mike are back with their 11th full-length album as they look forward, not back, and I’m pleased to say it’s a cracker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the course of 15 tracks they demonstrate time and again why they are one of the UK’s best-loved Oi! bands. But it’s far from a case of same old, same old, as they’ve changed things up a bit by going off-template in places, and sounding all the better for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They slam straight into it with the title track Take The Power Back<\/em>, an urgent call to arms powered by Mike’s ferocious drumming. There’s plenty of anger and energy here, as we’ve come to expect from a Gimp Fist album. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Gimp Fist.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

You’ll find much more of that on tracks like Shut Your Mouth<\/em>, Sick And Tired<\/em>, Waiting For The Punchline<\/em> and lead single Mindless Violence<\/em> (which features Marty from Belfast street-punks Riot 79 on guest vocals).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it’s the variety of different tempos and styles which make this the most interesting Gimps album in a while. Take second track Fill Your Boots<\/em>, the longest song here at more than four minutes, with Jonny’s voice sounding raspier than ever before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Break-up song Rocks In My Pocket<\/em> is another slower number which hits differently, as is History Repeats<\/em>, which was released last year on a split 10in single with Plymouth street-punks Riot City Radio (who themselves released a fine new album recently, reviewed here<\/a><\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n

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Gimp Fist.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

For a band who’ve generally avoided politics, the Gimps are certainly tuned into the zeitgeist of these divided times as they call out flag-shaggers on the ska-inflected Lying Down<\/em>, have their say on the country’s many ills on the upbeat Give Me A Reason<\/em>, which warns “fascism is on the rise again, another fool in No 10, is this it, the beginning of the end?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There’s another ska-flavoured banger in Up All Night<\/em>, featuring a wonderful bassline from Chris and some jaunty Hammond organ, with the catchiest chorus you’ll hear this year. “Just give him punk, give him reggae, and a bit of rocksteady, and you know he’s gonna be all right\/Give him punk, give him reggae, a bit of rocksteady, and he’ll be up all night.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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