“This frozen chase, at the forefront of my mind has left me hanging out to dry.“
Punk has taken a fair few twists and turns over the previous years, with much of this centred in the UK. With the likes of shame, Witch Fever and Squid emerging, most of this experimentation has branched into the post-punk sound. This has arguably seen a slight absence of a punk sound that gave root to the now flourishing hardcore scene, the sort that would traditionally contain the potential for bar stools to be sent flying.
Enter MOSKITO, who are looking to grab 2023 by the scruff of the neck. The past two years have seen the rollout of singles, including “Sweet Fruit” and “Don’t Touch My Baby”, with 2023 bringing them under the collective title of BAD LOVE // MIXTAPE — a debut that sets the bar for UK punk in 2023.
Its introduction, fresh to the mixtape, is a reading of a poem, “Of love, respect, loyalty and the rest, this potion they create drink it proudly with your chest“, seemingly a mission statement for MOSKITO and their sound. It is akin to The Streets‘ declaration in “Turn the Page” from their classic album Original Pirate Material, albeit in a calmer fashion.
What follows is seven tracks that each tell their own story to be explored. Debut single “Gone With The Girl Next Door” is reminiscent of early Queens of the Stone Age, with ’00s British indie, groovy basslines, and vocals lamenting lovers. Despite its catchy nature, it does slightly throwback to an era that some may not want to revisit just yet. Adding a layer of aggression comes “Miss Me“, which, building the tempo of the album, still has a sense of the same trappings as its opener.
MOSKITO enter their element with “Sweet Fruit“, rife with attitude, grit and belief. It is a chin up, chest out, both feet on the ground sort of track. As vocalist Jake Rudd declares “They say her fella is a monster but I’m up for a fight.“, it sticks a flag in the ground and demands the listener’s attention. With lamenting verses that see their release with a bossing chorus, it’s a track that gives something to hang your hat on.
“Bloodshort” is a racer of a track filled with energy and momentum, one that inevitably wakes up a room in a live setting. With guitars churning out riffs that are difficult to not be drawn into, it’s a treat of a track that, like so much of the punk genre, will see its full potential in a live setting. This is neatly continued by “517“, which has an atmosphere of a club tune, with it’s elevating manner. While the IDLES reference is groan inducing, there is just enough here to forgive it.
Entering the closing stretch comes “Don’t Touch My Baby“, which leans into the anthemic side that was somewhat present in “Gone With The Girl Next Door“, but blended with the aggression of the aforementioned midpoint tracks. A groovy brawler of a track, which should undoubtedly make for a good time.
As MOSKITO‘s mixtape departs with piano chords on “painkiller“, it feels like an experience that will leave a mark on the listener. While it does seem patched together overall, as mixtapes generally are, what MOSKITO offers here is a sense that there is something bigger and better to come. With hard tunes “Sweet Fruit” and “Don’t Touch My Baby” grabbing attention, what follows might just see the UK seeing MOSKITO as their next favourite punk act.
7.5/10
BAD LOVE // MIXTAPE is out this Friday via self-release, and can be pre-saved here.