The Punk Site 2021 Top 20: John – Nocturnal Manoeuvres

At number 7 in The Punk Site’s contributors top 20 from 2021 is Nocturnal Manoeuvres, the latest full length from John that was released in October via Brace Yourself Records. Nocturnal Manoeuvres sees the duo expanding upon their celebrated idiosyncrasies alongside trusted producer Wayne Adams, who was behind the boards for both of their previous albums. The result is a towering, titanic body of work, one that moves easily between cinematic post-rock, elastic post-hardcore and pummelling noise rock.

“it’s loud, it’s fast, it’s full of attitude. It’s a continuous, fierce barrage of perfect noise. Drums from John Newton that quite literally pummel you into submission. Guitar from Johnny Healey that tears into you like a demonic creature. And Newton’s voice. It growls, it threatens, it puts you in your place. Despite the volume, the pace and a voice usually associated with the hardest core of punk John’s songs are full of catchy riffs and melodies and you don’t have to focus too hard to appreciate there’s real tunes here.” (Steve White, December 2021)

Nocturnal Manoeuvres can be streamed and purchased here