Album Review: Audible Joes – Irrational Anthems

Audible Joes hail from Cork in the Republic of Ireland in 2010, they released their debut album, Medicine For Modern Living, in 2015 and they will be self releasing their sophomore album, Irrational Anthems, tomorrow, the 14th July 2017. If you’re expecting the more familiar tones of what has become known as Celtic punk rock then you’re in for a shock, this is a million miles away from Dropkick Murphys or The Mahones, Audible Joes serve up bare knuckle punk rock that has more in common with the likes of Bad Religion, The Flatliners, Anti-Flag and Rancid than it does with the punk bands traditionally associated with the Emerald Isle.

Irrational Anthems opens up with all guns blazing on the brutal title track and the album does not relent until the final track, Until I Die, which is the only moment of respite from the full tilt assault. Irrational Anthems has that raw passion that marks out great punk albums, every track hits the mark, but there are moments that border on perfection, tracks like Born Again Cynic, Speaker Submission and Majority Rule demonstrate just how far Audible Joes have come in the two years since their debut album was released. The album is reminiscent of the aforementioned bands that have carved their names in the US punk and melodic hardcore scenes, but Audible Joes have added their own unique passion and grit to make this an album to treasure, and it marks them out as a band who deserve, and need, to be heard by a wider audience.

Where Medicine For Modern Living felt like a blunt object, Irrational Anthems feels like those oblique edges have been sharpened to switchblade precision, the whole album feels more focused but crucially they have achieved this without losing any of the raw aggression that was present of their debut album. For those who like their punk rock to not pull it’s punches then Irrational Anthems is an album you need to add to your collection or playlist. This is the sound of punk protest delivered with an urgent and defiant spirit that makes this easily their best release to date, and it’s one that I’m confident will be amongst my favourite releases from 2017.

Irrational Anthems will be released on July 14th and will be available via all major digital retailers and streaming services.

Medicine For Modern Living is available as a name your price download here