Album Review: Cock Sparrer – Forever

COCK SPARRER are easily one of the most influential street punk bands in history, this is not surprising when you consider that they’ve been around since before punk was officially in existence and this year is their 45th anniversary, with punk being a sprightly 41 in comparison. Fashions and trends in the punk scene have come and gone but Cock Sparrer have almost always been there, never one’s to fit in they’ve always done what they do, and their self belief resulted in both the oi! and street punk scenes both adopting them as one of their own. Now well into their fifth decade Cock Sparrer are set to release their new album, Forvever, on the 2nd June, this latest release follows on from their 2007 full length, Here We Stand.

It should come as no surprise that Cock Sparrer haven’t changed, this is an album of high octane street punk that boasts singalong choruses and terrace chants, Forever is an album that maintains the spirit that appeared on the 1980 debut album, Shock Troops, and it’s credit to them that the years haven’t reduced their energy levels in the slightest. You can’t underestimate the influence of Cock Sparrer, everyone from Rancid and Dropkick Murphys to the Bouncing Souls and Agnostic Front owe a debt to this London based band, and the current album, unlike many bands that release album’s at their age, will only reinforce their reputation.

Forever is an album that will be well received by their established fan base, there are no surprises on Forever, but let’s face it, if they were going to mellow with age they would have done it before now. Forever doesn’t have any stand out tracks, but on the other hand there aren’t any low points that have you reaching to skip tracks, this is a solid sixteen track album that delivers exactly what you’d hope for, and expect, from Cock Sparrer. This isn’t a surprising album in any way, shape or form, this is Cock Sparrer delivering what they do best, sounding like they are still loving making the music they want to make and delivering albums that their worldwide fanbase will lap up.

Forever can be ordered via Pirate Press Records and Randale Records here