Cock Sparrer – Hand On Heart

As punk approaches the 50th anniversary of the initial explosion of noise, energy and anger in 1976, Cock Sparrer are already way past the particular milestone having originally formed way back in 1972. In their 52 year lifespan Cock Sparrer have split up and reformed on numerous occasions, but they have impressively retained the core of the band, vocalist Colin McFaull, guitarist Mick Beaufoy, bassist Steve Burgess and drummer Steve Bruce are all still present, with the relative newcomer guitarist Daryl Smith having only been in the band for a mere three decades! This is an achievement in itself when you look at bands of a similar vintage, often they have have one or maybe two original members left who have survived the decades together (and haven’t become sick of the sight of each other). Now Cock Sparrer are set to release their eighth album, Hand On Heart, next week via Cherry Red Records.

There is an assumption that we mellow with age, we start to take things easier and kick back, if this is true then no one has bothered to tell Cock Sparrer. The OG’s of street punk are still with us and their new full length still contains all the hooks, singalong choruses and gang vocals you would expect. I will admit that when I receive a new album from a band of this vintage there is an unconscious roll of the eyes, all too often their glories are firmly in the past and what you get is a shadow of the band you loved all those years ago. My eyes were jerked back out of their weary rolling as Hand On Heart is up there with their best recordings. This is an album that stays true to Cock Sparrer‘s original sound, the message is one of unity and loyalty with choruses that lodge themselves in your head. The songs are short, sharp, to the point and refreshingly brash and energetic.

Hand On Heart‘s appeal has been helped by the band not blowing their recording budget down the boozer, something they happily admit happened in the past. Instead they enlisted producer James Bragg, who worked alongside Daryl Smith, and got esteemed studio engineer Kevin Tuffy on board for final mastering. The end result is an album that delivers the material their long standing, and quite possibly pensionable, fans will want to hear whilst also allowing them to spread their wings and show that age is no barrier when it comes to delivering hard hitting punk songs. If this is their last album, and that does remain an if given their longevity, then it’s a hell of a way to sign off a legacy that has had a lasting influence on punk’s past, present and, in all probability, it’s future.

Still active after all this time, you can catch Cock Sparrer live over the coming months, including two album launch shows at London’s Shepherds Bush Empire on the 6th April and then at Glasgow’s Academy on the 13th April. These headline shows will be followed by a flurry of festival appearances across the Summer months, including the UK’s Rebellion Festival, Mighty Sounds in the Czech Republic, the Basque Country’s Mondra & Roll and France’s Hellfest.

Hand On Heart will be released on the 5th April via Cherry Red Records