Photo Credit: Chris Watkins @punkinfocus
Brighton garage-punk trio Honeybadger arrive with State Of Play like a band kicking down the door rather than politely knocking. Across six tightly wound tracks, the band channels frustration, urgency, and modern-day anxiety into a ferocious EP that captures both the chaos of their live shows and the growing confidence of a group rapidly finding its identity.
Produced by Paul Win (Royal Blood, Architects, Slag), State Of Play feels like a significant step forward for Honeybadger. The EP retains the raw, sweat-soaked energy that has earned the trio a reputation as one of the UK’s most visceral live acts, but there is a newfound sharpness to the songwriting and production. Every riff lands with purpose, every chorus hits harder, and every track feels crafted to leave a lasting mark.
Opening cut “Itch” wastes no time establishing the tone. A fuzz-laden riff explodes from the speakers before giving way to melodic vocals that ride a wave of crashing guitars and pounding rhythms. It’s an opener that immediately showcases the band’s ability to balance aggression with accessibility, blending garage-rock grit with undeniable hook-writing instincts.
From there, the EP shifts through a variety of shades without losing momentum. “Mishear” introduces a darker, grunge-inflected atmosphere, allowing the band to lean into mood and tension before the record launches headfirst into the explosive garage-punk attack of “Killswitch” and “Gonna Break.” These tracks are among the EP’s strongest moments, capturing the frantic energy and cathartic release that has become central to Honeybadger’s appeal.
What elevates the EP beyond a collection of energetic rock songs is its thematic focus. Beneath the distortion and volume lies a record wrestling with modern disconnection, digital overload, and the growing sense of powerlessness many experience in contemporary life. The band’s description of the EP as “a world where no one can hear you scream” feels particularly apt. There’s a palpable tension running through the release, but also an undeniable sense of release, as if these songs exist to purge frustrations that words alone can’t express.
Importantly, Honeybadger never allow those themes to overwhelm the music itself. Rather than becoming preachy or overly self-serious, the band channels their observations into sharp songwriting and explosive performances. The result is an EP that feels both thoughtful and instinctive, balancing substance with the kind of immediacy that demands repeated listens.
At just six tracks, the EP leaves listeners wanting more, perhaps its greatest strength. State Of Play doesn’t feel like a destination; it feels like the beginning of something bigger. Loud, urgent, and packed with attitude, Honeybadger have delivered their strongest release to date and positioned themselves firmly among the most exciting emerging rock bands in the UK.
