Kicked in the Teeth – Watling Street Chambers
Release Date: 9th May 2025
Label: Rare Vitamin Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Punk
FFO: Bad Religion, Propagandhi, NOFX.
Review By: Hillary Wisniewski
Here at Metal Epidemic, we are not just strictly all about metal, so it is always a good day when I get an opportunity to get my head smashed in by the old punk rock. It’s a genre that always brings back fond memories of my formative years; I spent many an evening at local shows, tracking down new things to hear, reading zines, and forming friendships with other misfits and outcasts who wanted to change the world. Listening to mid-Cheshire punks Kicked in the Teeth was like revisiting a familiar friend that takes you out for some beverages, gets you to the show, holds your hair back as you vomit in the punk club toilet, and then makes sure you get home safely even if you don’t remember what happened. No matter-you had one hell of a time in the process.
According to their press release, “KITT are influenced by Bad Religion, Descendents, and Black Flag while staying tonally British and brutally northern, their UK82 / D-beat grip has secured sets alongside Snuff, UK Subs, GBH, Cockney Rejects and The Exploited, plus modern heavy hitters The Drowns and Wonk Unit.” Wowza, that is quite a list, and some staple bands in many people’s album collection. Watling Street Chambers is a fantastic marriage between the fast and furious nature of punk and the melodic guitar that tends to be more present in metal. The album kicks off like the person at the show that gets the pit going in full force; it is energetic, a bit raw, but yet has some degree of bouncy riffs and it is catchy as hell. From there we dive a bit into a more old school sound with quick chords to sparse guitar accompanied by rollicking bass lines and tight drumming. The album continues on with these dynamics present throughout. There is enough channeling of those classic punk sounds to keep diehards happy, but with some flair on guitar to appease people who want more than just 3 chords on repeat. I appreciate the nice little solos thrown into the mix as well. Nothing too flashy, but well-placed and executed with ease. Vocals are gritty, spit fire, and straight forward, and lyrics tend to delve into broad themes in terms of looking at loss, relationships, and all of the shit that makes life…well, life. Don’t think this will make for a depressing listen; that is not the case. There’s a level of hope and determination which, quite frankly, is something a bit lacking these days, yet needed. DIY ethos is ever present in punk, and that applies to being in charge of making your own way on your terms no matter what is thrown at you.
As far as criticisms go, I don’t really have any. Overall it is a solid album, but I suppose for some tried and true folks in the scene it may not meet their standards. Whatever. Not a problem as far as I am concerned. I do think these guys would be a fun live show, and it makes me sad I am so far away and won’t be able to check them out on their tour. If you are in the UK, you totally should go for it. Get in the pit for me and raise some hell!
(4 / 5)
