London Punk Rockers Barking Poets Sound Immense On Catchy Debut Single

The London punk rock group Barking Poets sound ready to turn heads on their now available debut single, “Make Me Strong.” Their sound feels heavy and meaty, but the melodies in the mix are markedly upbeat, which fits the theme of the song well. They wrote the track before so many people ended up needing so much encouragement and assistance amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s a timeless message — the lyrics and energetically forward melodies that pop out amidst the heaviness both communicate a strikingly real-feeling idea of rising past what might hold one back.

The performances on the track feel very energetic, as if the musicians themselves are truly on the same journey of bounding past obstacles that’s encapsulated in the song. The band cite influences ranging from the early proto-punk jams of The Who and The Kinks to more recent punk rockers like Green Day, and they use these broad frameworks to make their own unique mark. Really, it’s just one song that they’ve got available so far, but the band’s energy feels unmistakably fresh and invigorating.

Besides the above, Barking Poets also cite Frank Turner, Billy Bragg, Social Distortion, The Gaslight Anthem, The Clash, The Ramones, and more among their influences. The band turn these influences into a really fresh, strongly written experience on “Make Me Strong,” which feels like an anthem for the perhaps underappreciated moments of trudging through the often mucky experiences of daily life.

Lead vocalist Harvey Springfield memorably sings: “Well you can take the piss out of my daytime dreams/ It’s just gonna make me stronger/ And you can make a fool of the way I look/ It’s just gonna make me stronger.”

5/5 Stars

Check out the music below!