Mob Wife - Captain Care A Lot + Hellsong

Mob Wife - Captain Care A Lot + Hellsong

It is often said (usually by people who have a cigar in one hand and litre of Strongbow in the other) that there are few endings, only new beginnings. As much can be said for punk collective Mob Wife. The conclusion of a number of solo projects led the trio of Chris Leckey, Carl Small and Mark McDaid together under the moniker of Mob Wife. Peddling a contemporary punk rock sound with aggression to match, I was in attendance for this debut show in Limelight 2. With their latest tracks, the double single release of Captain Care A Lot and Hellsong, its pleasant to see they kept the same energy from day one.

Following the well-received buzz of Warm Water, the newest releases have Mob Wife sounding more comfortable than ever before. Their commitment to confidence has only aided the discovery of a more mature take on their already addictive sound, which shifts between unabashed fury and restrained malice.

Captain Care A Lot leans on the side of the former. Its sound is infused with the tenants of punk and alt-rock, with even its quietest moments highlighted by a puncturing edge. Furious waves roll in over the guitar fills, interrupted only but the growling blurt is “CULTURE! CULTURE!” Animosity courses through this number (“I'll cut my teeth to spite you all” sounds directed) powered by heavy distortion and a searing modern rock squeal. Drummer McDaid notes land like haymakers, while cymbals ring like bells in a Hemingway novel. The rancour of their previous release, while exhilarating in itself, seems unfocused and scattershot in comparison. Captain… has the precision of a sniper, and each note feels purposeful and thrilling.

Second tune Hellsong opts for a more reticent mood (by Mob Wife’s standards anyway), allowing for their secretive groove to steal some of the twilight. A murky bass line and gloomy lick open proceedings before the breathless growl of Lecky creeps in. Jarring pace shifts keep listeners on their toes and befit their new sound, which drips with shock and awe. Low whispers give way to acrimonious spews, while the pound of the breakdown deserves recognition for its own fierceness.

Swamped in what is far from the coolest genre in the world, Mob Wife sound happy and bold on their latest. Content to carve out space for themselves rather than fit into someone else, their take on punk rock is not to be missed.

https://open.spotify.com/album/4wczqHnSOCNnWoLz3b4OKj


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