Album review: Honey Joy – III

In just over 25 minutes, Honey Joy provide an absolute whirlwind on III. With 10 punk tracks jam-packed with thrashing guitars and riot grrrl-esque vocals, the record takes the hallmarks of the classic genre and brings it into the 21st century, all the while crafting a compelling raunchy and aggressive experience.

Ready Now encapsulates the high-intensity, high-energy instrumentals they've built their name on, and Never Better opens with rather glorious rolling drumming, before breaking off into a swinging, melodic chorus, and Language’s guitars bring an airiness to proceedings.

Live 100% enters the playing field with a bit of a power-pop verse before bombing into a rowdy crash in the chorus, while Penelope's low chords bring an early 2000s energy to the band's array of sounds.

There's a fun drum beat and bassline that opens Parallels, while Are You Still Having Fun?’s choppy guitar riffs and hammering drums keep the energy high before cutting out abruptly in under two minutes.

While it's a good record, things do also become a little repetitive in places, and Expectations and Are You Still Having Fun? are lacklustre when compared to some of the other stuff on offer here. But it's a solidly constructed album that, at its best, offers a genuine, energetic, feel-good experience for those who want to bounce while getting rowdy in a crowd.

Verdict: 3/5

For fans of: Destroy Boys, Supermilk, Personal Best

III is released on July 5 via Everything Sucks