False Heads – Thick Skin (2022)
Social media politics has become less of a platform to discuss current issues and more of an outlet to rant or spread rancour. For some, the constant exposure to this negativity develops depression; for others, anger becomes a negative feedback loop as they themselves pour it back into the discourse. False Heads’ new single ‘Thick Skin’, which discusses such political discourse, brilliantly mines the dark depressive post-punk sound and cements it to vitriolic punk lyrics.
‘Thick Skin’ starts off with a scuzzy, memorable guitar line. The drums come in and begin the drive that keeps the brief song moving like a doomscroll through Twitter. Luke Griffiths may have doomscrolls in mind as he sings in the chorus, “And again and again / What a waste in the end.” Listening to the single and its remarkably catchy chorus might be a better use of three minutes than trawling news stories.
Over a threatening bass line, courtesy of Jake Elliot, Griffiths points out we’ve drawn battle lines, and the skittering drums from Barney Nash create an anxious, uncertain feeling. Who we see in our mirrors are the culprits responsible for the taut atmosphere. In this day and age, it’s easy to pick up a phone and lash out at someone to relieve some tension. The chorus reminds us that we will just come back to the same garbage fire again and again if nothing changes. Thankfully, False Heads have given us a driving punk rock song to blast in the car and drive away from cycles of negativity.
It’s hard to stop listening to this song, but that’s fine. Putting earbuds in and headbanging along to punk is one of the best outlets for any pooled anger. False Heads are using what they do best to help break the negative feedback loop of current social media political discourse. Even better: this is just a single from their new album Sick Moon, out on September 30, 2022, via Scruff of the Neck Records. More garage punk wisdom is sure to come.
For more from False Heads check out their official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
