Glasgow’s SOAPBOX follow up 2024’s EP HAWD THAT with LOCK IN set for release on 25 April. The 4-piece celebrate with their biggest headline show to date at the 500 capacity Glasgow School of Art on release day. The four track EP, one single and three unreleased songs, are a blast of in your face punk delivered at pace with a fury and intensity which is fuelled by outrage.
It doesn’t take long for LOCK IN to wind up. Opener ‘MESS’ begins with a guitar riff which within seconds hits top speed. This is full frontal punk which goes hard and fast. The honest lyrics are delivered at top speed. It’s hard to keep up but boy oh boy its fun trying. Lead singer Tom Rowan has no room for slips or stutters. Thematically it’s almost a mission statement for SOAPBOX. “I’m in a mess. I’m in a mess. I’m in a mess, you know I must confess” admits Rowan, and reasons include the mismanagement by the ruling classes and the rise of the fascism.
‘GOOD GUYS’ continues to expand on their political stance. The pace is a little more measured, punk with a splash of rock n roll. “We’re the fucking good guys. We’ll tell you that it’s no surprise. We worship at the chapel of Bush, Brown and Blair.” It’s a track loaded with irony, taking aim at the narrow minded attitudes and corruption of those in charge. Sadly there are endless examples that could pack these lyrics. Inevitably this all spills over into raucous frustration by the end.
Hold onto your hats for single ‘Do As Ur Told’ which, as Rowan explains is about the abuse of power:
“Its lyrics are specific to a bad experience we had in the music industry where we felt we were being taken for a ride, but we feel it’s more broadly about being strong-armed into situations which are non-beneficial. The frustration we feel as musicians struggling to scratch out a living, and being squeezed on every penny we do make by other parties, translates to situations people find themselves in every day whether that’s off of a colleague, boss, landlord or someone else in a position of power over them.”
Scuzzy guitars and wild utter mayhem, this 2 minute track is over too too quickly and immediately has to be replayed just to feel the whole pulsating raucous energy course through your veins for a second time. There is something liberating in this energy particularly when combined with the subject matter. The abuse of power in any circumstance is horrendous “They take us for our money then they push us aside.” No wonder the fury seeps out of this track, the anger palpable combined with thrashing drums and electrifying guitars. Listen out for that riff towards the end. Class.
‘THE GRANTON STAR CAUSE’ sets out the narrative of Big Bob Connor, whose life has fallen apart. SOAPBOX are from Glasgow and there is, quite rightly, no compromise on the accent. There is such tension on this track with the crashing cymbals and guitar creating dark drama, and even if we can’t hear every single word, it’s a narrative the listener senses will not end well.
In an interview with Snack in June 2024 Rowan stated:
“Recording is an addition to what we do, not a compromise. Our goal is still to perform live as much as possible, but if people are investing their time and interest in you as a band they want you to have an output and a body of work. We now have more support in doing what we need to get the tunes out to more people – we get a lot of help from our label, and our managers at Scottish Music Collective.”
This will come as no surprise to anyone who saw their storming set at Rockaway Beach in January. The noon slot was no deterrent, the exhilaration and fire was there for all to see. Be prepared to hear a lot more from Soapbox in the coming months.
For more information on SOAPBOX please check their facebook and instagram.
