British punks Grade 2 wrestle with a whirlwind coming-of-age on their rollercoaster fourth album Talk About It, set for release on 3 April via Hellcat Records. Frontman Sid Ryan, guitarist Jack Chatfield, and drummer Jacob Hull bring over a decade of experience to the table, crafting an album that’s both a reflection of their personal struggles and a rallying cry for a generation. An unflinching exploration of love, loss, and the emotional toll of growing up in a band, Grade 2 promise to deliver the grit, hooks, and hard-earned clarity that has made them one of the UK’s most exciting young punk acts.
The trio share defiant lead single ‘Standing In The Downpour’, a steadfast statement asserting that even if the clouds burst, they’ll be happy to dance in the rain. The band explains:
“’Standing In The Downpour’ is a story through reminiscence, written in a conversational manner as if between old friends. From a British seaside town upbringing, rowdy nights and reckless decision making, to finding your feet in early adulthood.”
Grief. Growth. Grafting every step of the way. Twelve years since they first cranked amps as schoolkids rattling their music room out on the Isle of Wight, Grade 2 have plenty to talk about. From seeing dreams dangling precariously during COVID, to blasting back with 2023’s self-titled third LP, the band looked to be riding high. But storming festivals like Rock am Ring and rubbing shoulders with heroes like Rancid and Slipknot was only half the story. Offstage, the trio were dealing with the quiet dissonance of island life back at their parents’ places, finding time for romantic relationships and plotting the path forward through a world increasingly falling to pieces. Turbulent fourth album Talk About It is a chronicle of every tribulation and triumph.
“The title-track was initially called ‘Communication’, a song about how men don’t talk about the things that really matter to them,” explains Sid. “But it became ‘Talk About It’, which sums up the whole album, touching on every emotion that you feel while being in a band, from love to loss to personal turmoil to ambition. It’s a coming-of-age story about Grade 2 entering adulthood…”
A compelling first step in the next chapter from one of modern punk’s brightest lights, Grade 2 makes it out of the darkness.
“This is everything we’ve been through,” the lead singer smiles bitter sweetly, “but we’re here!”
Grade 2 Live Dates
March
20 – Belfast, IRE – The Deer’s Head
21 – Dublin, IRE – Lost Land
28 – Nottingham, UK – Bodega Social
29 – Leeds, UK – The Key Club
30 – Manchester, UK – The Deaf Institute
31 – Glasgow, UK – The Garage
April
1 – Bristol, UK – Exchange
3 – London, UK – O2 Academy Islington
4 – Newport, Isle of Wight – Strings Bar & Venue
25 – Dusseldorf, Germany – Zakk
30 – Jena, Germany – F-Haus
June
18 – Dessel, Belgium – Plein Air
20 – Zurich, CH – Stadion Letzigrund
For more information on Grade 2 please check their website and instagram.