Panic Shack - Panic Shack

Panic Shack’s self-titled debut kicks the door in from the first second, launching straight into the riotous ‘Girl Band Starter Pack’ - all fizzing basslines, spiky guitars and the gleeful rush of four friends dragging you to the dancefloor whether you’re ready or not. It’s the perfect opener for an album that never loses its scrappy energy, feeling less like a polished studio project and more like the best night out you’ve had in years.

Across eleven tracks, Panic Shack combine irreverence, sharp observational humour and a thrilling sense of camaraderie. They’ve described themselves as the antidote to the "members-only club" vibe of male-dominated indie scenes, and it shows: there’s no gatekeeping here.

‘Tit School’ is particularly hilarious, Sarah Harvey drawling: "I didn’t go to Brit School, I went to Tit School / I didn’t get straight As, I got double-Ds." It’s tongue-in-cheek and silly, but also a keen dig at scenes where background (and privilege) are often quietly policed. Elsewhere, ‘Unhinged’ turns real Hinge responses into a bouncy indie-rock gem, and ‘Pockets’ pokes fun at the daily frustration of dresses with nowhere to stash your phone and keys.

But there’s bite beneath the fun. ‘SMELLARAT’ is a tightly coiled punk growl aimed at creeps who won’t leave, while ‘Gok Wan’ lampoons toxic tabloid culture with the band’s trademark wink-and-sneer approach. Even the breezier moments come with sharp edges, reflecting the reality of being women navigating the world at large.