“Ghost of Churchfield Shuffle” - The Revolt
Photo Credit: Artist EPK
Let’s get one thing straight: The Revolt are not here to play it safe. Their latest EP Ghost of Churchfield Shuffle is five tracks of raw, roaring, no-holds-barred post-punk fire, steeped in grit and grief, defiance and swagger. Born in the undercurrent of Churchfield’s cracked concrete and Cork’s ever-pulsing creative heart, this EP doesn't whisper its message—it screams it, guitar-first and unapologetically loud.
The title track, “Ghost of Churchfield Shuffle,” kicks things off like a cold slap to the soul. It's not just about heartbreak—it’s about being erased. Ghosted by lovers, ghosted by society, ghosted by systems that treat us like background noise. Jessie Russell’s lead vocal cuts like broken glass, all edge and ache, while Sarah O’Callaghan’s guitar carves out riffs that feel like they’re dragging you through the backstreets at midnight. Bassist Kalli Schlauch and drummer Keith “Smelly” O’Connell lay down a rhythm that pulses with restrained rage, like a clenched jaw in a silent argument. It’s not pretty—it’s better than that. It’s real.
Track two, “Damned Love,” dives into the darker corners of emotional dependence and the slow, painful process of self-liberation. This isn’t your average love song. It’s a middle finger to toxic fairytales and the “Disney Syndrome” that tells us love means self-erasure. Jessie’s delivery here feels like it’s been pulled from deep scars—part lament, part revolution. Annette Lynch co-pens this one, and you can hear the poetic edge of her writing: sharp, observant, and unflinchingly honest.
And then comes “Catharsis”—the beating heart of this entire record. It’s a howl of defiance from anyone who's ever been boxed in, mislabeled, or unseen. This is The Revolt at their most potent: fierce, fearless, and emotionally naked. The instrumentation builds like a storm, rising with razor-wire urgency. Jessie’s voice splits open the track with an unrelenting honesty, and it becomes impossible not to feel seen in the fury. This one’s not just a song—it’s a mirror for anyone navigating identity in a world that still doesn’t get it.
Photo Credit: Artist EPK
Just when you think the band might pull you further into the existential abyss, “Uisce Beatha” (that’s Irish for whiskey—literally, "water of life") crashes through with a wink, a drink, and a swagger that refuses to be tamed. It’s wild, it’s flirtatious, and it gives you that much-needed breather after the emotional onslaught. But don’t mistake it for lighthearted fluff—there’s subtext under the swagger, a reminder that even rebellion can wear lipstick and heels, slur its words, and still speak truth.
And then… the closer. “Never Say His Name” is the gut-punch. Inspired by The West Cork Podcast and the brutal, still-unsolved murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, the track is a searing refusal to name the man long suspected. Instead, it centers the victim. It’s grief turned protest, memory turned anthem. Kieran Stack and Jessie Russell’s lyrics are devastating, careful, and filled with a quiet, burning rage. The band holds nothing back musically—Sarah’s guitar howls, Kalli’s bass churns, and Smelly’s drums feel like a war drum for justice. It’s a tribute. It’s a scream. It’s essential.
What makes Ghost of Churchfield Shuffle so compelling is not just its musical muscle—though it’s got plenty of that—it’s the why behind every beat. This is post-punk with a soul, with something to say. It’s built by hands that have scraped knuckles on the realities living in a world that doesn’t listen nearly enough.
Produced and engineered by Duncan O’Cleirigh at Blackwater Studios, the record sounds exactly how it should: raw, real, and a little rough around the edges. Like it’s bleeding on purpose. Like it knows your story, too.
With Ghost of Churchfield Shuffle, The Revolt don't just make noise—they make meaning. And in 2025, that's revolutionary.
“Ghost of Churchfield Shuffle” is available now on all major streaming platforms
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