REVIEW: Thank - I Have A Physical Body That Can Be Harmed

Leeds-based band Thank are one of the United Kingdom's most exciting post-punk bands, and after 2022's 'Thoughtless Cruelty' they are on the verge of the release of their second record, 'I Have A Physical Body That Can Be Harmed'. Having performed at ArcTanGent just after the single 'Writing Out A List Of All The Names Of God' dropped, and completed a UK and European jaunt recently, the four piece are ready to take over the airwaves.

Opener 'Control' is an excellent introduction to the band - beginning the album with lead vocalist Freddy Vinehill-Cliffe's unhinged, unnerving lyrical delivery right at the fore, with an unsettling instrumental that underpins him before breaking into a groove that's equally likely to get your hips swaying as to get the two steppers flocking. Single 'Woke Frasier' picks up the baton right where 'Control' left it, with inane lyrics and an abrasively noise-driven post-punk groove holding the fort to keep the song on track. Complaining about the constant calls of 'wokeism' by holding up a mirror to the concept, it's a clever song with excellent musicality.

'Do It Badly' is a thoroughly excellent song that pushes the punk end of Thank's influence through the roof, in a frenetic and shouty whirlwind of energy that's going to appeal to fans of bands as wide ranging as Chat Pile, the Sex Pistols, and the Arctic Monkeys. The drum lines Steve Myles plays run rampant throughout, whilst bassist Cameron Moitt somehow holds the piece together with his funky fusion of heavy and groovy bass. Fourth track 'The Spores' veers sharply from the punk ideology of 'Do It Badly', and starts out firmly embedded in doom metal, with a seven minute runtime that only reinforces any associations made there. With a lyrical reference made to Black Sabbath in the form of Freddy mentioning "Iron Man", the doom metal parallels seem all but guaranteed before guitarist Lewis Millward runs a jagged sprint across his guitar's neck to jar every nerve in your body and elevate the song into a furious post-punk monolith.

As soon as the world's first doom-cum-post-punk track passes, a song entitled 'Down With The Sickness' lurches into view - but is mercifully not a cover of the Disturbed track. Lewis' synths rule the roost for most of the song, and Freddy embraces his best Yard Act impression whilst still staying in the realms of the slightly concerning, and the track gradually becomes one that could easily get mentions in end of year lists. 'Barely' marks the top of the second side of the LP, and starts with Steve laying down a tight groove for the band to gradually encroach upon, and happens to also be the title-track-to-be, with the lyrics "I have a physical body that can be harmed" appearing within. Whilst so far they've been excellent, track seven 'Smile Politely' feels like the moment where the band cross the threshold from writing chaotic, heavily sarcastic, noisy abrasive post-punk that doesn't ever quite fall apart, to chucking the kitchen sink into the mix a little bit. It stumbles around feeling a little overwritten and under thought-out, and whilst it's still by all means a listenable song, it's surrounded by far more intelligent songs so is likely to come out in the wash.

With that though, the eighth track brings Thank right back to their cynical best on 'Dead Dog In A Ditch', a sub-two minute sprint that's as close to drummer Steve's beloved grindcore as the band have come thus far. It's imbued with the energy of bands like Napalm Death and Pig Destroyer - albeit not the unrestrained violence both lyrically and musically - and will cause moshpits by the dozen. 'Perhaps Today' comes in ninth position, with more overt post-punk influence rearing its head, and discusses the heavenly ascension of humans and dogs, the Rapture, and yells about the end of days.

That brings us to the end, with lead single 'Writing Out A List Of All The Names Of God', which features an absolute belter of a bassline from Cameron and plenty of pummelling percussion courtesy of Steve. The energy levels are sky high, and there is menace dripping off of this song so thickly you can feel it. Lewis' guitar sprays discordant distortion left right and centre, whilst Freddy screams bloody murder about "all of the different names of God".

With 'I Have A Physical Body That Can Be Harmed', Thank have entered the conversation for one of the UK's premier post-punk bands, with a snap of their fingers. Nigh on everything is as you'd want from a band who have been posited as a politically savvy post-punk foursome, they positively ooze sarcasm and derision, and have blended a multitude of genres in a way that is highly recognisable and incredibly enjoyable, whilst almost never letting the music detract from the point of each song. A concoction of bitter vocals, rampant basslines, careening guitars, pulverising drums and distressing synths that all come together in potent fashion, the rock band Thank from Leeds deserve every bit of praise coming their way for an album that could hold sway over the Six Music production execs like a hypnotist, and one that will deserve every spot it takes on Album Of The Year lists. Marvellous work.

Words: Jake Longhurst

Photos: Thank