“Toying with ideas of stasis, boredom and isolation, Chalk are masters of emotion and are sure to make a massive impact” DIY Magazine
“A sonic trip unlike anything heard so far in 2023” Gigwise
“Post-punk grinding with some Nine Inch Nails-style industrial thrashing” The New Cue
"The love of the dance scene meets the love of raw darkly atmospheric noise... Gothic sounding guitars duel with the sensory overload of a techno club" Steve Lamacq, BBC 6 Music
"A band that are filled with TNT...a suckerpunch of a blow to the chest...such an exciting starting point" Jack Saunders, BBC Radio 1
“This band is raw, they bring energy... I'm a big fan of what they do" Gemma Bradley, BBC Radio 1
"The most exciting Northern Irish guitar band in years" BBC Introducing
With their UK debut fast approaching, as a part of The First Fifty acts selected for this year's iconic The Great Escape festival, Belfast post-punk/electronic trio Chalk announce debut EP ‘Conditions’, set for release May 5th, and share brand new single ‘Asking’ (video here), out today (March 22nd).
Intensifying their perilous ascent, ‘Asking’ continues the band's arching cinematic themes. Basking in the hardstyle/electronic influences of Death Grips and delivered via a monotone, malicious vocals performance that has callbacks to the likes of The Murder Capital, 'Asking' builds its malevolent maelstrom on a bed of created sounds and distorted and buzzing acoustics. With frequent collaborator Chris Ryan (NewDad, Enola Gay, Just Mustard) once again on production duties, the alternative edge is shaped to a razor on the newest from Chalk.
Speaking ahead of its release, Ross Cullen of Chalk stated: “It’s a reaction to feelings of ours that look at the past and a longing for others who aren’t in your life anymore. How we grow as people and those we leave behind as a result. We wanted “Asking” to follow the recollection of someone whose memories are fading when trying to remember about someone in the past”.
With support coming from the likes of The Independent, DIY, The New Cue, Rough Trade and Gigwise, as well as widespread BBC Radio 1 (Jack Saunders) and BBC 6 Music (Steve Lamacq, Amy Lame) airplay, the Northern Irish newcomers have fast established themselves as an unmissable new talent in the UK scene and are set to be prominent figures throughout the festival circuit this summer.
Chalk’s ‘Asking’ is out now and available on all digital platforms.
out on October 08, 2024
via Nice Swan Recordings
out on March 01, 2024
via Nice Swan Recordings
out on February 28, 2024
via Nice Swan Recordings
out on January 17, 2024
via Nice Swan Recordings
out on November 22, 2023
via Nice Swan Recordings
out on May 05, 2023
via Dutch Tilt