Chain Cult – Harm Reduction
The Athenian post-punk trio's second full-length expands their sound, championing collective healing over capitalist alienation.
Few records in the punk underground in 2024 have been as highly anticipated as Chain Cult’s second full-length LP. Five years after the excellent Shallow Grave, the Greek post-punk trio has returned with Harm Reduction, an album that represents the evolution of their melodic yet furious signature sound. In the interim, they released the We’re Not Alone EP, continued touring non-stop, and deepened the more punkish and vibrant arteries of their identity.
Right from the first spins, Harm Reduction, with its striking peace punk/gothic artwork, reveals a band that has meticulously refined its compositional approach. Compared to the debut album or the Isolated EP, Harm Reduction might not be as chorus-driven as one might expect, instead emphasizing remarkable guitar harmonies and melodic riffs. Once again, Chain Cult draws from the grand songbook of Wipers, The Chameleons, Mission Of Burma, The Sound, Crisis, The Mob, and The Estranged, delivering eight tracks that move between fierce and more up-tempo rhythms.
The opener, “What We Leave Behind,” an electrifying, passionate composition, pairs with the catchy “Ending Things” to form a one-two punch of live staples for the group. However, it’s the hypnotic and atmospheric “Poison Scars,” with its memorable bassline and main riff, that strikes a particularly emotional chord, urging listeners to dance into the night—a mood that peaks with the crawling “Harrowing Times” and the pessimistic “The Plan.” Yet, while Chain Cult continues to map modern capitalist alienation and the trauma it inflicts, they never lose sight of hope. The album’s triumphant closer, “Concrete Wind,” is an ode to solidarity and collective resistance—a knife of hope slicing through the grey, personalized depression of a stagnant society. Composed of veterans of the local DIY scene, Chain Cult still wears its sociopolitical message on its sleeve, harnessing music as a healing force to mend wounds and reduce harm.
With their second album, Chain Cult has grown larger, reaching a much broader audience. Their blend of death rock elements in the dynamic rhythm section, street-punk vocals, and touches of darker/new wave all combine into an irresistible whole. In an era of constant change—where red lines are drawn, defended, or withdrawn—amid a hellish fog of uncertainty and self-doubt, and in a constantly shifting, hostile landscape that threatens the survival of DIY music, Chain Cult’s rebellious post-punk continues to evolve and push forward. I’m not sure what lies ahead for the Athenian trio, but as I spin the flawless Harm Reduction yet again, I can only hope they preserve their distinct artistic spirit at the core.
