the Chisel
{{Short description|English punk band}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| background = group_or_band
| name = The Chisel
| image = The Chisel.jpg
| image_size =
| image_upright =
| landscape = yes
| alt =
| caption = The Chisel performing live in 2024 (left to right: Graham, Younger, De L'arbalete)
| alias =
| origin = London, UK
| genre = {{hlist|Punk rock|oi!|hardcore punk|street punk}}
| discography =
| years_active = 2020–present
| label = {{hlist|Pure Noise|La Vida Es Un Mus|Wardance}}
| spinoffs =
| spinoff_of = Arms Race
| current_members =
- Callum Graham
- Charlie Manning-Walker
- Luke Younger
- Lee Munday
- Jean de L'Arbalete
| past_members =
- Nicholas Sarnella
- Tom Ellis
| website = {{url|https://thechiseluk.com/}}
| module =
| module2 =
| module3 =
}}
The Chisel are an English punk rock band formed in London in 2020. Founded by former Arms Race members Nicholas Sarnella and Charlie "Chubby Charles" Manning-Walker, as well as Cal Graham, the band has released two studio albums and four EPs. Maximum Rocknroll writer Eric Anderson named them one of the leaders of "the new wave of Oi!".{{cite web |last1=Anderson |first1=Eric |title=THE CHISEL / MESS split EP |url=https://www.maximumrocknroll.com/band/the-chisel/ |website=Maximum Rocknroll |access-date=12 September 2023}}
History
The Chisel was formed at the beginning of 2020 in London, and has its origin in Arms Race vocalist Nicholas Sarnella and Cal Graham discussing forming a band together, although with no particular style in mind. Once these discussion began to be realised, the pair recruited Arms Race's guitarist Charlie "Chubby Charles" Manning-Walker. This trio recorded the EP Deconstructive Surgery (2020) with Manning-Walker on guitar, Sarnella on drums and Graham on vocals, before hiring bassist Tom Ellis and additional guitarist Luke Younger.{{cite web |last1=Policastro |first1=John Liam |title=No Courtesy, Just Carpentry: London’s the Chisel Speak |url=https://www.creem.com/fresh-creem/the-chisel-interview |website=Creem |access-date=10 September 2023}} On 15 January 2021, they released their second EP Come See Me / Not The Only One,{{cite web |last1=Breihan |first1=Tom |title=Stream The New EP From UK Punk Ragers The Chisel |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2113232/stream-the-debut-ep-from-uk-punk-ragers-the-chisel/music/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=12 September 2023}} then on 5 March 2021, released their third EP Enough Said.{{cite web |last1=Breihan |first1=Tom |title=Stream The Chisel’s Hard-Stomping Street-Punk EP Enough Said |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2118441/stream-the-chisels-hard-stomping-street-punk-ep-enough-said/music/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=12 September 2023}}
On 8 October 2021, they announced that their debut album Retaliation was set to be released on 26 November, and released the album's title track as a single.{{cite web |last1=Breihan |first1=Tom |title=The Chisel – “Retaliation” |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2163371/the-chisel-retaliation/music/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=10 September 2023}} In August 2022, they toured European support the Circle Jerks.{{cite web |title=OX PRÄSENTIERT: CIRCLE JERKS |url=https://www.ox-fanzine.de/ox-praesentiert-circle-jerks |access-date=10 September 2023}} On 28 November 2022, they released a split EP with Mexican street punk band Mess.{{cite web |last1=Breihan |first1=Tom |title=Stream The Chisel & Mess’ Vengefully Catchy Split EP |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2206943/stream-the-chisel-mess-vengefully-catchy-split-ep/music/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=10 September 2023}} On 6 April 2023, they announced they had signed to Pure Noise Records.{{cite web |title=The Chisel sign to Pure Noise Records |url=https://lambgoat.com/news/38740/the-chisel-sign-to-pure-noise-records/ |access-date=10 September 2023}} On 26 April, the label re-released the band's album Retaliation.{{cite web |last1=Sacher |first1=Andrew |title=The Chisel sign to Pure Noise, re-release 'Retaliation,' putting out new music this year |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/the-chisel-sign-to-pure-noise-re-release-retaliation-putting-out-new-music-this-year/ |access-date=10 September 2023}}
On 6 May 2023, they released their single "Cry Your Eyes Out". From 19 to 27 May, they supported the Chats on their UK headline tour.{{cite web |last1=Gentile |first1=John |title=The Chisel added as support to Chats UK/EU tour |url=https://www.punknews.org/article/79226/the-chisel-added-as-support-to-chats-uk-eu-tour |access-date=10 September 2023}} From 28 May to 12 June, they supported GBH on their US headline tour.{{cite web |last1=Frankel |first1=Ricky |title=GBH / The Chisel / NIIS (US) |url=https://www.punknews.org/article/79387/tours-gbh-the-chisel-niis-us |access-date=10 September 2023}} The band were featured on Pure Noise's Dead Formats Volume 2 compilation album, which they contributed a cover of Elton John's 1973 song "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting".{{cite web |last1=Breihan |first1=Tom |title=Prince Daddy & The Hyena, Koyo, & The Chisel Cover New Radicals, Jawbreaker, & Elton John For New Compilation |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2233176/prince-daddy-the-hyena-koyo-the-chisel-cover-new-radicals-jawbreaker-elton-john-for-new-compilation/music/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=10 September 2023}}
Musical style
Critics have categorised the Chisel's music as punk rock,{{cite web |last1=Keefer |first1=Case |last2=Miller |first2=Shannon |title=REPORTS FROM PUNK ROCK BOWLING LAS VEGAS 2023 |url=https://lasvegasweekly.com/ae/music/2023/jun/01/reports-from-punk-rock-bowling-las-vegas-2023/ |website=LA Weekly |access-date=10 September 2023}} oi!,{{cite web |last1=Spence |first1=Simon |title=‘We are everything that scares curtain twitchers’: the bands resurrecting the spirit of Oi! |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/nov/19/crown-court-uk-punk-band-resurrecting-oi-movement-interview |website=The Guardian |access-date=12 September 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Hodge |first1=Jazz |title=The Chisel, Underworld – live review |url=https://louderthanwar.com/the-chisel-underworld-live-review/ |website=Louder Than War |access-date=12 September 2023}} street punk{{cite web |last1=Breihan |first1=Tom |title=The Chisel, End It, And The Beauty Of Shit-Wrecking Spectacle |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2210425/the-chisel-end-it-and-the-beauty-of-shit-wrecking-spectacle/columns/let-the-roundup-begin/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=12 September 2023}} and hardcore punk,{{cite web |last1=Ramage |first1=Jack |title=A DECADE OF THE UK'S HARDCORE PUNK SCENE – IN PHOTOS |url=https://www.huckmag.com/article/a-decade-of-the-uk-hardcore-punk-scene-in-photos-nat-wood |website=Huck |access-date=12 September 2023}} incorporating elements of pub rock,{{cite web |last1=Breihan |first1=Tom |title=Album Of The Week: The Chisel Retaliation |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2168350/the-chisel-retaliation-2/reviews/album-of-the-week/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=10 September 2023}} anarcho-punk, UK82{{cite web |last1=Linazasoro |first1=Nick |title=Punk band The Chisel are heading to Brighton with ‘Retaliation’ – You’ve been warned! |url=https://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2022/02/10/punk-band-the-chisel-are-heading-to-brighton-with-retaliation-youve-been-warned/ |access-date=10 September 2023}} folk{{cite web |last1=Breihan |first1=Tom |title=The Month In Hardcore: February 2021 |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2116358/the-month-in-hardcore-february-2021/columns/let-the-roundup-begin/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=12 September 2023}} and rock and roll.{{cite web |last1=Taylor |first1=Sam |title=The Chisel have released a new single, ‘Cry Your Eyes Out’ |url=https://upsetmagazine.com/news/the-chisel-single-cry-your-eyes-out/ |access-date=10 September 2023}} Their music is often fast and aggressive while also being melodic.{{cite web |last1=TOROK |first1=FRANKIE |title=NEWS: THE CHISEL CELEBRATE PURE NOISE RECORDS SIGNING WITH ‘RETALIATION’ REISSUE |url=https://newnoisemagazine.com/news-the-chisel-celebrate-pure-noise-records-signing-with-retaliation-reissue/ |access-date=10 September 2023}} Graham's lyrics discuss topics such as fighting and working class struggle, with his vocals showcasing his Lancashire accent, with some songs making use of harmonicas and pianos.{{cite web |last1=Gardner |first1=Noel |title=Straight Hedge! The Best Punk Of 2021 |url=https://thequietus.com/articles/30920-best-punk-of-2021 |website=The Quietus |access-date=12 September 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Breihan |first1=Tom |title=The Month In Hardcore: March 2021 |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2120050/the-month-in-hardcore-march-2021/columns/let-the-roundup-begin/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=12 September 2023}} Stereogum writer Tom Breihan called their style a merger of "the speed and focus of the hardcore" and "classic UK street-punk, with its beery melodic abandon and its group-hug chant-along choruses".{{cite web |last1=Breihan |first1=Tom |title=The Month In Hardcore: October 2021 |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2164115/the-month-in-hardcore-october-2021/columns/let-the-roundup-begin/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=12 September 2023}}
They have cited influences including the Angelic Upstarts, Conflict, the Exploited, the Partisans, the Ramones, the Replacements and Leatherface.{{cite web |last1=Breihan |first1=Tom |title=The Chisel – “Cry Your Eyes Out” |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2223808/the-chisel-cry-your-eyes-out/music/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=10 September 2023}}
Members
Current
- Callum Graham – vocals (2020–present)
- Charlie "Chubby Charles" Manning-Walker – guitar (2020–present)
- Luke Younger – guitar (2020–present)
- Lee Munday – drums (2023–present)
- Jean de L'Arbalete – bass (2022–present)
Former
- Nicholas Sarnella – drums (2020–2023)
- Tom Ellis – bass (2020–2022)
Discography
Studio albums
- Retaliation (2022)
- What a Fucking Nightmare (2024)
EPs
- Deconstructive Surgery (2020)
- Come See Me / Not The Only One (2021)
- Enough Said (2021)
- Mess / the Chisel (2022; split with Mess)