Muskets (band)

Muskets
Muskets performing in Leeds in 2017; from left to right: Joe Phillips, Dan Smith, Alex Cheung.
Background information
OriginBrighton, East Sussex, England
Genres
Years active2014–2019
LabelsNo Sleep, Venn, Don't Shoot the Messenger, Wake Collective
SpinoffsUzumaki, Dynamite, Turn of Phrase
Past members
  • Alex Cheung
  • Joe Phillips
  • Daniel McKenna
  • Dan Smith
  • Harry Steel
  • Corey Eyres

Muskets were an English rock band formed in Brighton, East Sussex, England in 2014, by Alex Cheung, Daniel Mckenna, Dan Smith and Joe Philips. They released two albums Chew (2017) and Violent Paradise (2019), as well as the two EPs Pollyseed (2014) and SPIN (2015)

History

Daniel McKenna (guitar and vocals) and Alex Cheung (guitar and vocals) met while studying at university in Hastings, when McKenna drove to Brighton and gave Hastings a lift. On the journey, they decided to form a band.[1] Muskets were formed in Brighton in 2014,[2] experiencing various members changes early on,[1] they soon solidified a steady lineup with the addition of Brighton BIMM University students Dan Smith on bass and Joe Phillips on drums.[3] On 4 March, they released their debut EP Polyseed through Don't Shoot the Messenger Records and the Wake Collective. They quickly helped to establish a sector of the Brighton punk scene typified by the fusion of the grunge and emo, alongside Water Canvas, Broadbay and the New Tusk.[2] The music video for "25A", from Polyseed was released on 25 April.[4]

Between 5 and 12 August, they opened for Nevermind Me on their tour of the United Kingdom, alongside Water Canvas and Dissolve.[5] On 11 August, they released the single "Colourview", announcing it would be a part of their upcoming EP Spin.[6] Between 25 and 31 October, they co-headlined a tour of the United Kingdom alongside Beachtape.[7] On 2 November 2015, they released the single "Scranton".[8] Between 14 and 26 November 2015, they toured the UK with support from the New Tusk and Tigercub.[9] On 1 December, they opened for Failure at the Boston Music Room in London.[10] In February 2016, their van was robbed, losing mostly drum equipment and amplifiers.[11] On 9 May 2016, they released the music video for the song "Drowsy".[12] Between 28 September and 1 October, they co-headlined a tour of the United Kingdom with Rough Hands.[13]

On 13 December 2016, they released the single "17 Years".[14] On 25 April 2017, they announced they had signed to No Sleep Records.[15] Between 11 and 15 June 2017, they toured the United Kingdom with support from Weatherstate.[16] On 28 July 2017, they released the single "Chewing Gum".[17] Between 20 and 24 August 2017, they opened for Culture Abuse and Tigers Jaw on their UK tour.[18] On 13 September, they announced their debut album would be titled Chew and be released by No Sleep Records.[19] On 2 October, they released the single "You're So Cool", premiered through Metal Hammer.[20][21] On 20 October, they released their debut album Chew, premiered a day early by Upset magazine.[22] Around the time of the release, they were described by Punktastic writer Ashwin Bhandari as one "of the biggest UK bands".[23] Between 25 and 29 October, they co-headlined a tour of the United Kingdom with Wallflower.[24]

McKenna departed from the band in 2017, with his role being filled by Smith, while bass duties were taken over by Harry Steel. Soon Smith departed from the band, being replaced by Corey Eyres.[3] On 9 January 2018, they released the single "Umbilicle", premiered by Substream Magazine.[25] Between 13 and 15 January 2019, they did a short tour with dates in Brighton and London.[26] On 31 July, they released their second album Violent Paradise.[27] Soon, Cheung started the band Uzumaki. Both Muskets and Uzumaki were offered tours, but Cheung did not have enough time off work to do both. He chose Uzumaki, and Muskets disbanded.[28]

Musical style

Critics have categorised Muskets' music as emo,[29][30][31] grunge,[29][32] alternative rock,[33][34] emo grunge,[35][36][37] hardcore punk[38] and post-punk.[39]

They cited influenced including Basement, Title Fight, the Pixies, the Breeders,[40] Citizen, Sunny Day Real Estate and Nada Surf.[1] The playlist posted by No Sleep Records for the influences on Chew included Title Fight, Basement, Dinosaur Pile-Up, Kagoule, Cloud Nothings, the Wytches, PUP, Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes, Blur and Queens of the Stone Age.[41]

Critics noted elements of Surfer Rosa-era Pixies, Bleach-era Nirvana[42] and '90s post-hardcore acts such as Fugazi and At the Drive-In.[33] Already Heard writer Rob Mair compared them to Balance and Composure, the Decemberists and British band Hindsights.[43] Punktastic writer Ben Tipple noted them as building upon the soft grunge of bands including Title Fight, while "adding a distinctive Britishness", which he likened to Gnarwolves.[4]

Their music made use nonchalant but aggressive vocals,[44] fast, punk drums, twinkly guitar riffs, heavy riffs, grande choruses[45] high tempos,[23] and dual lead vocals.[35]

Members

  • Alex Cheung - guitar, vocals (2014–2019)
  • Dan Smith - guitar, vocals (2017–2019), bass (2014-2017)
  • Harry Steel - bass (2017–2019)
  • Joe Phillips - drums (2014–2019)
  • Daniel Mckenna - guitar, vocals (2014-2017)
  • Corey Eyres - bass (2017–2019)

Discography

Albums

Title Album details
Chew[46][47][48]
Violent Paradise
  • Released: July 26, 2019
  • No Sleep Records

EPs

Title Album details
Pollyseed[29]
  • Released: March 4, 2014
  • Self-released
Spin[49]
  • Released: August 7, 2015
  • Venn Records

References

  1. ^ a b c "Interview: Muskets". antlacey.wordpress.com. 29 June 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  2. ^ a b "Muskets share "Chewing Gum" • Punk Rock Theory". Punk Rock Theory. 26 July 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  3. ^ a b Alex Cheung (7 October 2025). 70: Live Love Alex Cheung (Dynamite, Turn of Phrase, Uzumaki, Ex-Muskets). livelovelugosi (Podcast). Event occurs at 24m50s. Retrieved 12 February 2026. Muskets wasn't really the same band. Obviously, when we started, it was this really close-knit thing. And then Kenny left the band. He moved to, um, Sweden and stuff, and then Smith left the band. He moved to Barcelona and stuff, and then we had Harry and Corey in, and then by the time... It was just me and Joe doing Muskets covers, you know? And I was kind of like, um, yeah, I don't know.
  4. ^ a b Tipple, Ben. "First play of the Muskets video for '25a'". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  5. ^ Tipple, Ben. "PT Presents: Nevermind Me, Water Canvas, Muskets & Dissolve". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  6. ^ Tipple, Ben. "Muskets release video for 'Colourview'". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  7. ^ Bushell, Glen. "Muskets and Beachtape head out on tour this month". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  8. ^ Tipple, Ben. "Muskets release video for 'Scranton'". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  9. ^ Tipple, Ben. "Muskets announce November UK tour". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  10. ^ Bushell, Glen. "LIVE: Failure / Muskets @ Boston Music Room, London". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  11. ^ Tipple, Ben. "Muskets victims of theft". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  12. ^ Tipple, Ben. "Muskets share video for 'Drowsy'". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  13. ^ Lohan, Aaron. "Rough Hands and Muskets announce UK mini tour". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  14. ^ Lohan, Aaron. "Muskets release video for new single, '17 Years'". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  15. ^ Lohan, Aaron. "Muskets sign to No Sleep Records". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  16. ^ Black, Kathryn. "Muskets and Weatherstate are going on tour". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  17. ^ Lohan, Aaron. "Muskets stream new song, 'Chewing Gum'". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  18. ^ Lohan, Aaron. "New Culture Abuse video for 'So Busted'". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  19. ^ Lohan, Aaron. "Muskets announce debut album, 'Chew'". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  20. ^ Lohan, Aaron. "Muskets drop new video for 'You're So Cool'". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  21. ^ "Watch the video for Muskets' infectious new single You're So Cool". Metal Hammer. 29 September 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  22. ^ Shutler, Ali (27 November 2024). "Oi. Listen to Muskets' debut album right now". Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  23. ^ a b Bhandari, Ashwin. "Muskets – 'Chew'". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  24. ^ Lohan, Aaron. "Muskets announce co-headline UK shows with Wallflower". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  25. ^ Lohan, Aaron. "Muskets unveil video for 'Umbilical'". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  26. ^ Lohan, Aaron. "Muskets announce two headline shows". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  27. ^ Nuttall, Luke (31 July 2019). "Review: Muskets - Violent Paradise EP". Already Heard. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  28. ^ Alex Cheung (7 October 2025). 70: Live Love Alex Cheung (Dynamite, Turn of Phrase, Uzumaki, Ex-Muskets). livelovelugosi (Podcast). Event occurs at 20m. Retrieved 12 February 2026. I basically started writing that stuff [Uzumaki], and I think Muskets got offered a tour. We got offered a tour, uh, like a Euro tour, and I remember thinking I had to choose between the bands, 'cause I only had so much time off work, and I'd just started this project, so, uh, stopped doing the Muskets stuff
  29. ^ a b c "Muskets – 'Spin' - Punktastic". Punktastic.com. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  30. ^ "Muskets – 'Chew'". Punx.uk. 20 October 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  31. ^ "Muskets – 'Chew'". Punktastic.com. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  32. ^ "MUSKETS". Altcorner.com. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  33. ^ a b "Muskets – Chew". Yorkcalling.co.uk. 9 November 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  34. ^ "Watch the video for Muskets' infectious new single You're So Cool". Teamrock.com. 29 September 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  35. ^ a b "2015: A timeline of our favourite releases". Seeing Your Scene. 31 December 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  36. ^ "Muskets and Weatherstate are going on tour". Punktastic.com. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  37. ^ "Muskets announce tour with Weatherstate". Frontview-magazine.be. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  38. ^ "Muskets Release 'Chew' LP Via No Sleep Records". ThePunkSite.com. 28 October 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  39. ^ "WATCH - Muskets new video for Drowsy featuring Matt King, aka Super Hans". Neverenoughnotes.co.uk. 9 May 2016. Archived from the original on 11 May 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  40. ^ Alex Cheung (7 October 2025). 70: Live Love Alex Cheung (Dynamite, Turn of Phrase, Uzumaki, Ex-Muskets). livelovelugosi (Podcast). Event occurs at 20m58s. Retrieved 12 February 2026. I was really drawn to the Title Fight, Basement stuff... "Like, this is what I'm looking for," you know? Um, so yeah, uh, got mad into that stuff. Started Muskets. That started off more that stuff and then evolved into, like, got really into grunge and whatever. So Pixies were a big influence, and, um, Breeders and that sort of stuff.
  41. ^ "Influences with Muskets #CHEW". No Sleep Records. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  42. ^ "Uk's Muskets Announce Release of Gritty, Grunge-Soaked Debut LP 'Chew'".
  43. ^ Mair, Rob (3 August 2015). "Album Review: Muskets - Spin EP". Already Heard. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  44. ^ Hughes, Russell (14 October 2017). "Album review: Muskets are spearheading a post-grunge revival with Chew". Rushonrock. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  45. ^ DYTOR, OLIVIA. "Muskets – 'Spin'". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  46. ^ "Chew, by Muskets". Muskets.bandcamp.com. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  47. ^ "NO SLEEP RECORDS - Please welcome Brighton, UK's Muskets to the..." Blog.nosleeprecords.com. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  48. ^ "Oi. Listen to Muskets' debut album right now". Upsetmagazine.com. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  49. ^ "MATT KING AKA SUPER HANS FEATURES IN NEW MUSKETS VIDEO". Circuitsweet.co.uk. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
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