REVIEW: Self Torque - A Brutal Nadir

SELF TORQUE show daring resilience in the face of adversity with their spirited debut album A Brutal Nadir. With an energy that could no longer be contained within Brighton’s underground punk scene, SELF TORQUE are breaking out with an eruption of vibrant rage, desperation and raw realism. A band brought to life from skeletons of each member’s previous musical projects, this DIY punk group has hit the ground running with a modest confidence and collaborative strength that seizes the attention of the listener with no chance of letting go. The same can be said about their anticipated record A Brutal Nadir, which has all the youthful excitement and potential of a debut album without being naïve - this is a band who knows who they are and what they’re doing.

The album drives relentlessly forward through all ten tracks, powered by the polarising push-and-pull momentum between hopelessness under the pressure of capitalism and a desperation to live life fully in spite of it all. The production feels fresh and raw, rough around the edges without being sloppy, giving the album room to move and breathe organically, a moment captured in time rather than trapped within a studio. There’s an urgency to it, both in sound and performance, as each line is delivered with a deliberate gravity that commands importance.

Opening track Wicker Incident sets a fast pace for the album, led by bright, driving guitar strums and rough, determined vocals. With the first note it’s as if a spark has been ignited, setting into motion an electrifying cacophony of rage and frustration, mirrored by lyrics that look back on childhood rebellion and the insatiable need for change. Fortitude and (All The Things I) Wannabe follow closely behind with the same impenetrable force, GABRIEL MACKENZIE's vocals reaching an almost guttural despair that can be felt as much as heard while begging for a different, more just reality.

With an energy so palpable and high octane comes the danger of an album that reaches its climax early and sits there, offering no movement or exploration of the musical space being created. Any risk of A Brutal Nadir being an example of this are quickly dissipated as SELF TORQUE carves out an atmosphere of both tension and relief in satisfying measures. Del Shannon rears to life at first with a sharp punch, before pulling back into moments of stripped-back vulnerability exposing only vocals and gentle guitar strums, dancing between these two dynamics before reaching towards an epic instrumental crescendo. Fade To Blank follows in these footsteps with what at first feels like a defeated plod but morphs into a grand, almost victorious finish. There’s rise and fall to each track, quivering with life and full of character.

The remaining tracks continue to explore this rich soundscape in bold strides of passion and reflection, from the bouncing aggression of High Temperature Serpent, to the electrifying instrumental track Respite and the earnest, almost ballad-like Between Strangers closing this chapter with an emotional flurry. The album’s final notes channel a worn-down frustration and reflection taken at a slower pace to the earlier tracks, in stark contrast to the relentless high-octane tracks but no less powerful, singing with every ounce of human emotion “I’m dying for something to change.”

With A Brutal Nadir, SELF TORQUE explores the conflicting desires to thrive versus survive in a country, in a world, growing more and more hostile. At once timeless and immediately relevant, this album paints a clear picture of who this band is, exploring the many facets of its sound and musings. Their DIY ethos seeps into each song without seeming amateurish, instead bringing an organic humanity to the album that is becoming increasingly rare in this industry. SELF TORQUE showcase modern punk music with vibrancy and fresh perspective.  

Score: 7/10

A Brutal Nadir was released on 30th January 2026 via Sugar-Free Records

Words: Heather Swift

Photos: Sam Luck