Review
Holy shit, '796' is a fucking gut punch of an album! Meryl Streek ain't pulling any punches with this debut, dragging the dark underbelly of Irish society and the Catholic Church's fucked up history into the harsh light of day.
This ain't your typical punk record - Streek's mixing in electronic beats and news clips to create a sonic hellscape that matches the heavy subject matter. The opener 'The Start' sets the tone with a collage of news reports about priest abuse, and it only gets more intense from there. Tracks like 'False Apologies' and '796' rip into the Church's cover-ups, while 'No Justice' and 'Educated Mates' take aim at government bullshit and societal problems.
But it's not all political rage - Streek gets personal too, especially on 'Suicide', a raw look at losing his old man. That human touch makes the album hit even harder. With its minimal but crushing sound and Streek's unfiltered lyrics, '796' is a middle finger to the powers that be and a rallying cry for change. It's not an easy listen, but it's a fucking important one. - Avery