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Album review: Hung Like Hanratty release ‘Welcome to the Future’

Popular punk band release another hilarious and fun album to sing along to!

From Sutton in Ashfield, UK, Hung Like Hanratty are one of the most well-known, hilarious, fun punk bands around! They have played hundreds of gigs and released 5 albums; latest offering Welcome to the Future was released on 5th July 2024. They still hold the record for the most people in one room at Skegness alternative festival!

hung like hanratty album logo

Hung Like Hanratty are:
Al Sation – lead vocals
Rickettes – rhythm guitar
Ash Tray – lead guitar
Daniel Vardy – drums
Tez Tickle played bass on this album. Current bassist is Mike Oxlong.

Hung Like Hanratty - Al Sation
Hung Like Hanratty - Al Sation - photo by Ruth Rae

First on the album is the title track, ‘Welcome to the Future’. This song is only 54 seconds long and is an introduction to what to expect in the future. It starts off with some digital sounds at the beginning, has a catchy beat throughout, and all the instruments synchronized well.

Second on the album is ‘The Great Divide’. The drums start off the first couple seconds of the song, all the band members harmonised so well together, and it has an upbeat tune throughout. The lyrics are great – “The small man stays small, the tall man stays tall, the boss man gets bigger, and we get fuck all!”

Hung Like Hanratty - Ash, Ricky & Tez - photo by Ruth Rae

Third on the album is ‘Feral Beryl’. This song has a similar style and beat to ‘Grease’  in some parts. It’s funny and has a lot of truth in the lyrics. They take the piss and it’s entertaining!

Next on the album is ‘This Is Existence’. The harmonization from the band is so brilliant! There is more truth in the lyrics with this song too. It’s not life, it’s existence! There are also a couple of robotic parts in the song.

Next on the album is ‘Forgotten Zero’. A very catchy beat, more truth in the lyrics, and some gun shots at the end! They talk about how a soldier was once a hero and risked his life for everyone, but now he’s off duty, people don’t care and leave him homeless.

Number six on the album is ‘Man Destroys’. It has a countdown at the beginning, with guitar and drums joining near the end of it. They mention what would likely happen to any aliens visiting this planet! Al has such a great voice, he harmonizes brilliantly, and the bass and drums compliment each other well.

Hung Like Hanratty - Ricky and Ash
Hung Like Hanratty - Ricky and Ash - photo by Ruth Rae

Number seven on the album is ‘Back in the Day’. The guitar starts the song perfectly. The lyrics describe what the past was like before the internet. There is a sound effect of kids playing outside to show what they used to do.

Next on the album is ‘I’ll Sleep When I Am Dead’. Al Sation and Daniel Vardy are so synchronized in part of the song and are a great combination. The lyrics are telling you to live your life your way!

Hung Like Hanratty - Daniel Vardy
Hung Like Hanratty - Daniel Vardy - photo by Ruth Rae

Next on the album is ‘Cry Wolf’. This song is about people thinking we’re lying about our mental health when we’re not! Hence the song title. I think the band portray this really well in this song and the song itself is very catchy.

Next on the album is ‘Wank Mags in Bushes’. Another catchy song with the guitar very pronounced and sounding amazing. The lyrics describe how there used to be dirty mags left lying around when they were teens, but that doesn’t happen now, as porn is all online!

Number eleven on the album is ‘One For All’. This song is great to sing along to and describes how we should all unite and stick together against all the bad things and people in life.

Number twelve on the album is ‘Flat Pack Furniture’. In this song there are sound effects of broken furniture, and the lyrics describe how flat pack furniture is frustrating to build. The instructions are useless, you’re trying not to lose all the fiddly little bits, and it always takes far longer than expected!

Hung Like Hanratty - Blackpool Aug 2024
Hung Like Hanratty and fans - Blackpool, Aug 2024

Next on the album is ‘Mary Fritz’. Another catchy song to sing along to. They talk about a lovely woman and give the listeners misleading lyrics. You think they’re going to say a certain word but then come out with something else. It’s hilarious.

Next on the album is ‘Parking Eye’. The drums are very pronounced in this song and males it sound amazing. The whole band synchronized well. The lyrics talk about how you get a parking fine and refuse to pay, telling them to fuck off! A lot of truth within this song.

Number fifteen on the album is ‘Council Cowboys’. This is another catchy song to sing along to. The lyrics talk about all the pot holes in our roads and the council being useless about dealing with them. They describe the roads as being shit and how paying our taxes is a joke! There is a car crash sound effect at the end of the song.

Last track on the album is ‘Working in the Morgue’. This song is only 39 seconds long and ends the album perfectly. Harmonizing voices, great beat, and funny lyrics!

Overall, ‘Welcome to the Future‘ is absolutely brilliant and a lot of fun to listen to! The guys are hilarious, honest, and very entertaining all atconce. If you haven’t got it yet, add it to your Christmas list – Santa will bring it whether you’re naughty OR nice!

Get your copy on CD from HERE or on limited edition blue vinyl HERE

Catch the band live on Fri 13th December at Doncaster Leopard with Filthy Militia – tickets HERE, and at their London album launch show at the 100 Club on Sat 7th February with Change Persona and Red Anger – tickets HERE

HLH Welcome to the Future album

Main Photo Credit: JASMINE BROOMHALL

  1. Welcome to the Future
  2. The Great Divide
  3. Feral Beryl
  4. This Is Existence
  5. Forgotten Zero
  6. Man Destroys
  7. Back in the Day
  8. I’ll Sleep When I Am Dead
  9. Cry Wolf
  10. Wank Mags in Bushes
  11. One for All
  12. Flat Pack Furniture
  13. Mary Fritz
  14. Parking Eye
  15. Council Cowboys
  16. Working in the Morgue
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