Fusing abrasive FX with rough guitars and electronic textures that send a shock up the spine, the level of energy pulsating throughout Chalk’s latest single is nothing short of astounding, setting high expectations for the trio’s upcoming debut album (due to release 13th March 2026). Utilising harrowing synths to form an environment that is nothing short of terrifying, the band perfectly captures the story with their experimental and unique sound.
Kicking off with a singular, resounding, sharp note, the track allows for tension to build before leaping into the opening verse. Chalk proceeds to dive straight in with a rough, industrial riff, packed with distortion and angst, as frontman Ross Cullen’s vocals take over and draws in the listener to a world of raw anger and nerves.
Cullen described the process of writing the single as a “eureka moment” for the band, with the trio feeling “like (they) had accidentally taken care of the opening track for the album without thinking too hard about it.” This natural affinity for storytelling and musicianship is undoubtedly one of the things that make the band so incredible.
Diving straight into themes of toxic relationships, emotional detachment and avoidance issues, and self-destructive behaviour, ‘Tongue’ certainly does not hold back in being both confrontational and unbelievably angsty. With feverishly angry lyrics (“The depths of your tongue are killing me”), the band leans fully into the mindset of a man making difficult decisions regarding returning to a manipulative, toxic environment.
The final lines are where all of this tension and emotion truly come to fruition, the lyrics once again stunning fans with their intensity and bluntness. As Cullen screams the words “Do I go back to hell? / Or should I fuck myself?”, the listener is able to truly experience and hear the pain and exhaustion which the single aims to portray, leaving them both stunned and speechless for a moment as the synths and the guitars grind to a halt.
‘Tongue’ is very clearly one of the strongest tracks the band has released to date, offering a far more developed, mature, and experimental sound than their earlier work. Bringing together the traditional, beloved elements of industrial rave music with undertones of metal, the result is nothing short of brilliant.
Not only does Chalk offer an exciting and unique sound, but equally high-octane live shows, which only serve to increase the intensity of each and every track. ‘Tongue’ will certainly be a highlight of future shows, starting with the band’s headline album tour, which will kick off in Brussels on 10 April.
Words by George Connell
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