Calling themselves “the ear-piercing psychic dream of muffled acid punk,” the Brighton-based English trio Oral Habit is rapidly rising as one of the most unpredictable and loudest bands on the UK underground scene. What began as a home-recording project by frontman Charlie Hales has transformed into a tightly locked rock machine built on high volume, distortion, and pure intention with the addition of Felix Hales on drums and Tippi Lewis on bass.
Maximum Acid-Punk: While Brighton is usually known for its dreamy psychedelic output, Oral Habit stands at the much more explosive end of the spectrum. Rather than nostalgic and drowsy dreams, they are closer to the chaotic “freakbeat” energy of the mid-60s. Their latest EP Garage Frock! sharpens their identity even further by pushing the band’s fuzzed-out guitars, echo-drenched vocals, and primal, thundering riffs to suffocating extremes. The band’s philosophy is very simple and clear: “If there’s a volume knob, turn it; preferably all the way up!”
“The Glove”: This new track, which justifies the band’s growing reputation, perfectly captures Oral Habit’s maximalist and full-throttle spirit. Propelled by sharp guitars and warped textures, the song dangerously balances raw garage rock filth with a twisted psychedelic haze.
A Claustrophobic Fire Dream: There is an unstable, almost claustrophobic intensity in the track; it feels like a dystopian fire dream recorded at full blast onto a cassette tape. Both chaotic and calculated, “The Glove” proves the band’s determination to push sonic boundaries while staying true to their sweaty, instinctive rock energy.
Note from Apartment No:26:
Oral Habit is a noise generator that uses psychedelic music not to calm down, but quite the opposite — to shake and awaken the listener. The boundary-pushing wall of distortion in the song recalls the raw energy of modern garage-punk giants like Ty Segall or Osees. Standing out from the crowd on the Brighton scene with such a raw and aggressive acid-punk sound shows just how uncompromising they are.
