Double Review: The Clench – Dead-End Street (2023) & All Against All (2025)

The Clench are a Scottish Oi! outfit that hit the scene in the early 2020s and quickly carved out a strong identity: raw, melodic street punk with working-class bite, singalong choruses, and enough hard-rock swagger. Both of these six-track mini-LPs (around 17 minutes each) feel like two chapters of the same story—energetic, no-frills Oi! that sounds best cranked loud with mates or on a long drive. Listening to them back-to-back, as I did, really highlights how consistent and solid the band is while showing subtle growth.

Dead-End Street (2023) – The Debut Punch

This is a cracking introduction. From the opening “Wage Slavery” onward, the album nails that classic Oi! formula: driving rhythms, gritty vocals, tight bass lines, and guitars that cut through. Tracks like “The Clench,” “Working Class,” and the title cut “Dead End Street” ooze frustration with everyday grind—perfect anthems for anyone who's felt stuck in the system. “Back Street Rock n’ Roll” and “Our Life” bring in more rocking energy, blending punk urgency with catchy hooks that stick in your head.

It’s raw but melodic, aggressive but tuneful—think a Scottish take on influences like Legion 76 or The Prowlers, filtered through local grit. As a debut, it’s impressive: short, sharp, and full of heart. 

All Against All (2025) – Refining the Formula

Two years later, The Clench return with more of what worked but a bit more polish and punch. The title track kicks things off strong, setting a combative tone, while “Guillotine,” “Shaven Heads,” and “Eye for an Eye” deliver classic street-punk themes with gang vocals ready for the pit or the terrace. “The Future is Unwritten” adds a touch of reflective depth, and “No Apologies” closes things out defiantly.

The band description nails it: they repeat the successful mix of rawness and melody without losing power. The rhythm section locks in tighter,  It’s still short and to the point, but it feels like a more confident evolution—same spirit, slightly bigger sound.

Listening to Them Together: The Full Clench Experience

Back-to-back, these two mini-albums flow like a proper full-length set with a natural progression. Dead-End Street introduces the struggle and the scene; All Against All amps up the fight-back energy. The shared DNA is obvious—consistent songwriting, that melodic Oi! core, and lyrics that are authentic.

Strengths across both: Excellent pacing (no track overstays its welcome), strong choruses built for shouting along, and a sound that bridges old-school Oi! with enough punk edge to feel fresh.  These are albums for living the life, not overthinking it.

Overall, The Clench have delivered two strong, honest releases that stand tall in the current Oi! revival. If you’re into working-class anthems, shaved-head singalongs, and no-nonsense punk rock, both are worth your time (and vinyl shelf space). Dead-End Street gets you in the door with debut fire; All Against All proves they’re here to stay. Crank them loud together for maximum effect—clenched fists mandatory.