Grade 2 announce new amplifying album, ‘Talk About It’
Even though 2026 has just started, there is still a lot to look forward to when it comes to music. Plenty of bands have already announced the release of new albums or EPs. Now, while Grade 2 just announced a new album, Talk About It, out April 3. This makes them a band to keep on your radar heading into this new year.
Grade 2 is a three-piece band from the UK. The group was formed in 2013 at the young age of 14. Many compare their sound to classic punk in a new age format, which makes it no surprise that they are currently signed to Epitaph offshoot Hellcat Records. The label was founded by Rancid and Operation Ivy’s Tim Armstrong.
In 2025, the group released two songs, “Hanging Onto You” and “Cut Throat.” The first of the two singles to have been released was the anthemic “Hanging Onto You.” Throughout this entire song, the band does a great job of drawing from the inspirations of their past while throwing their own spin onto the genre.
The song kicks in with a strong riff from guitarist Jack Chatfield that clues you in on how catchy it will be. It’s a nice punk riff akin to many of the past that does just enough to bring you in, but not over complicate things. The group vocals usher in the lyrics, and singer Sid Ryan starts letting loose on vocals about someone in his life that he admires and loves dearly. The descriptors that are used on how this person makes him feel. Descriptions like “the noise in my world it all falls quiet” and “escape from the chaos just for a moment” give great implications of the importance of this person.
The chorus does a great job of continuing the established themes and even furthers them with the repeated line, “I promise I’m hanging onto you.” It’s a line that is surface-level but says so much. The line and the lyrics are something that everyone is capable of relating to—something the band was shooting for when working on the song. Throughout the entire song, Sid Ryan throws down a wicked bass line reminiscent of bass work from Rancid bassist Matt Freeman and Descendents bassist Karl Alveraz. The instrumentals do a great job of amplifying the song all throughout. Overall, “Hanging Onto You” is the perfect single. It’s catchy, sticks with you, and it’s an anthem that can get any crowd excited when played live.
“Cut Throat” was the second single and released near the tail end of the year. It clocks in at a little over a minute and a half, just one minute shorter than “Hanging Onto You.” As stated on the band’s Instagram, “Cut Throat is about a world that takes more than it gives. It’s a commentary of striving for more in situations where most people are out for themselves”. The theme shows in the energy of the song. The beginning rips through with pounding drums, groovy bass, and a sick guitar solo, and it is beyond ear-catching. It will catch any fan of punk, no matter theirage, thanks to the timeless nature of this song.
Lyrically, the song is exactly what the band was shooting for as described in their Instagram post. The lyrics “Trying to make something of myself; But the candle, it burns at both ends; 'Cause and effect now it’s all making sense; But I’ll stay one step ahead.” leads the first verse into the refrain, but you can feel the want for more in the inflection from Ryan. The group vocals repeating “In a cut throat world” in the chorus highlight the camaraderie that we all want more of in this world. Once again, like “Hanging Onto You,” this track will get the crowd chanting back at the band during any live performance. This song was a great choice to be a single.
Most recently, alongside the album announcement, Grade 2 put out a new single titled “Standing in the Downpour”. This track is such a danceable one. Everything about the song grooves together, making you want to move your body along with it. One of the first things to stand out is the crazy bass groove that drives multiple parts of the song, which is backed by heavy percussion. The guitar and light organ do a great job of bringing the song together, giving it a fuller sound. Lyrically, the song deals with being stuck in a rough place in life and witnessing someone you know go through something similar. Overall, a great addition to the singles that we already have.
Honestly, April can’t come sooner. Talk About It has already become one of my more anticipated albums of the year. Even though they have been going for over a decade, it feels like Grade 2 has only just gotten started and aren’t letting up. Outside of new releases, they are worth checking out and adding to anyone’s library.
