New album from Hissy and the Fits showcases high-energy chaos in the best way
Words: Rhys Reviews
★★★☆☆
Following in the footsteps of bands such as Siouxsie and the Banshees and Iggy and the Stooges, while also paying homage in particular to the 1996 punk band The Hissyfits; Hissy and the Fits is a UK-based four-piece alt-punk band formed in 2024.
The band comprises Helena, showcasing incredible vocals; the talented Alex on guitar; L Ombre, displaying his percussive talents on drums; and the wonderful Ruben on bass. As the band name suggests, they pride themselves on delivering high-energy chaos and truly tapping into the themes synonymous with the punk genre and its message.
Artwork: Bambi Goodman
Mix/Mastering: Jake Lloyd
This brand-new album from the UK-based band documents the complexity of the human experience, with Helena (as the lead vocalist) in particular utilising hard and intense vocals throughout much of the collection. It feels almost like a direct vent to the audience, highlighting the overwhelming emotions experienced throughout the narrative.
The first song to really catch my interest was the fantastic ‘Mushy’, which talks about a romantic encounter in which the other person is far more invested than the narrator. This unique dynamic is amplified through the lyrics, “You said it’s the best night you ever had,” to which they respond, “It’s hot but that’s all I got,” clearly illustrating the contrasting perspectives between the two characters. What I found particularly clever about this song is how it challenges media stereotypes. Traditionally, men are portrayed as being more prone to one-night stands while women are depicted as more emotionally attached. However, this song turns that outdated idea on its head: here, it’s the woman who attempts to move on, while the man is the one grappling with his feelings, making for a very interesting listen. I especially enjoyed the guitar solo towards the end of the song, as it added an extra layer of excitement to an already powerful track.
The narrator makes an almost complete U-turn in the next song, ‘Sneak Attack’, which describes how, in a surprising twist, the singer comes back for more love - much to the shock of the recipient. The highlight of this song is the opening guitar sequence, which creates a sense of tension and hints that something significant is about to happen. This perfectly complements the surprising nature of the declaration.
The through-line of this romantic storyline continues throughout the album in the track ‘Loveless,’ which, as the name suggests, marks the decline of the relationship. I particularly appreciated the creative decision for the vocalist to move away from the traditionally punk-infused voice (which was beautiful in its own right) and instead showcase a much softer and more tender tone. This choice makes perfect sense, given that the song explores the end of the relationship. One lyric that stood out to me was “keep seeing things in your tainted view,” which harks back to the earlier track ‘Mushy’, again highlighting how one person perceives the relationship very differently from their partner. Meanwhile, the high-energy instrumentation ties the song cohesively to the rest of the album. Although this track confirms that the relationship has deteriorated, it does not fully explain why - making the next number, ‘Leaving Soon’, particularly important.
‘Leaving Soon’ explores the flaws in the relationship in greater depth, especially the narrator’s belief that their partner is controlling and abusive, which helps justify the emotional shift seen in earlier tracks. This song humanises the narrator; although she has previously been portrayed as confident and in control, it becomes clear that she is not immune to hardship. The track is pure chaos personified, which aligns not only with the album’s overall tone but also with the emotional intensity of its subject matter.
My favourite song on the album, however, comes towards the end of the collection and is aptly titled ‘Never Had a Plan’. This track explores the narrator’s tendency to move through life without a clear direction, figuring things out as they go - a highly relatable theme that many listeners will connect with at some point in their lives. Because of this, and due to the relatively simple yet effective lyrics, I can easily imagine audiences passionately shouting the words during live performances. The inclusion of strong language blends seamlessly with the musical accompaniment, resulting in a truly moving song.
The album’s overarching relationship narrative finally concludes with ‘Badge of Horror’, which addresses the official end of the romance and the prospect of both individuals moving on. I particularly enjoyed the clever play on words in the title, referencing the common phrase “badge of honour” but twisting it to reflect something painful and broken. The guitar solo at the climax of the song powerfully conveys the narrator’s intense emotions. Additionally, towards the end of the track, the lyrics shift pronouns from “you” to “I” when referring to wearing the aforementioned badge, which is an incredibly effective technique. This subtle change allows the audience to view the situation from both perspectives.
In conclusion, this brand-new album from Hissy and the Fits delivers exactly what you might expect from a band with such a name, complete with a cleverly woven romantic narrative throughout. The songs successfully balance alt-punk intensity with moments of genuine musical beauty, exploring experiences that many listeners will relate to.