We’d been looking forward to the first EP from Two Tonne Machete, and it doesn’t disappoint one bit. Their previous singles had already shown what this North Wales band are capable of, but with Hold Up My Crown they’ve still managed to surprise us. A word of advice: follow them on social media, because the algorithm is more than capable of burying bands like this, and that would be a real crime.
If there’s one thing Two Tonne Machete have in spades, it’s authenticity. Their music is fierce, visceral and politically charged, but it also has melody, nuance and a sensitivity that goes way beyond anger. Their sound blends punk, grunge and alternative rock, with big, distorted guitars that recall early Skunk Anansie, a melodic edge in the vein of Garbage and a rhythm section that gives the songs serious weight.
And then there’s Em. What a frontwoman she is. She’s a force of nature, one of those artists who fill a stage the second they set foot on it, and she sings with her emotions right on the surface. She has the direct, defiant attitude of Karla Chubb from Sprints and a raspy tone that brings Brody Dalle to mind, but a personality that’s entirely her own.
The EP opens with the already familiar “Lead With My Bad Side” and stays on a war footing with “PIGS PIGS”, an abrasive blast of crushing riffs, heavy bass and relentless drums. The song takes aim at police repression and questions the idea that the police keep everyone equally safe. The almost spoken verses contrast with melodic choruses, and the intensity keeps building right to the end. The line “I’m not quite sure what freedom is” calls the very meaning of freedom into question.
But it’s not all confrontation. “Home” is about loss and displacement, about a home that hurts more for what’s missing than for what’s there. It’s dark alternative rock in the vein of The Mysterines, and Em’s voice carries all that sadness without losing an ounce of power.
The title track, “Hold Up My Crown”, brings back the defiance. It’s slower and heavier, built on hard rock riffs, and it stands up for consent, bodily autonomy and women’s right to decide what they want.
They save “Box” for last, and what a way to close! It opens with delicate piano and an almost confessional Em, singing about isolation and the walls we put up to protect ourselves, only to end up trapped behind them. When the guitars and drums kick in, everything explodes and her voice goes from intimate to heart-wrenching.
And that’s one of Two Tonne Machete’s greatest strengths: they know anger isn’t the only way to hit hard, and that vulnerability can be just as powerful.
Hold Up My Crown is much more than a handful of protest songs. It’s one of the best debut EPs of 2026, fierce, emotionally charged and impossible to ignore. Add it to your playlist now, and if Two Tonne Machete play anywhere near you, don’t miss them live.
Listen to Hold Up My Crown in full here.
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