Cock Sparrer Hand On Heart Review

While I’ve found 2024 to be a slow year for interesting/great Punk releases, thankfully, legendary Oi Punk Rockers Cock Sparrer have returned with what’s been billed as their last full length, Hand on Heart. When I first heard that this would be their last release, I was disappointed, but I get it, the guys are older and working on full length albums does take a great deal of time that could be better spent playing festivals, club dates and most importantly, spent with their families and enjoying the fruits of their labor. The band has been around since 1972 with many starts, stops and everything in between. I guess you could attribute the random break ups to the lack of albums in their discography, but with these guys it’s never been about quantity, always quality. With one listen of the band’s legendary release “Shock Troops”, you know exactly what these guys are about – hard work, unity and positivity. I’ve always had a hard time considering the band to be proper Punk, or at least the kind of Punk music I was raised on. Not to question their integrity, of course, but the music and the message has always been positive/sincere and that’s the last thing that comes to mind when I think of the older Punk that I grew up on – it was all about whoop ass! There’s always been talk and mention that the band were heavily influenced by early Glam and the Pub Rock they were raised on in the UK so that tracks. For me, Cock Sparrer has always been a beacon of light – when I need a pick me up, but I want to get my Punk vibes on, you’ll find me blasting Cock Sparrer often.

If Hand on Heart is to be Cock Sparrer’s swansong, they’ve left no stone unturned. The band comes out of the gate swinging with the title track “With My Hand on My Heart”. This could be the anthem for every man woman and child currently on this planet – a real battle cry loaded with messages of love, light and sincerity. “Do The Right Thing”!!! I’m sure the good folk in the UK that enjoy taking in a good Soccer match will be serenaded with this one for years to come. Another thing that really jumps out at me are the two love songs that are presented here - “I belong to you” and “My forgotten dreams”. No, they’re not ballads, this is still Cock Sparrer, mind you. Both these songs come off like a last will and testament for the band’s loved ones or us fans. As a middle-aged man, I wholeheartedly relate and I’m a sucker for moments like this when you least expect it – one second, you’re pumping your fist in the air and the next you’re wiping tears from your eyes and all you can do is feel grateful for the love you’ve received and the love you’ve been able to give back. That’s worth the ticket price alone with albums like Hand on Heart and Cock Sparrer has always been fantastic at nestling hidden gems like this in their albums. Of course, there are plenty snarling Punk ditties left on the album that’ll get you juiced up and ready to take on the world “Mind Your Business”, “Take it on the chin” and the single off the album “Here we stand”. This track is the band jamming their flag in the ground, standing tall and proud for all the world to see and hear – “When you’re reaching for a hand, HERE WE STAND”! It’s like the end of a great movie where our heroes are battered, bruised but the battle has been won. 

While I still feel a sense of dread and sadness that this is Cock Sparrer’s last full-length effort, I’m excited that there will be more opportunities to see the band live which is a pleasure that I’ve been denied. I’m also hopeful that the band will release EPS on a normal basis. I know that might be hoping for a lot, but the band has been around awhile, I know there’s a ton of great moments on the cutting room floor that we haven’t been able to hear yet. I strongly doubt there will be a better Punk album released this year, the only thing that could rival the feel good of “Hand on Heart” is a new Ramones album and we all know they've passed on. I cannot recommend this album enough, go and have a listen and buy it in any format you can. This album isn’t just for the Punk Rockers, its for everyone under the sun – soulful, honest and everlasting.

This release is readily available both on vinyl and cd via Pirates Press – this is one of the best record labels/vinyl pressing companies currently in the USA. The label tends to not let any of their releases go out of print, they offer intricate variants of just about anything you can dream up and the quality control is insane. I have tons of records from label/pressing plant, and they’ve always been in mint condition. I picked up the “Milky Clear” edition of Cock Sparrer’s Hand on Heart and it’s a beautiful piece. I strongly recommend picking something up from the label or if you’re in the market for vinyl pressings, look no further. 

~Black Angel