The Academy in Dublin played host to a loud, sweaty, and thoroughly cathartic night of punk on December 17th, 2025, as avant-garde punk producer Meryl Streek headlined a stacked bill alongside An Slua from Sligo and London street-punk outfit The Chisel. From start to finish, it felt like a celebration of punk in all its raw, uncompromising forms.
Opening the night were An Slua, who wasted no time setting the tone. Launching straight into “Arrseways”, the Sligo band delivered a relentless 30-minute set that barely gave the crowd a second to breathe. Their pace was sharp, aggressive, and unapologetic, tearing through 11 songs in quick succession. Tracks like “How You Getting On” and “Mountain of Rubbish” landed hard, while “Saoirse don Phalaistín” stood out as a powerful moment, drawing a strong reaction from the crowd. An Slua’s set felt urgent and focused, proving they’re a band with something to say and no interest in slowing down to say it.
The energy didn’t dip for a second as The Chisel took over the stage. The London boys brought a no-nonsense blast of Oi! and street punk that instantly whipped the room into a frenzy. Their 30-minute set was tight, fast, and full of bite, with songs like “Cry Your Eyes Out”, “Fuck ’Em”, and “Retaliation” hitting like punches to the chest. The crowd fed off the band’s aggression, shouting along and pushing forward as the set barreled on. Closing with “Chisel Boys”, they left the stage having completely torn the place apart and set expectations sky-high for the headliner.
After a short wait, Meryl Streek emerged to a roar from the crowd. Following the intro, he launched straight into “Gambling Death”, immediately reminding everyone why he’s such a force in Irish punk. The set was packed with intensity and purpose, blending driving beats with biting lyrics and an unmistakable sense of anger and urgency. Songs like “Bertie”, “Demon”, and “Dogs” kept the momentum racing forward, while “Death to the Landlord” felt like a rallying cry, with the crowd fully locked in. A standout moment came when Cal Graham was brought out during the set, adding an extra layer of excitement and camaraderie to the performance. Meryl closed the night with “If This Is Life”, a fitting and powerful end to a high-energy set.
Overall, it was a fantastic night for punk in Dublin. Three bands, three distinct styles, and zero compromise — loud, political, fast, and unforgettable.
An Slua photos & set-list:
Set-list:
Arseways
Big Man Yeah
How You Getting On
Work Shy
Mountain Of Rubbish
On Your Plate
Dry Shite
Agrarian Agitation / House
Saoirse don Phalaistín
Thick As Shit
??? Dogs Of No Nation
The Chisel photos & set-list:
Set-list:
No Gimmicks
Come See Me
Sit And Say Nothing
Nice To Meet Ya
Unlawful Executuion
Cry Your Eyes Out
Rat Running Scared
Evil By Evil
Tomorrow
Fuck’Em
Bloodsucker
So Do I
Class Oppression
Retaliation
Chisel Boys
Meryl Streek photos & set-list:
Set-list:
The Beginning (Taped intro)
Gambling Death
Counting Sheep
Bertie
By One’s Own Hand
Demon
Terence
Paddy
Dogs
False Apologies
Death to the Landlord
If This Is Life
Photos & words – Ian Mc Donnell @mcgigmusic