Cannonball - Cannonball

Label: Youngblood Records

Release Date: October 17th, 2025

Though there is a healthy scene of hardcore bands in the UK, it does seem that in this area of the world, straight edge has always been harder to come by. It makes sense though, this is a place where sharing pints with your mates is engrained in the culture. Nevertheless, there are still plenty of blokes Xing up in the UK. The members of Sheffield straight edge hardcore punk band Cannonball are some of them. Cannonball released their debut LP, the self titled Cannonball, fittingly on Edge Day 2025. 8 tracks, 10 minutes, of pure straight edge hardcore punk.

Cannonball is unapologetically straight edge and unapologetically Sheffield. You can hear both these things cut right through the music. Cannonball have an awesome personality that draws you in right away, it’s infectious. When sharing them with a friend of mine who doesn’t normally listen to this type of music, what came out of my mouth was “think of Amyl and The Sniffers, if they were a straight edge hardcore band”. Listen, it’s not really about the accent, they’re different accents, it’s about the same badass defiant energy. They give off that same fuck you energy in a way that feels similar. I don’t know, leave me alone. Cannonball ain’t just giving badass energy, they are badass energy. They most didn’t reinvent straight edge hardcore or do anything crazy with their debut, it’s for the most part standard blueprint stuff. But they inject their personality in such a way that makes it feel fresh in 2025.

At just 8 tracks clocking in slightly over 10 minutes, this album races right through you, and does not overstay its welcome. While I think maybe a couple more tracks stretching and exploring the bands sound a bit more could’ve benefited the record by giving a more complete picture of what the band is capable of, this album does leave you wanting more and compels you to leave it on repeat. The songs are rapid fire hardcore punk, quickly paced, but with plenty of time to two-step. All the tracks on this self titled debut are worth listening to, it doesn’t take much time to run through the full album! I think my favorite is the confrontational Keep On Truckin’, if you’re having a hard time committing to the GARGANTUAN 10 minuets, start there. Whether you’re straight edge or not, Cannonball commands your listen and commands your respect.

 I don’t drink and I don’t do drugs, but I don’t necessarily claim straight edge (though I guess I fit the criteria). I certainly am not an expert on all things straight edge, but I’d like to share what it means to me. Some hear straight edge and roll their eyes, it’s an immediate turn off for some, but straight edge isn’t about forcing a way of life on others or looking down on people who decide to live differently. Straight edge isn’t just about not drinking or doing drugs. Straight edge is a mindset, it’s about will power, determination, healthy choices, strength of the body and mind, strength through unity, and making your own decisions.

To quote Cannonball from their song, The Real Deal, “You don’t need anyone else to tell you what to do, You gotta do it for yourself, and do it just for you”.

Score: 8/10

Links: https://www.instagram.com/cannonballstraightedge