Belfast's Best-Kept Secret Is Out: Chalk's “Crystalpunk" Hits Different
Patricia Rosingana
Belfast duo Chalk are exactly what you need right now. Their style finds the right balance between ethereal and grounded. If dreamlike was made into music, Chalk would be leading the charge.
The faces behind Chalk, Ross Cullen (vocals, producer) and Benedict Goddard (guitar, synth), are delivering their uncompromising dance-punk fueled by personal vulnerability and political questioning.
Patricia Rosingana
Chalk is having a breakout 2026 with performances at SXSW, US dates including Treefort Fest, and their biggest UK and Ireland headline run to date, with stops at London’s Electric Ballroom and a hometown show at Belfast’s Limelight. They are also set to appear at major summer festivals, including Lollapalooza.
“Crystalpunk,” their debut album, channels tension into a visceral sound. The record fuses industrial techno, 80s punk abrasion, and 90s rave into something singular. It explores themes of inherited resilience, fractured histories, and reclaiming the dance floor as a safe space. The album is out now via ALTER Music and has already earned widespread praise, including an NME cover and five-star reviews from NME and Dork Magazine. It has also landed features in The Guardian, strong support from BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 1, and more.
With ten tracks, “Crystalpunk” delivers an experience you will not get easily anywhere else. Tracks like “Tongue” immediately set the tone; “Can’t Feel It” is where electronic meets punk, “One-Nine-Eight-Zero” switches gears with a calmer, distorted vocal and easy-going melody, and “I.D.C.” brings chaotic and over-the-top energy, like Daft Punk but with a little more punch. It is edgy and unapologetic.
However, the star of the show is the featured single “Longer,” which also gets an official music video. This fusion of industrial, rock, and electronic elements is mainly presented in black and white, with several scenes in deep red for strong contrast. Everything feels surreal, like we are watching something forbidden. The visuals pair perfectly with the lyrics. The creative vision of Chalk is interesting to unfold, and the video feels like a puzzle you will want to decipher.
“Crystalpunk” is a refreshing offering in the always overcrowded music space. For fans of Nine Inch Nails, Black Midi, Blue Stahli, and Celldweller, Chalk’s style and mood will be right down your alley. For those who want to experience something different that does not really fit into the mainstream checkboxes, this one is also for you.
Get to know more about Chalk:
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