SINGLE REVIEW: Barking Poets - The Mess I Made

Barking Poets waste no time sinking their teeth into 'The Mess I Made', kicking things off with a jangly, infectious intro that immediately pulls you in. There’s a restless energy bubbling underneath, but instead of diving straight in, the track teases its momentum, taking on a slightly artier stance before the real punch lands. The vocals arrive with a gritty rasp, bringing a raw honesty that perfectly suits the song’s theme—owning up to life’s messes, from reckless spending to bad decisions, and the inevitable moment where you sit back, surrounded by the chaos of your own making.

There’s a brilliant sense of movement here. The shuffling rhythm in the verses keeps things rolling, giving the track a loose, almost conversational flow before everything surges into an all-out stomper of a chorus. It’s punchy, anthemic, and dripping in punky, hook-laden energy. The contrast between these sections is what makes the song so addictive—one moment, you’re caught in that offbeat shuffle, and the next, you’re swept up in a chorus that demands to be shouted back at full volume. Gang vocals only take things higher, adding to that sense of camaraderie that makes this track feel like it was built for live settings.

Just when you think you’ve got a handle on its flow, the instrumental interlude throws in a perfectly DIY guitar solo—scrappy, expressive, and bursting with character. It adds another layer of charm, proving that this track isn’t just about raw power; there’s an artistic flair at play here too, keeping listeners on their toes. And then it’s right back into the fray, every dynamic shift feeling natural rather than calculated.

'The Mess I Made' is the kind of track that gets under your skin in the best way—upbeat, hooky, and impossible to sit still to. Barking Poets have nailed that balance between DIY grit and well-crafted, addictive punk energy, making this an anthem in every sense of the word.