T.S. Warspite – Trauma Stage (2025)
T.S. Warspite don’t waste time. They never have. Since their explosive 2020 demo tape, the Manchester-based outfit has been a relentless force in UKHC, blending the melodic urgency of ’80s DC hardcore with the stomp and tuneful rebellion of ’90s Epitaph punk. Their latest EP, Trauma Stage, released via Northern Unrest Records, is five tracks of pure adrenaline—clocking in at just under nine minutes, but leaving a crater-sized impact.
Opening track “Power Play” sets the tone with a tightly wound riff that feels like it’s about to snap. Marco Abbatiello’s vocals are a barked manifesto, rumbling through a short but powerful onslaught from a band channeling the frustrations that fuel us all – politics, social decline, environmental destruction and frustration at our own surroundings. It’s fast, it’s furious, and it’s got enough melody to make you want to scream along.
The title track “Trauma Stage” is a standout—equal parts catharsis and chaos. It’s a two-minute sprint through mental collapse, social pressure, and the kind of internal warfare that feels all too familiar. Think Jail Bird meets Planet On A Chain, but with a distinctly Northern grit.
“Winner Stays On” and “Prison Rules” are the EP’s most beatdown-leaning moments. There’s a swagger here, but it’s earned—these songs feel lived-in and authentic, they bring you into the bands surroundings and force you to take a look around.
“The Faze” closes things out with a melodic edge that nods to Dag Nasty and the oft-compared Bad Religion, but never loses the rawness that defines T.S. Warspite.
Recorded at The Stationhouse by James Atkinson, Trauma Stage is a DIY triumph. Guest vocals from Jeremy Stith and Gabriel Siveri add texture without stealing focus, and the mix by Ben Jones keeps things tight without sanding off the edges.
The EP may clock in at a finish time about as long as a single bulletin on the 10 o’clock news – but it leaves you nourished and with plenty to think about.
For fans of: Jail Bird, Planet On A Chain, and Home Invasion.
Written by @jdprosho
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