New Music: Stone Lab – Single no.2 “I tasted a little tear gas, tasted like fascism.”

6 October 2025 rocknews

In the often-overcrowded digital music landscape, it’s a rare and rewarding experience when a genuinely promising new artist manages to break through the noise. Every now and then, you stumble across a promoter or, as in this case, the artist themselves, who simply reach out for a bit of recognition for their work. We’re certainly glad StoneLab did. StoneLab New Rock Single, “I tasted a little tear gas, tasted like fascism,” arrived in our inbox and instantly commanded attention, proving it’s a single that truly deserves some spotlight.

This track is an assertive piece of modern rock, immediately establishing Stone Lab as a voice to watch. Far from an easy listen, the song is built on a foundation of gritty guitars, driving percussion, and a muscular rhythm section that provides an undeniably good vibe—one of raw, exhilarating energy. The sound is rooted in the potent protest rock of the past, carrying echoes of Rage Against The Machine in its political fury, while possessing the dynamic punch and rhythmic groove of contemporary bands like IDLES or Royal Blood.

But where the music provides the compelling energy, the lyrics provide the devastating knockout blow. Stone Lab uses the track as a precise tool to dissect and condemn a very specific type of hollow, self-serving political figure. The opening lines set the confrontational stage: “Stood outside the black door / With the big No.10 / Preaching into your mic / What are you delivering?” This direct imagery, referencing the UK’s seat of power, immediately anchors the critique in the modern political reality while making the message universal—it’s a confrontation with the performance of power.

The verses that follow are a brutal character sketch of the demagogue. Stone Lab skewers the performative nature of their subject, highlighting the hypocrisy: “Dressing as a dandy / With a wide brim hat / Playing man of the people / All those people you despise.” It’s a message that cuts through political loyalty to target the manufactured division and hate: “Blaming all the others / Just a message of hate for all your hurt.”

The Chorus is the track’s rallying cry—a simple, infectious hook that’s impossible to ignore: “Big Suit Little Man.”Repeated three times, it’s an immediate, perfect summation of the song’s target. StoneLab then expands the target beyond the individual, listing the systemic forces that fuel the problem: “Hate’s got its hooks in you. / Corporates got it’s hooks in you. / Money’s got it’s hooks in you. / Drugs got it’s hooks in you.” It’s a stark realization that the corruption is woven into the very fabric of power.

The song concludes with a defiant look towards accountability, utilizing immediately recognizable, if unflattering, shorthand: “Orange face and little hands / We’ve seen it all before.” It’s a promise, rather than a threat, that history will judge this behavior, concluding with the chilling and satisfying line: “You all know where it’s going. / History’s got a place for you.”

StoneLab’s title itself, “I tasted a little tear gas, tasted like fascism,” acts as the track’s thesis—a gritty, personal reflection on the price of dissent. This second single is a superb, confident step forward for an artist operating beneath the radar. If you like your rock music raw, political, and delivered with genuine venom, then head over to Bandcamp and provide some direct support to StoneLab by streaming the track.

If you are an artist or promoter with a track that needs recognition, reach out to our new music team.