Album Review: Templeton Pek – Savages

5 October 2025 rocknews

Templeton Pek’s Ferocious ‘Savages’ Flies the Flag for Birmingham Punk

Templeton Pek’s new album Savages: The industrial heartland of Birmingham has long been the furnace for some of music’s most defiant and transformative sounds. From the sonic thunder of Black Sabbath and Judas Priest to the anthemic synth-pop of Duran Duran, the city has a proud legacy of musical rebellion. Now, carrying that torch into a chaotic new era is power trio Templeton Pek, who are charging back into the spotlight with their most urgent and politically charged album to date: Savages.

Templeton Pek’s new album Savages Forged in Fire: The History of The Band

Formed in Birmingham in the mid-2000s, Templeton Pek—comprised of Neal Mitchell, Kev Green, and Jon Keen—cut their teeth in the UK’s notoriously tough underground circuit before graduating to international stages. Their sound, a high-octane blend of melodic hardcore and straight-ahead punk rock, has earned them a reputation as a powerhouse live act.

Over the years, they’ve shared line-ups with punk rock giants like Rise Against, Bad Religion, Sum 41, and Millencolin. Their prowess has also seen them command major international festival stages, including Rebellion, Slam Dunk, Punk Rock Holiday, and Jera On Air.

Their previous album, Watching The World Come Undone (2018), provided a snapshot of global unrest, with the band’s frustration over events like the Brexit vote leading to tracks like the galvanizing single “The Awakening.” That record, which saw the band record in California with Birmingham-born producer Davey Warsop, reflected the beginning of mass political division. With Templeton Pek’s new album Savages, that engagement has clearly intensified into a full-throated call to arms.

A New Chapter of Grit and Unity: Templeton Pek’s Savages

Templeton Pek’s new album Savages marks a defiant new chapter for the long-running UK punk outfit. The record is an unflinching, politically charged soundtrack to a world teetering on the edge.

Released on October 3, 2025, via SBÄM Records (EU/UK) and Double Helix Records (North America), Savages is the band’s sixth studio album and their first full-length in seven years. It is a concise, blistering statement, comprising 11 tracks of uncompromising punk rock. Produced by George Perks in their native Birmingham, the album is noted for its heavier, darker sound while retaining the melodic core that defines the band.

Vocalist and bassist Neal Mitchell describes it as the record the band has “been wanting to make for years.” “It’s loud, it’s pissed off, but it’s also about unity,” Mitchell states, “These songs are for anyone who’s ever had to stand up and shout just to be heard.” In a time of heightened political and social tension, Templeton Pek’s new album Savages provides a much-needed soundtrack for collective action and conviction.

Track-by-Track: Dissecting the Fury of Savages

Savages is a relentless surge of high-energy, socially aware punk rock. Here is an authoritative look at the 11 official tracks that make up Templeton Pek’s new album Savages:

Savages: The title track and blistering opener immediately sets the tone. It’s a riotous ear worm. It perfectly showcases the balance between Neal Mitchell’s impassioned vocals and Kev Green’s muscular riffs.
Hurricanes: A high-octane track driven by relentless drumming from Jon Keen. The song focuses on resilience, equating the struggles and overwhelming world events to a force of nature, emphasising the punk-rock concept of enduring and pushing back against the storm.
Paradigm: A fast-paced, melodic highlight. It’s an urgent call to shift away from old, broken models of thinking. This track showcases the band’s knack for writing soaring, fist-in-the-air choruses designed for massive festival stages.
Artifact: One of the album’s key singles, “Artifact” combines a rousing, chant-ready chorus. The track showcases an expanded sonic spectrum, blending rage with surprising, melodic beauty.
No Kings: This is a blunt, chant-fuelled punk anthem steeped in anger with an unrelenting beat.
Perfect Storm: Sitting at the album’s midpoint, this track explores the feeling of being overwhelmed. It’s a powerful, driving song that uses the band’s precise power-trio dynamic to great effect, building tension and catharsis.
Pioneers: An anthemic number that looks to the future with defiance. It’s about being a trailblazer and refusing to follow the path of apathy. This track connects directly to the band’s belief in unity and collective action.
Reviver: A track focused on renewal and energy. Musically, it’s one of the heaviest offerings, using sharper edges and darker tones to convey a sense of reawakening and fighting back against personal and political exhaustion.
Ghosts: A slightly moodier track that deals with personal failures and historical mistakes. It maintains the urgency but adds a layer of reflective depth.
Print Is Dead: This song is packed with powerful guitars and a frantic pace, capturing the sense of information overload and distrust.
Tempest: A dynamic track that shifts between aggressive punk verses and melodic, expansive sections. It serves as an emotional crescendo towards the album’s closing moments, focusing on inner turmoil and the fight for control.

ROCKNEWS VERDICT: 9/10

Savages is more than just a collection of songs; it’s an urgent articulation of a band at the peak of their creative conviction. Templeton Pek have delivered a record that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the finest music in the genre, carrying the banner of Birmingham’s grit and rebellion into the global punk sphere.

The 39 minutes of punk mayhem on Savages is precisely what is needed to wake you up and inspire you to continue the fight. It is impossible to listen to this album without rocking your head with a face full of anger and renewed purpose.

To celebrate the release and spread its message of unity and defiance, the trio will be hitting the road this October for an extensive European and UK tour, including both headline shows and high-profile festival slots.

Have you had a chance to listen to Savages yet? Which track are you hoping to hear live on their upcoming tour? Let us know in the comments below!