Pleb - Grease Trap

Labels: Human Worth

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 07 Aug 2026

Tracklist:

1. Clods Of Shit And Bone

2. The Bruises Mean It's On The Way Out

3. The Eyes Melt First

4. Put It Back

5. Evolutionary Roadblock

6. The Streets Aren't Reliable In The Slightest

7. You And Me Baby Ain't Nothing But Cannibals

8. Belly Up

I've been well out of sync with the DIY community/scene in Leeds for years now. When I worked in the city it was great to be able to stick around, see bands and then get the last train home. I watched more than I can remember. Recently, thanks to Owen at Human Worth, a band called Pleb was sent my way. Turns out Pleb includes a member who I saw play many times back in the day.

Grease Trap arrived as the duo's first release earlier this month. Featuring the guitar and feedback of D. Fraser, as well as the drums and vocals of S. Myles, Pleb delivers sludge but with a punk mindset. Exactly what Leeds has always been about.

It feels kind of weird to be writing about a release within the same month that it was… released. Well nearly, as it was the same month before I decided to re-write this. It’s a good one though and after reading the bio about the album on Pleb’s bandcamp page, we’re in for a treat. Noisy, feedback-laden sludge fills the air on opener ‘Clods Of Shit And Bone’. Guitar, percussion and vocals that remind me of the diverse richness of the city’s musical underbelly. Subtle hints of the slower end of powerviolence join punk and sludge.

‘The Bruises Mean It’s On The Way Out’ is just filled with layer after layer of chunky riffs and screechy feedback. It’s bloody good, and way noisier than anything a duo should be making! Coming in pretty much equipped (with nastiness), ’The Eyes Melt First’ sees Pleb hitting a dangerous stride. One that completely justifies their recent appearance at ArcTanGent, which unsurprisingly went down a storm from what I’ve read.

‘’Put It Back’ continues with the feedback left by ‘The Eyes Melt First’. As I write this, there is thunder and lighting crashing outside my window but even that isn’t heavier than Pleb at their heaviest.  It’s not only about the slow stuff on Grease Trap as ‘Evolutionary Roadblock’ brings a pacier tempo, which adorns its shortest track. 

Maybe describing the streets of Leeds (or something/somewhere entirely different), ‘The Streets Aren’t Reliable In The Slightest’ is a murky, off-kilter slice of sludgecore that epitomises the grim realness that we face up north. I was going to draw comparison to this next song’s title and Bloodhound Gang, but that was till I watched the video and read the lyrics to ‘You And Me Baby Ain’t Nothing But Cannibals’. It was the lyrics that really did it. Both stark and beautiful up against the instrumentation.

Closing with ‘Belly Up’, Pleb give it everything. From deep, stomping sludge riffs to grinding drums and those vocals, which by now are buried deep in the memory receptors. Pleb sound energised and fresh, while maintaining the grittiness and warmth that’s always been there in Leeds musically. What an ace album Grease Trap is!

You can stream and purchase Grease Trap digitally below, where you can also pre-order tape copies (it's already on it's 2nd pressing!):-

Here's the video for 'You And Me Baby Ain't Nothing But Cannibals' for your viewing pleasure too, courtesy of Human Worth:-

Pleb Instagram - @pleb_slow

Human Worth Instagram - @humanworthmusic