Review: UK band mclusky’s single ‘Chekhov’s Guns’

mclusky - lead photo 2025 - credit Damien Sayell — mclusky - Photo by Damien Sayell

By Hattan Savage, Rock At Night Nashville

Review: UK band Mclusky’s single/video “Chekhov’s Guns” – Release date – April 9, 2025

Mclusky has never been one to give it to you straight, and their new track “Chekhov’s Guns” is no exception. Their upcoming album, the world is still here and so are we, releasing on May 9th, ends the band’s 20-year hiatus. Two decades of pent-up energy explodes in the form of the song’s clown-fueled mind trip of a music video.

For those unfamiliar, Chekhov’s gun is a narrative principle suggesting that every element in a story must serve a purpose at some point. Russian writer Anton Chekhov initially explained it: “One must not put a loaded rifle on the stage if no one is thinking of firing it” (Chekhov, 1889).

At first glance, I thought Mclusky had flipped this principle on its head. The video is packed with seemingly unnecessary details—fire, cake, vodka, a cigarette, and a clown gun that fires a “BANG.” None of it appeared to add to the plot.

But after rewatching a few times, I started wondering: is the video more than chaos for the sake of chaos? Could it be a textbook example of poli-punk commentary on the current political climate? Could the news-watching clown represent all of us as passive spectators to the absurdity of 2025? Instead of taking action, are we numbing ourselves – drinking, smoking, and spiraling?

Maybe Mclusky is encouraging you to be more than just a passive spectator. Watch “Chekhov’s Guns” and decide what you think the band is trying to say

VIDEO

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ABOUT mclusky

Formed in cardiff, wales in the late ‘90s, mclusky quickly became one of the most beloved underground punk bands of their era, known for their biting lyrics, angular riffs, and chaotic live shows. The band released three critically-acclaimed albums – mclusky do dallas (2002), the difference between me and you is that I’m not on fire (2004) and my pain and sadness is more sad and painful than yours (2000) – before disbanding in 2005. Since reforming in 2019, they’ve continued to bring their ferocious energy to stages, with their fourth album, the world is still here and so are we, set for a spring 2025 release via ipecac recordings. mclusky is damien sayell (bass, vocals), jack egglestone (drums, vocals, percussion), and andrew falkous (guitar, vocals).