Norwich Punkgrass band The Cain Pit release sophomore E.P “Joy”
If 2024’s Sorrow was the blueprint, Joy is the full-throttle, boots-on-the-floor construction project.
With their signature blend of breakneck banjo, slap double bass, pounding drums, and gritty guitars, The Cain Pit push their self-styled “Punkgrass” even further into thrilling new territory.
This time around, there's a darker edge creeping into the melodies — a bitter bite beneath the sugar. The Cain Pit have always described their sound as “sugarcoated with a bitter centre.” On Joy, some songs are bitter inside and out.
Described as Green Day raised on moonshine, The Cain Pit are carving out a space that defies genre boundaries. Whether it’s folk festivals, punk pits, or psychobilly gatherings, their high-octane live shows and catchy, honest songwriting continue to strike a deep chord across diverse audiences in the UK and beyond.
Tracklist
1. Devil’s Side
A Western atmosphere breaks into a punchy cowpunk anthem. The slap double bass and pounding drums drive the track, joined by twanging guitar and banjo. It’s about temptation, inner demons, and the tipping point between indecision and action.
Daryl shares: “I was partly inspired by the film Falling Down. While the film has deep themes, what hit me was someone finally snapping. I usually avoid confrontation, but this song is like me giving in to the demons... Also had to sneak in a Teen Titans line because I'm a big nerd, haha.”
2. My Bloody Valentine
Classic Cain Pit energy: punchy, emotional, and impossible not to move to. This punkgrass anthem captures the ache of being somewhere you don’t belong, surrounded by people yet feeling completely alone. Banjo and upright bass fire like a ticking time bomb, while the drums drive with unrelenting force.
3. Whiskey
A live favourite finally gets the studio treatment. This honky-tonk toe-tapper is a love letter to bad decisions and good liquor. Joe’s harmonica cuts through the bounce like a buzz at closing time. Pour a glass, turn it up, and try not to dance and sing.
4. Time to Go
Electric guitarist Scott takes lead vocals on this one, capturing an alt-country sound with moments of classic pop punk half-time. All instruments chung along like an engine in an old Ford pick-up cruising through a quiet town. The song reflects on life’s ups and downs and trying to overcome them.
5. Dead Man’s Guitar
The first single from the EP and a story-song straight out of a dusty spaghetti western. Tribal drums, Celtic punk energy, and a ripping electric guitar line make this one a foot-stomping, shout-along anthem.
Daryl explains: “I wanted to write a story song like the old country legends. It’s about a cowboy down on his luck who loses everything — then finds a bandit’s guitar and roams the land telling his tale, searching for his stolen wife.”
The soundtrack to the best whiskey-soaked barn party you’ve been to.
Joy is now available on all major streaming platforms, and physical copies can be purchased at their shows or through their Bandcamp.
