The Chats “Struck By Lightning” 2022. Bargain Bin Records. Australian punk with generous sprinkles of AC/DC and speed metal. I fell into another Chats binge this past week (last October was particularly Chats-soaked, bumping them to the top of my most-listened to of the year on Spotify) so figured I would indulge a bit more today by digging through the pile of their vinyl we’ve acquired. “Struck By Lightning” is the lead single off The Chats’ LP Get Fucked (which is fantastic and won the Australian Recording Industry Association’s Best Hard Rock or Heavy Metal Album in 2022). The track won the 2023 Australian Performing Right Association’s “Most Performed Rock Work of the Year.” I’m not entirely sure what that means: did the band play it live a shit-ton of times or does it mean radio/streaming? Regardless, it’s great! The b-side of the single is “Jet Lighter,” a tight, snotty short punk ripper about a lighter (with spelling which always makes me laugh when punks do this). I love The Chats so much but am the first to admit their lyrics are not deep. Can’t wait to see them again in a couple of months in Vegas!