Photo Credit: Derek Bremner “While some people try to avert their eyes from the hardships unfolding, Meryl Streek places two firm but well-intended hands on their head, and turns it to make them face the chaos” – Kerrang! “The most incendiary and important punk rock album of the year” – Louder “Artists such as Meryl Streek are important to not only entertain us but to provide us with knowledge on issues we will probably not be aware of” – Clash Magazine “That is hands down the best show I have been to in years” – Far Out Magazine 5th October 2026 – Irish one-man punk powerhouse Meryl Streek returns with his final single ahead of his third album, Stories They Don’t Teach You At School, arriving 9 October via Venn Records. ‘The Chancer’, out 5 October, features comedian and broadcaster Phill Jupitus, who delivers a spoken-word outro reflecting on his first listen to the finished album along with Phil Wyer of The Owl Sounds on guitar. Listen to ‘The Chancer’ here. Watch video here. On top of this release, Meryl Streek will play at London’s 100 Club on 8th October to celebrate the album release. Tickets can be found here. ‘The Chancer’ turns its attention to Ireland’s ongoing housing crisis and the political decisions Streek believes have left working-class people increasingly squeezed. Inspired by a politician who, according to Streek, owns and rents out property while supporting policies that increase financial pressure on tenants, the track takes aim at the disconnect between those making decisions and those struggling to find secure, affordable housing. As Streek puts it, the song centres on “a chancer in our government in Ireland” who, rather than addressing the shortage of housing, supports further charges that place additional financial strain on those already struggling. Against a backdrop of missed housing targets and continued pressure on renters, ‘The Chancer’ is another example of Streek using punk as a vehicle to confront issues he believes are being overlooked. The track closes with Phill Jupitus, whose spoken-word contribution captures his immediate reaction after hearing the completed album, bringing a more personal and reflective final note to one of Streek’s most pointed tracks. Stories They Don’t Teach You At School continues Streek’s uncompromising approach to storytelling, tackling media manipulation, housing, contested deaths, inequality and the experiences of Ireland’s working class. Lead single ‘Rotten Fruit’ addresses the impact of fake news and media control, while ‘Council Estates’ focuses on governments failing working-class communities. Elsewhere, ‘Kelly’ examines the ongoing case surrounding the death of Kelly Lynch. The album also sees Streek expand his collaborative world, with contributions from Steve Ignorant of CRASS, Pete Holidai of The Radiators From Space, Phil Jupitus, Laurent ‘Lags’ Barnard of Gallows, Vinny McCreith of Adibishi Shank, Frank and Jude of Derelict Ireland, Phil Wyer of Owl Sounds, Sophie Porter of Other Half, and spoken-word artist Frankie McNamara. A long-standing voice within Ireland’s punk scene, Meryl Streek has previously received support from Clash Magazine, Louder Than War, Rolling Stone UK, Far Out Magazine and Kerrang!, while his previous album Songs For The Deceased was named among Louder’s ‘Best Punk Albums of the Last Decade’. With Stories They Don’t Teach You At School, Streek continues to turn the subjects that are often ignored into songs that demand attention. As Kerrang! previously put it: “While some people try to avert their eyes from the hardships unfolding, Meryl Streek places two firm but well-intended hands on their head, and turns it to make them face the chaos.” ‘The Chancer’ featuring Phil Jupitus is out 7 October 2026. Meryl Streek’s third album Stories They Don’t Teach You At School is out 9 October 2026 via Venn Records. PRE-SAVE / PRE-ORDER: https://merylstreek.lnk.to/stories ALBUM ARTWORK | 
