“Welsh Language emo heroes Breichiau Hir are one of the best kept secrets I reckon, combining urgency and melody and leaving you want to cry and learn Welsh” Huw Stephens

Welsh punk band  Breichiau Hir deliver an urgent call to arms with their new single, ‘Penblwydd Hapus Iawn ' (A Very Happy Birthday). An unflinching three minutes of punk aggression powered by a wall of three-pronged guitars and cathartic screams, underscored by brittle melodic interplay, reminiscent of the band’s early influences, Sunny Day Real Estate, At The Drive In and The Get Up Kids , it proves that Breichiau Hr's visceral prescient sound is primed for wider attention. Steffan Dafydd the band’s lyricist and vocalist explains: " the setting of the song is a catastrophic birthday party I attended a few years ago where I witnessed the worst in some of the best people”.

It's Breichiau Hir’s third release on West Wales imprint Libertino records, home to the most exciting emerging Welsh acts( Adwaith, Los Blancos, Silent Forum ). If ever a band was needed to soundtrack these unhinged times, where there is a lack of political and social responsibility and accountability, Breichiau Hir fill that void with passion and honesty.  

Breichiau Hir are a cult Welsh language six-piece with a rich history spanning over a decade that depicts just how committed they are to their cause. They met in 2008 when they were schoolmates in Cardiff, inspired by the post-hardcore, punk and emo bands of the 1990s. They released a handful of self-produced DIY singles and played numerous shows throughout their university years.   "In 2015 we recorded our EP Mae'r Angerdd Yma Yn Troi Yn Gas.”  Says Dafydd “We were still experimenting and seeing what fits.  This was the first time we had recorded a collection of songs all in one studio with Mei Gwynedd who also released it via his label Jigcal"  The singles  'Toddi'  and 'Ti A Dy Ffordd' both received airplay and critical acclaim. Ti A Dy Ffordd was picked out as 2015's song of the year in Golwg magazine.

In 2018, they signed to Libertino Records and released the dark melodic sound of double-a side,  'Halen'  and   'Mewn Darnau', rounding off the year with the speak/shouty punk single, 'Portread O Ddyn Yn Bwyta Ei Hun.'

  Translated Lyrics:

OK, I’d like to say that I have nothing better to say
I’ve already used these words
I don’t want to do anything
I’d say that’s worse for me than it is for you

Biting tongues and keeping things to yourselves
Someone here deserves anything better but being here
OK, she didn’t do anything
But here you are, staring, completely still.

And I have nothing more to say
So I’m getting out of here fast
A very happy birthday to you

Thank God, I have to leave now
Your face has turned white, your veins tight
You’re black magic that only works on me I hate every day
 I’m an overflowing glass of juice, and everyday sips away at me

 What a very happy birthday to you