Sled Island Edition: Chinese Medicine - The Trans Agenda
Twin Fang Records
Released on May 16th, 2025
Punk rock is some of the most powerful music out there, and that is driven home by Chinese Medicine on their second EP The Trans Agenda. The Toronto-based band - made up of lead vocalist and guitarist Juno Hailey, guitarist Andrew Pearson, bassist Jack-James Lemaire, and drummer Stefan Hegerat - blends together elements of post-punk, hardcore punk, goth rock, and garage rock to create six tracks that capture the essence of catharsis.
The Trans Agenda explodes into being with one of the most impactful punk songs of the year, “Gospel”. The song is absolutely furious both lyrically and instrumentally, a fact that is made even more apparent by Juno’s scream of frustration that opens the track. The hypocrisy of the Church takes center stage as the band explores religious trauma and the proliferation of hate (especially against trans and queer people) in a religion that claims to be nothing short of pure love (“There's no hate like Christian love”). The visceral nature of the subject matter shines through in lyrics like, “But I'd rather peel my skin / Than let your holy spirit in” and “I am / Exhausted, sick and damned / But I still have enough strength / To punch these fascists in the face”. The frantic pace of the song and the urgent propulsion of the chorus (which is impossible not to sing along to) feels like an exorcism; removing the weight accumulated over countless years and allowing your true self to shine through.
The collaborative nature of Chinese Medicine is also on full display on The Trans Agenda, most notably on “Acetone” and “Total Happiness” which features guest vocals from Shiv Scott of fellow Toronto-punks (and Twin Fang labelmates) Shiv and The Carvers.
There have been many great songs about the broken values of the capitalist system we are living in but “Total Happiness” takes the cake. The lyrics pull no punches and add a needed layer of irony into the conversation especially with the lyric, “Well, don’t you love the total happiness”. Juno and Shiv’s vocals weave together to create a wonderful depth of sound that not only highlights the message of the song but also provides the solution to retaining your humanity in a world that wishes to strip you of it: friendship and community. The feeling of friendship and community is carried through to “Acetone” which finds Juno and Andrew sharing vocal duties. The song finds the band leaning more into their pop-punk side but don’t worry, there’s still plenty of bite as they take a look at the sometimes unexpected ways we process heartbreak; like painting an accent wall for instance. Their vocals go together perfectly as they deliver some of the catchiest melodies on the album. The connection between the two musicians and the love they hold for their art is apparent from start to finish.
There are few better song openings than “I like Dairy Queen / I hate TERFs!” which starts “The Trans Agenda” off with a bang (and is also a fun Joe Talbot impression). The song highlights the absurdity of the rhetoric used by the alt-right specifically when talking about trans people and people of colour with biting lyrics and high-energy instrumentation. “The Trans Agenda” is just over one minute of pure cathartic rage and is one of the best songs to mosh to. The song ends with a scream from Juno that calls to mind the beginning of “Gospel” which will make you want to restart the EP and listen again.
Much like their song “Project Runway”, Chinese Medicine contains multitudes on The Trans Agenda. It is both a collection of stories and a statement of a band on the rise that leaves no doubt that they are one of the most vital punk bands active today. The Trans Agenda is essential listening.
Chinese Medicine plays at Sled island on Friday, June 20th at Loophole Coffee Bar at 10PM, and on Saturday, June 21st in the basement of the Palomino at 3:40PM.
