The Fiascos New Lyric Video for Livin' On Nothing

C.J. Wildheart - Blood (2017)

Genre - Hard Rock / Punk Rock

Label - Pledge Music

Track listing:

01. Tea Leaf

02. Gutless

03. Lazybones

04. Beak

05. 50 Percent Indian

06. Tired Of Sex

07. Kiss It

08. Plastic Invasion

09. Itch

10. Lost In The Game

Wildhearts guitarist CJ Wildheart returns with his third full length solo release, and follow up to last years rather excellent release, 'Robot', in the form of 'Blood', and his musical evolution continues to develop. Gone are the bubble gum pop/punk melodies of his first post Wildhearts solo projects such as  Honeycrack and The Jelly's, in favour of the harder edged more riff based direction that began with 'Robot' and its predecessor 'Mable'. I have to say that 'Blood' is some of the most heavy and riff based (and dare I say intense?) material that CJ has put his name to outside of The Wildhearts to date. 'Blood' opens with 'Tea Leaf', a great track that would have sat well on 2014's 'Mable'. A few electronic samples mixed into some great riffs and CJ's instantly recognisable vocals fitting perfectly. Next up we have 'Gutless', a song driven along by some great intense riffs, and a song that would have sat well on any Wildhearts release. A great statement of intent, and brilliant indication of what is to follow. 'Lazybones' follows and continues to deliver on both the quality and intensity fronts. Another great riff too! 'Beak' is up next, a slightly more melodic and up tempo track than its predecessors, and a great song to showcase a slightly different side to CJ's song writing talent. '50 Percent Indian' marks the half way point to this great album, a great song with a great lyric throughout. Next up we have 'Tired of Sex' (surely that cant be true!). Here the keyboards are slightly more prominent, adding atmosphere to this songs fairly laid back feel. 'Kiss It' follows and is a short sharp blast based around a great riff with very few vocals.  'Plastic Invasion' sees things slow down a little and return to the type of blue print used throughout 2014's Mable album with electronic samples being mixed with some great guitar rhythms and riffs. The albums penultimate track is 'Itch' which follows a similar blue print to its predecessor, and seems to be a rather autobiographical track, concerning the career path the mighty Wildhearts. 'Lost In The Game' closes out the album, and is one of the best songs CJ has ever been involved with.
I have to say that 'Blood' is the best album so far from CJ's solo output. It truly has everything. Intensity, melody, riffs, great songs, brilliant production (once again courtesy of Dave Drapers magical ears!).
This is one album that you really do need to check out! 10 tracks that clock in at around the 33 minute mark, leaving you hungry for more!!

Rating: 10/10

Dirt Box Disco - Poppycock (2017)

Genre - Punk / Rock

Label - STP Records

Track listing:

01 - The Bullshit Kids

02 - Fingerblast

03 - Punk Rock Riot

04 - Little White Lie

05 - Working For Wankers

06 - Fat Kid

07 - Snorting Crack From A Girls Top Rack

08 - Lazy Bastard

09 - Slapdash And Haphazzard

10 - Geronimo

11 - Imaginary Friend

12 - Somethings Are Better Off Left Unsaid

13 - I Hate This City

The mighty Dirt Box Disco return with latest slab of unadulterated social commentary in the form of their latest album, Poppycock.
The album opens with "The Bullshit Kids", a song about certain elements of todays youth that is becoming more and more prevalent. Next up the album launches into "Fingerblast", a song about a woman's love of self pleasure! "Punk Rock Riot" follows and to be honest I think for me this is the weakest track on the entire album, although it will no doubt be lots of fun live . Things pick up again with "Little White Lie", almost a ballad without being a ballad, and a story with a moral to it!
the next song, "Working For Wankers", will ring true with many of us, and will I will no doubt be singing it to myself during my endless shifts at hells pit!
"Fat Kid" is rather cruel but still fun, "Snorting Crack..." whizzies by, before the excellent "Lazy Bastard" slows the pace down a little. A great song and we all know a person that fits the subject matter all too well!
"Slapdash and Haphazzard" is up next, a great song about that half arsed attitude that plagues elements of todays society, that just happens to have a little rock n roll feel to it. Next we have "Geronimo", a two minute blast about having a leap of faith. "Imaginary Friend" follows, a great song destined to become a dirt Box classic!
The albums penultimate track is the rather excellent "Somethings Are Better Left Unsaid", something that I have personally learnt all too well over the years!
The album closes out with "I Hate This City" which proves to be a real ska fest.

So there we have it, the latest slab of punk rock angst from Dirt Box Disco, thirteen tracks closcking in at thirty seven minutes long.

Well worth checking out as Dirt Box Disco are proving to be one the best English Punk bands around today!

Highly Recommended

Rating: 10/10

Spunk Volcano and the Eruptions - Ram Raid EP (2017)

Genre - Rock / Punk

Label - STP Records

Track listing:

01 - Ram Raid

02 - Stop Looking At Your Phone

03 - Hanging Around The Shops

04 - I Think Her Name Was Tracey?

05 - Snap Backbone

The indomitable Spunk Volcano and the Eruptions return with their latest slab of angst filled social commentary in the form of their Ram Raid EP.
The EP opens with the angst driven title track, a song that addresses the mind set of delinquent car thieves and boy racers. A great start. Next up we have the blistering "Stop Looking At Your Phone", which funnily enough address the modern day obsession people seem to have with their mobile phones. "Hanging Around The Shops" follows, addressing the problems of getting your fix of booze and fags when you are underage. Another great song forged in typical Spunk Volcano fashion. Next comes "I Think Her Name Was Tracey?"  another blistering angst filled track, discussing a poor girls life. The EP closes out with "Snap Backbone", which also happens to the EP's most melodic and commercial track. A song and a great closer for a five track EP that clocks in at just twelve minutes in length!

Check these guys out!

Rating: 10/10

 

Ryan Hamilton and the Traitors - The Devil's in the Detail (2016/17)

Genre - Rock / Pop / Alternative

Label - Pledge Music

Track listing:

01 - Smarter

02 - We Should Never Have Moved To LA

03 - Anywhere

04 - Heavy Heart

05 - Scottish Mud

06 - Back In Time

07 - The Gulf Of Mexico

08 - Cheaters Never Change

09 - Drugs and Fashion

10 - Strength In Numbers

11 - Don't Say I Told You So

12 - It Ain't Easy

The Devil's In The Detail is the brand spanking new album from Ryan Hamilton and the Traitors, a trans Atlantic rock n roll band hailing from Texas and the UK. And what a bloody debut. Great bounce filled rock n roll, with a tremendous sense of melody. Incorporating so many musical elements its unbelievable, from country to blues to punk to out and out rock n roll. What a refreshing band. This, their debut album has been financed through a blinding pledge music campaign, hence the 2016/17 release dates (pledgers were lucky enough to get their hands on this brilliant album last year!).
The albums kicks off with the bouncy and rather excellent 'Smarter', which flows into the equally brilliant 'We Should Never Have Moved To LA', before the tempo slows a little for the rather laid back 'Anywhere', with its bluesy overtones. Next up comes the beautiful 'Heavy Heart'. A really beautiful ballad with some great harmonies and soul searching lyrics! Surely one of the albums many highlights. The rather fun 'Scottish Mud' is up next, picking up the pace a little. Yet another great song. Next up is the excellent acoustic driven 'Back In Time', a beautiful song that features Ryan taking a look back in time. 'The Gulf Of Mexico' follows, with its chugging main riff. possibly the heaviest song so far on the album, bloody brilliant non the less. Hot on its heels we have 'Cheaters Never Change', a real blues country mix. Yet another brilliant song! 'Drugs and Fashion' picks up the tempo and the mood once again, returning to the bouncy rock of the albums first couple of tracks.
'Strength In Numbers' is a great song about a defiant spirit, a great up-tempo song that has a brilliant energy to it. This could be killer live!
The albums penultimate track is 'Don't Say I Told You So', a beautiful duet. this song sends tingles down my spine. Beautiful and haunting!
'It Ain't Easy' closes the album out, a great fun song with a proper country feel to it, and a nice snarling surprise hidden inside if you are patient enough to wait for it!

This is one of the best and strongest debuts that I have heard in many a year, and very well worth checking out. Definitely one of the most complete and rounded releases that I have heard in quite a while, and possibly a contender for release of the year!

Rating: 10/10

Drama Club Rejects - Drama Club Rejects (2016)

Genre - Hard Rock / Punk / Alternative

Label - Self released

Track listing:

01 - King of Second Chances

02 - 1 Day Week

03 - Solarflare

04 - Space Invaders

05 - I Wanna Be Your Everything

06 - Homesick Alien

07 - Destination Anybody

08 - Idiot Brigade

09 - Kickin' A Hole

10 - Hate Song

11- Wish You Were Here

Drama Club Rejects are a new melody driven punk rock band consisting of an amalgamation of artists who have already got... quite a history in the genre. Nick Parsons ( Almighty, Whatever, Supercharger) Stidi (Wildhearts, Whatever) and Nash (Supercharger). Combining edgy riffs, power pop chorus's and down right dirty mood swings, and they are bloody awesome!

The album opens with King of Second Chances, a hearty up-tempo blast of melodic hook laden punk rock n roll, which really sets the tone for what is to come with the rest of the album! Musically the guys are in fine form, churning out solid track after solid track here on their debut. Musically the guys sound like the perfect blend of their previous bands, you can here elements of Whatever, Supercharger and even The Almighty and Wildhearts in places. Blending punk rock attitude with power pop sensibilities and melodies, which makes for an exhilarating and thoroughly enjoyable album!

Highlights have to include the aforementioned King Of Second Chances, Homesick Alien, Kickin A Hole and Hate Song, although to be brutally honest there just isn't a bad track on the album!

Well Worth Checking Out!

Rating: 9/10

Love Zombies - Passionfruit (2016)

Genre - Pop / Rock / Punk

Label - Pledge Music

Track listing:

01. Oblivion

02. Lighten Up

03. Robots & Aliens

04. Spiders

05. Favourite Song

06. Big and Strong

07. Backwards World

08. Fast & Frantic

09. Birthday

10. Who The Fuck Are They?

11. Love Zombies Theme Song (Bonus Track)

 So finally the wait is over and the Love Zombies pledge final comes to an end with the release of the bands debut album. Not that I am complaining as there have been plenty of pledge bonus pledge's along the way with around six or seven pledge EP's whilst the band have been hauled up recording this little beauty. Now Love Zombies first came to my attention through singer Hollis Mahady's involvement with Ginger Wildhearts Hey! Hello! project, where she fronted the band last year for various live dates and even recorded an album with them only to leave the project on the eve of the albums release resulting in the album being pulled, re-recorded with new vocalists and released last month, some five months after its original planned release.
The album opens up with the fast paced 'Oblivion' which really sets the tone for the bands infectious blend of bubblegum pop / rock / punk. 'Lighten Up' follows and keeps things moving along as does the brilliant 'Robots & Aliens' before 'Spiders' slows the tempo down a little. 'Favourite Song' sees the tempo stay rather relaxed even though it does start to rock things up a little again before 'Big and Strong' throws us a curve ball with its weird laid back feel. A great song though. The tempo picks up a little with 'Backwards World' before 'Fast & Frantic' kicks in, which is a great put down to over eager lovers lol. The fun is at an all time high with 'Birthday', a song about not wanting to dump someone on their birthday,  before the albums closer sends a message to all the bands haters in the form of 'Who The Fuck Are They?'. We have a bonus track in the form of 'Love Zombies Theme' which is a good bit of fun.

Love Zombies are a great band, but they aren't really going to set the world on fire, but their music is a good old dose of solid fun to keep the listeners entertained.

Rating: 9/10

Zen Motel - Choking On The Chrome (Part 2) EP (2016)

Genre - Hard Rock / Punk / Sleaze

Label - Corporate Records

Track Listing:

01 - London Is Dead

02 - I Want Your Drugs

03 - Shatterproof

Brit rockers Zen Motel return with the second instalment of their "Choking on the Chrome" series of EP's  (they have decided to release their new album a series of EP's instead of a single album release!) and the follow up to Choking on the Chrome Part 1 that was issued back in April.

There have been a few delays to the release of this Ep, but what the hey sometimes life crops up and fucks the plans of the best of us, but by God was it worth the wait!

Choking on the Chrome Part 2 delivers three instant Zen Motel classics in the form of London Is Dead, I Want Your Drugs and Shatterproof.

London Is Dead opens things up and it could have quite easily been lifted from the track listing of the bands first two albums, 2003's Transform and Escape or 2007's Stations Of The Dead. Opening with a town crier calling "bring out your dead" before launching into a great riff that subsides to a great melodic and atmospheric verse before the riffs kick back in for the bridge and chorus. Great song! I Want Your Drugs is up next, this ones a little bit different, but awesome non the less. Opening with what could be a dance beat and bass line, before exploding into riffs that merge with some kind of New Wave keyboards. Bloody brilliant!

Shatterproof closes the Ep out. This one has a more laid back feel to it, but still rocks like a mother fucker!

With Choking on the Chrome Part 2 Lee and the guys deliver three diverse and brilliant songs that when added to the four tracks that made up Choking on the Chrome Part 1 give us almost an albums worth of new material, and what an album it would have been!

I'm hoping that there is at least one more instalment to this Choking The Chrome adventure!

Rating: 10/10

Headline Maniac - Headline Maniac (2016)

Genre - Hard Rock / Garage Rock / Punk

Label -  Hotrod Records

Track listing:

01. Idiot Me
02. Give Me One More Chance
03. Bad
04. Hero
05. 14 Days
06. Someone Like You
07. Millionaire
08. Don’t Stop Doing What You’re Doing
09. You’re the One for Me
10. I Want All Your Love
11. Gotta Get Away

Headline Maniac are an alternative rock band from Essex in the UK. All 3 band members, Dipster Ian Dean (Vocals and Bass), Chris Taylor (Guitars) and Simon Bowley (Drums),  are also part of pioneering punk legends Eddie and the Hotrods. When comparing Headline Maniac to Eddie and the Hotrods they come across as a little more bluesey, a bit heavier, but the punk roots really shine through giving a nice, rough edge to the songs. the songs are all bouncy, catchy and filled with singalong lyrics. The most laid back are probably the album closer, “Gotta Get Away”,  and “Millionaire” but never slow ballady types of tracks here, which is fine by me!
There maybe some heartfelt lyrics here but its the pure rock n roll energy that drives each and every song on this album along, which is no surprise really when you consider the pool of talent that makes up Headline Maniac, after all it maybe a new band but these guys aren't exactly new to the scene!

Headline Maniac are a good honest hard rock n roll band, that have delivered a debut album filled with good down to earth honest rock n roll songs

Check it out!

Rating: 9/10

Zen Motel - We Want Your Blood (Remixed and Remastered!) (2016)

Genre - Hard Rock / Punk / Pop / Alternative / Modern Rock
Label - Corporate Records (Independent)

Track listing:

01 - Superhuman Colosseum
02 - The Pit
03 - Kill Your Radio (Feat CJ and Si Fricker)
04 - Death Rock City (Feat CJ)
05 - Cut And Run
06 - Bone Deep In Trouble (Feat CJ)
07 - Curse Of the Girlfiend (Feat Si Fricker)
08 - Trust Your Instincts
09 - I Will End This
10 - House Of The Dying Sun

Zen Motel have re-issued their 2012 album, We Want Your Blood! in a remixed and re-mastered form!

Now I thought the original release of this album was pretty darn awesome, but the remixing and re-mastering efforts of band leader Lee Potter really do make this re-issue something special. Everything sounds that much clearer, giving the songs that sharper more crystalline edge.

We Want Your Blood gives us Ten tracks, clocking in at just under half an hour, of angst driven hard rock with some great melodies. The following review follows the albums original track running order, which has been re-jigged a little for the re-issue, but I find myself putting them back in their original order!
Opening with the mighty Superhuman Colosseum, a weighty peice that declares that they have given up giving in before crashing into the The Pit which first saw the light of day on the Cranked EP, still an awesome track, full of energy and angst. Kill Your Radio is up next, a slightly more commercial song that features CJ from the Wildhearts as a guest on guitars and vocals (the first of three tracks to do so!) as well as Si Fricker. This is a great song that debuted via the internet last year, but still sounds great in its finished form. Trust Your Leader follows, again a typical Zen Motel song, filled with twists and turns, another great addition to the back catalogue.
Death Rock City follows, again featuring CJ on vocals and guitars. Here the guys turn the tempo up a little, yet this song still has a very commercial feel to it, a great song that should be a huge hit, again a song that debuted a year or so ago via the internet. Cut and Run is up next, a little more atmospheric to my ears, yet retaining all the punk angst and rock elements. A great song.
Next up is the last of the three songs to feature CJ, Bone Deep In Trouble, a song that takes the album off on a little tangent with its acoustic guitars and almost country feel, this really is a great song!
Curse of The Girlfiend follows, again a song that originally saw the light of day a year or so ago via the internet, darker and moodier than its predecessors, great fun and has a great video too!
The albums penultimate track comes in the form of I Will End This, a song that sees the tempo pick back up together with some great lyrics and riffs. House Of The Dying Sun closes out the album, a slower more epic track but more importantly,another great song  rounding off a great album!
There is so much energy and diversity presented on this album that it truly showcases the bands abilities as both song writers and performers!

This really is a fantastic remix and re-mastering of what was already a great album!

Plus its currently being offered as a pay what you think its worth deal here. so no excuses!

Very Highly Recommended!

Rating: 10/10

The Wildhearts - Never Outdrunk Never Outsung: PHUQ Live (2016)

Genre - Hard Rock / Punk / Alternative / Britrock

Label - Self Released / Round Records / Pledge Music

Track  listing:

Disc 1

01 - I Wanna Go Where The People Go

02 - V-Day

03 - Just In Lust

04 - Baby Strange

05 - Nita Nitro

06 - Jonesing For Jones

07 - Up Your Arse You Fucking Cunt

08 - Woah Shit You Through

09 - Cold Patootie Tango

10 - Caprice

11 - Be My Drug

12 - Naivety Play

13 - In Lily's Garden

14 - Getting It

Disc 2

01 - Don't Bout Me

02 - Weekend

03 - Stormy In The North, Karma In The South

04 - Red Light, Green Light

05 - White Lies

06 - 29 x The Pain

Now I have never been the biggest fan of live albums. The sound is usually crap or they contain so many overdubs that they cant really be classed as a live album any more, so it has to be said that I faced listening to the The Wildhearts Never Outdrunk, Never Outsung – PHUQ Live anniversary show live album with a certain amount of trepidation. I needn't have worried though as this is exactly what a live album should bloody well sound like!
Recorded in London during the PHUQ twentieth anniversary tour this is a warts 'n' all recording, featuring the album played in its entirety, together with the encores. But what makes this album special is the sound. this album sounds fantastic! The mix is perfect, thanks to the mixing talents of Dave Draper. I really can not stress just how good this album sounds, every instrument is crystal clear, (yes even CJ's guitar!), the mix captures the power and finesse of the songs and performance. This album is definitely the closest thing to actually being there!
Any fan of the band, or even Gingers solo work really should check this release out!

Definitely the best live album that will be released this year!

Very, very Highly Recommended!

Rating: 10/10

Zen Motel - Choking On The Chrome (Part 1) EP (2016)

Genre - Hard Rock / Punk / Sleaze

Label - Corporate Records

Track Listing:

01 - Hell Or Nothing

02 - I'm Not Sorry

03 - Choke

04 - Killing Me

Brit Rockers return with a brand new four track EP in the form of "Choking on the Chrome" (they have decided to release their new album a series of EP's instead of a single album release!)
The EP opens with the barn storming track "Hell Or Nothing", that has been floating around the internet for a little while now, a song that captures the vibe and feel of Stations Of The Dead release of a few years back.
Next up we have "I'm Not Sorry". a more melodic rocker of a track with a driven yet laid back tempo and feel. A great sing along chorus too!
"Choke" is up next. This song has a harder more in your face edge to it than its predecessors. Another great song to add to the slowly growing Zen Motel catalogue!
The EP closes out with "Killing Me". This is the classiest track on the EP. Sacrificing its guitar driven attitude for some real atmospherics. A really great song and a brilliant way to close out the EP.
"Choking On The Chrome (Part One)" is a brilliant release from one of the UK's most underrated and overlooked bands.

Very Highly recommended!!!

Rating - 10/10

The EP is available to purchase (For free!) here!

Hung Like Jack - She's Not Dead (Single) (2016)

Genre - Hard Rock / Punk / Metal

Label - Self Released

Track listing:

01 - She's Not Dead

Rowdy Rockers Hung Like Jack follow up last years rather excellent "Life's First Signs of Rage" double A-Side release with the brand spanking new single, "She's Not Dead". This new track see's the guys in a rather melodic yet punky frame of mind, bringing to mind lost 90's rockers Whatever, or a mellower Supercharger. The song is pretty damn fine, the guys are sounding as tight as ever, and this single really does manage to wet the appetite with anticipation of a possible new EP (or album maybe?)

Well worth checking out!

Rating - 9/10

Backyard Babies - Four By Four (2015)

Genre - Hard Rock / Punk

Label - Gain

Track listing:

01 - Th1rt3en Or Nothing
02 - I'm On My Way To Save Your Rock 'N' Roll
03 - White Light District
04 - Bloody Tears
05 - Piracy
06 - Never Finish Anything
07 - Mirrors (Shall Be Broken)
08 - Wasted Years
09 - Walls

Swedish rockers return with a brand new album, "Four By Four", their first new studio album in five long years. "Formed in 1989, and with half a dozen studio albums to their name, the line-up of the band has never changed, and neither has the collective desire to claim a key and colourful chapter in the annals of rock ‘n’ roll." which is a pretty impressive claim to be able to make in todays ever changing revolving door environment of rock 'n' roll. One thing that has changed is that the bands sound has slowly matured and evolved over the years, especially during their recent five year hiatus, that saw various band members involved with various other projects, especially guitarist Dregen with his excellent solo album! So the guys now come back together and put out a rather excellent record in the form of "Four By Four", which see the bands sound slightly more polished than on previous releases, and maybe a maturity within the song writing that can only come with age.
The album explodes into the ears with the recently-released single “Th1rt3en Or Nothing”, which has a funky start and then sort of slides into a slow and groovy wall of sleazy swagger. The vocals are sneering, the guitars are wailing and I love the drum sound. This track kind of brings to mind some of the recent Sixx:AM and possibly even Slash releases, yet maintains the Backyard Babies own identity. Second track “I’m On My Way To Save Your Rock & Roll” is an instant classic. Its dirty riff boils over with attitude, something only Scandinavian bands seem to understand these days, and its sing-along chorus just bounces along, simply brilliant. “White Light District” continues in the same vein, keeping up the energy and swaggering into a potential live classic in my honest opinion.
There’s a total change of pace for “Bloody Tears”, which starts slowly with acoustics then morphs into a massive power ballad. This is an absolutely cracking song. Get your lighters ready for this one.
The album returns to the classic Backyard Babies sound for “Piracy” which is fast and fun, featuring some excellent harmony vocals. “Never Finish Anything” is a potential single too, with a more modern sound with Nicke and Dregen throwing some two-way vocals at each other in the catchy chorus. “Mirrors (Shall be Broken)” is another nice ballad with a more bluesy groove. Final track “Walls” is another interesting cut, slow, but there’s no ballad here. Instead a strong and dominant jazzy bass line that gives it a feel all of its own, and it then becomes an instrumental ending that wouldn’t be out of place as the theme for a Hammer House Of Horror film. There’s creaking doors, doomy guitars and even an evil cackle or two.
It seems that those years doing their other projects have enabled the Backyard Babies to come back with a sound that is stronger than ever.  "Four By Four" is close enough in style to satisfy their die-hard long-term fans but there’s also some interesting new directions to attract a new audience.
A good strong album from some long time favourites, well worth checking out.

Highly Recommended

Rating - 9/10

Role Models - The Go To Guy (2015)

Genre - Hard Rock / Punk / Powerpop

Label - Glunk records (UK)

Track listing:

01 - Lie For Today

02 - Saturday Night Sailor

03 - Show Me

04 - The Go To Guy

05 - Nowhere

06 - The Jerk

07 - Cherry Dear

08 - (Where They Half) Know My Name

09 - Reality Holiday

10 - Lets Get Started

11 - Leave Tonight

 

Role Models are a London based band led by the ever so talented Rich Rags (ex Loyalties) and featuring the talents of,  Nick Hughes (guitar, vocals, other stuff), Husayn, (bass) and Simon Maxwell (drums), and  The Go To Guy is their rather excellent debut album!

From the opening beats of Lie For Today through to the closing refrains of Leave Tonight the sheer quality of the songs on offer here never drops. The Go To Guy is quite simply power-pop perfection, with just the right measure of punk attitude and good old rock sleaze in the mix to make it one of the best albums of the year so far, and one of the best debut albums that I can remember!

The song writing is exquisite, the musicianship top notch throughout and Andy Brook together with bass player Husayn, has done an excellent job with the albums production.

You owe to yourselves to give this album a spin, you'll simply love it, I guarantee it!

 

Rating - 10/10

 

 

 

 

Duff McKagan - How To Be A Man E.P. (2015)

Genre - Hard Rock / Classic Rock / Pop / Punk

 

Track listing:

 

01 - What It Takes To Be A Mam

02 - Punker

03 - Kill The Internet

I can't believe that I very nearly missed this one! Its been out for a couple of months now, but hey, better late than never!
"How To Be A Man" is a three track E.P.(and first true solo effort?) from the former Guns 'N' Rose, Velvet Revolver bassist, Duff McKagan.
the E.P. opens up with the title track, 'How To Be A Man', an acoustic driven rocker / rockabilly number. A great song and a great start to the E.P.
Next up we have 'Punker'. A harder edged song, that see's Duff drawing more on his Punk influences, once again a great track.
Album closer, 'Kill The Internet', is a hard edged track. A menacing riff grinding away throughout, with some very topical lyrics. Once again another cracking track.
If Duff is in this form, Id love to hear a full album from him!

Very Highly Recommended

Rating 10/10

Motorhead - Thunder & Lightning (Single) (2015)

Genre - Heavy Metal / Rock 'n' Roll

 

Track listing:

01 - Thunder & Lightning

 

Lemmy and Motorhead return with a brand spanking new single in the form of 'Thunder & Ligtning', a high octane tribute to his love of his rock n roll life style,

 

'Thunder & Lightning' see's Motorhead hitting a really good vein of form, a great song with all the motorhead trademarks. If this is anything to go by, things are looking good for a new album!

Now lets just hope Lemmy gets his health concerns under control!

 

Rating - 10/10

Baby Chaos - Skulls, Skulls, Skulls, Show Me the Glory (2015)

Genre - Hard Rock / Punk / Alternative Rock

Label - Pledge Music / Self Released / Three Hands Records

 

Track listing:

 

 

01 - You Can’t Shut Us Up

02 - Blackbirds

03 - The Whispering Of Giants

04 - Have Faith In Yourself

05 - P P P Peaches

06 - Poison Ivy Girls

07 - We Were Youth

08 - Out Of The Silence

09 - Risk and Writhing

10 - A Tingling On Your Bright Skin

11 - Habibi

Returning with their first new album in seventeen years, Baby Chaos unleash Skulls, Skulls, Skulls, Show Me The Glory upon the world. And what a comeback album it is!
Pretty much picking up where they left off in the late nineties, Baby Chaos return with their perfect blend of melody, punk, rocking riffs and alternative attitude. By God we've missed these guys!
Opener ‘You Can’t Shut Us Up’ doesn’t sound like they’ve aged at all, packing in more energy and ideas than many groups half their age, and the momentum generated by this lasts well into the second half. ‘We Were Youth’ sounds mean and frenetic in the same way that recent groups like Pulled Apart By Horses and Future Of The Left do. ‘Poison Ivy Girls’ and ‘P P P Peaches’ show those melodic blasts reminiscent of American college rock.  ‘The Whispering Of Giants’ see's vocalist Chris Gordon really unleash his voice to awesome effect,  and the intricate closer ‘Habibi’ builds slowly from modest beginnings into a glorious noise. And then swerves left into a slick, smart outro.. 'Have Faith In Yourself' is another brilliant standout track, with its creepy kids choir.
'Skulls, Skulls, Skulls, Show Me the Glory' is a great comeback album from a band that should have been huge years ago!

Very Highly recommended!

Rating - 10/10

Must Kill Chris - The Bearded Man (2015)

 

Genre - Punk / DIY / Alternative / Rock / Bluesy

Label - Self Released

 

Track listing:

01 - Bruce Campbell

02 - Wild Turkey

03 - Nailgun

04 - There's More To Life Than Money

05 - One-Horse Town

06 - Mexican Stand Off

07 - Lions

08 - Generator In The Desert

09 - Bruce Campbell (Decapitated Version)

Once again a big thanks must go to Kyle Vallis and his awesome new page Unsigned Melodies for giving me a heads up about this brilliantly demented album!
I had heard of Must Kill Chris via a previous pledge campaign for the Eureka Machines but had never actually heard them, and by God I am sure glad of Kyle's reminder as I bloody well love this album! You know every now and again and album comes along that leaves you hungry for more, well this album had me so enthralled that I just had to track down the entire back catalogue (available through the bands band camp page, luckily!).
So just who are Must Kill Chris?
 'Must Kill Chris' is the stage name of Chris Moore from Ipswich Suffolk, started in 2011 while his former band 'Om Nom Bomb' were on hiatus Chris started writing and recording new music on his own and has been doing so ever since. This is a true DIY project in all senses of the word, Chris handles all aspects of the writing and recording process as well as creating all artwork and videos himself.
The Bearded Man is the bands second full length release, and its a blinder.
Don't let the fact that this album is home recorded, as it easily sounds as good as any album that has been released over the last few years, sitting comfortably along side releases that had multi million pound recording budgets!
How does it sound?
Bloody manic, marvellous, awesome!
The album opens with Bruce Campbell, with a slow moody keyboard intro before exploding into an almost industrial punk opus with a scream. A great homage to the actor of Evil Dead fame!
Wild Turkey follows, slowing the tempo and the attitude down with its almost bluesy work out. NailGun is up next, returning to the distorted bass lines and punkish attitude!
There's More To Life Than Money is the next track and what a track it is. Returning to the bluesy feel of Wild Turkey with an almost nursery rhyme / lullaby feel to it. I absolutely love this bloody song! Simplicity at its finest!
One-Horse Town has the task of following, vocally it has a real 90's indie feel to it, a great song about killing Zombies with a shot gun!
Mexican Stand Off is the albums shortest track, filled with western feel meets underground punk attitude that constantly builds into a great track!
Lions follows with it cry of independence. Generator In The Desert has an almost psychedelic feel to it at times, whilst following a similar bluesy / indie / punk direction. Probably my least favourite track on offer!
The album closes with Bruce Campbell (Decapitated version), another version of the albums opening track minus the intro and straight into the distorted screams. A great album!

Support music at grass roots level!

Rating - 10/10

 

Band Links:

Must Kill Chris @ Unsigned Melodies

Must Kill Chris on Bandcamp

 

 

 

Danko Jones - Fire Music (2015)

Genre - Hard Rock

Label - Bad Taste Records

Track listing:

01. Wild Woman

02. The Twisting Knife

03. Gonna Be A Fight Tonight

04. Body Bags

05. Live Forever

06. Do You Wanna Rock

07. Getting Into Drugs

08. Watch You Slide

09. I Will Break Your Heart

10. Piranha

11. She Ain't Coming Home

Danko Jones are back with a brand spanking new album in the form of Fire Music, and what can I say? Its fucking brilliant!
The Canadian trio have made a living out of straight forward angst filled, punk fuelled rock music, and Fire Music continues that theme superbly.
The album opens with Wild Woman, which is by no means a bad track, but it is a little Danko Jones by the numbers and could have fitted on any of the bands previous albums.
Next up is The Twisting Knife, now this is a really great song with a little bit of a Misfits feel about it. Melodic but with a real punk edge to it, bloody well love it!
Gonna Be A Fight Tonight follows. This is a great song and an obvious choice for the albums lead single, showcasing the bands trade mark angst and attitude, no wonder it was chosen as the theme song for this years WWE Royal Rumble!
Next we have Body Bags, another fast tempo-ed punk onslaught and great song ta boot. Once again with a little bit of a Misfits feel to it.
Live |Forever follows, slowing the tempo a little to a trade mark Danko Jones mid-tempo rocker.
Next we have Do You Wanna Rock which proves itself quite possibly to be one of the band’s most adventurous songs to date, with its ska like bridge / chorus and extensive cowbell!
Next up is Getting Into Drugs, lyrically not my favourite track on the album, but putting that a side its still a great fun Kiss-esque song.
Watch You Slide sees the guys pick the tempo up once more with its excellent AC/DC like riff, another great song.
The albums ballad follows in I Will Break Your Heart, with its  brilliant '50s / '60s blues groove buried beneath the walls of distortion.
Piranha is another excellent fast paced angst fuelled work out that leads brilliantly into the albums closer, She's Ain't Coming Home. A great song that which features a full-on tip of the hat to Danko’s love for metal with a twin / harmonized Iron Maiden / Judas Priest solo break.

this is not only a great album for the bands pre-existing fan base, but a great album for anyone who has the slightest interests in good solid hard rock music!

Very Highly Recommended

Rating - 10/10