A sweet five-track introduction to all things Baby Schillaci is here. Pressed on a limited edition 100 copies this bad boy might be one of those rare edition musical items that become legend. Apparently, two of the tracks won’t make it to the digital world either so grab one while you can or hell why not attend one of their shows and pick up a copy?
Kicking off with the exceptional ‘Radical’ like some fucked up ‘Subteranian Homesick Blues’ for the generation Xers with an aggressive chorus and lick on the old six strings its well constructed and really well delivered I especially love the simple yet on the money guitar break that lets the song breath and leave the listener knowing they’ve just heard a really good opener on a really good EP.
Seconds out round two is the punchy ‘Be Mine’ with the boredom nialism that served early Manics so well with a snatch of prime Nirvana thrown in for good measure but the Nirvana that was hungry and up for the fight. Has a great breakdown with plenty of grunt in the rhythm section from the tub thumping to the bass grunt that drives into the solo for an all round impressive song.
Seeing as it’s only five songs, I might as well break down track three and ‘Dead Wrestlers’ is in for some top rope action from the industrial mash up the tension begins before a snotty riff rides in. Don’t tap out as the snot is wiped away and replaced with some more laddish britpop break before diving back in fo rroyal rumbling, another impressive song.
‘So bad’ would be my pick of the pops with its snare crack and distorted bass thump whilst the whispered vocals create some good audio moods whilst the guitars scratch away at your ear letting in this thumping earworm – excellent song and the guiding light on this rather impressive EP. Leaving just the ‘Spit’ to wipe away any doubt that this impressive EP will impress all who come across it. The retro melody of the acoustic guitar is like Bowie grooving on some Numan experiment, dark and brooding and hitting all the right notes.
five tracks is just about right. Not To much and not to little leave em wanting more is always a good place to start. Check these Swansea boys out and get em to play a show in your town you wont regret it and you wont regret spending a few quid on this very impressive slab of post punk alternative Rock n fuckin’ Roll. Gercha!
21 REMIXES OF SONGS FROM THE BAND’S NEW ALBUM ‘SEE THROUGH YOU’ BY TRENTEMØLLER, ANDY BELL (RIDE), SONIC BOOM, XIU XIU, ANNIE HART (AU REVOIR SIMONE), bdrmm, TV PRIEST AND MORE. Record Store Day exclusive thats maybe not so exclusive and also getting a digital release in June. After a very busy 2022, which saw the release of their critically acclaimed new album ‘See Through You’, as well as the re-release of their expanded and remastered seminal album ‘Exploding Head’.
I have to say, wading through twenty one remixes is almost self harm by trying to explode ones brain or frying it with industrial remixes and head fuckin tweeks and reverb. From the opener ‘I’m Hurt’ you get all the tweeks and drills you could desire over the throbbing bassine but thats just the beggining.
The Dedstrange Rogues’ Gallery of Remix Producers joins forces with renowned Danish Electronic Composer Trentmøller, Andy Bell of legendary shoegaze band Ride (as Glok)post-punk anti-heroes Xiu Xiu, the luminescent Annie Hart of hypnotic synth trio Au Revoir Simone (Twin Peaks: the Return), psychedelic guitar genius Sonic Boom (Spacemen 3, Spectrum, UK Post Punks TV Priest, Tampa’s Goth band Glove, UK emerging shoegazers bdrmm and many more to tear down the walls between Oliver Ackermann’s dreams on the remix album ‘See Through You: Rerealized‘, an RSD-exclusive 2xLP set on red and blue vinyl featuring twenty-one brand-new, spicy hot takes on songs from the sixth A Place To Bury Strangers album, ‘See Through You’.
To be fair, this record is very listenable in most places and letting it wash over you is possibly a good way to go if electronic music isn’t quite your bag, but appreciating different forms of music is good for the soul. If you don’t want to take my word for it hit up the link and go to their Bandcamp page where you can find the remixes ready for your very own house party. I wouldn’t claim to going big on remixes but I have bought my fair share of 12″ records where bands try our remixes and this is a lot in one place. If you own ‘See Through You’ and loved it then this is something that might well have appeal to you if you’re looking for A place To Bury Strangers way in might I be so bold as to point you in the direction of their Dead Moon covers record that might be your way in to this, Good luck I’m off to wave some glow sticks in the air and get down to some ‘ReRealized’ action – wheres my whistle?
You can also catch the band on tour as part of their – DESTROY INTO THE FUTURE TOUR – TICKETS
This is the band’s second time in this wonderful independent venue perched near the train station in the South East Wales city of Newport with its rich history of rock n roll shows. It’s the first show here since they released their third album and one of the last dates on their quick whirl around the UK before heading to the States nicely warmed up.
With a packed room full to bursting from teenagers to people in their eightieth year on this spinning rock and every age in between not somethign I’ve seen at a show in a long itme something wonderful is happening slowly but surely. The Bar Stool Preachers have certainly worked hard to pull in people of all ages and people of varying tastes to witness their brand of good time ska punk that morphed into something much bigger and to be fair on the evidence of their new record much better but whisper it there’s something in the air thats for sure.
Beaming smiles at a punk rock show and a heaving dance floor where people are lost in music as the band open up with ‘Call Me On The Way Home’ theres moonstomping, pogoing and just dad dancing going on left right and centre as the magnificent seven are leading us through all three albums with the best cuts from each record.
Tom seems excited and overjoyed by the reaction he’s getting and I can see why people are excited the band seem excited one is bouncing off the other like two magnets connecting ‘Choose My Friends’ is a blur of sweat and dancing whilst ‘State Of Emergency’ sounds massive. I look around and see people singing every single word back even from the new album that is only a handful of days old it seems everyone got the memo to sing along and join in the gang choruses louder and louder ‘Doorstep’ – exceptional. ‘Flatlined’ is exhilarating. ‘Race Through Berlin’ sounds massive with three guitars but the band sound like their in tune and tighter than a packet of Rizla papers.
‘One Fool Down’ is anthemic like a heaving football crowd singing with arms aloft and the doo-wop of ‘Love The Love’ is making me smile having seen these boys grow over the years to this is nothing short of brilliant. I’ve seen a dozen shows in the last couple of weeks with some being magical and I went to this knowing it was going to be decent because I’ve seen them plenty of times but I wasn’t expecting them to sound this good and so full of energy and the new songs made me want to just get home and play the new album to death ‘Don’t Die Today’ – stunning and the set was brought to a stop with my favourite song ‘8.6 Days (All The Broken Hearts)’ simply stunning.
Tom returned to the stage accompanied by Alex for a heartfelt ‘Lighthouse Keeper’ before the rest of the band join them for a pulverising encore of ‘When This World Ends’ and the knees up and we’re out of Here ‘Bar Stool Preacher’ bringing the curtain down on a truly wonderful performance but one I felt was only them running to helf speed they are getting better the more shows they play and by the time you read this they’ll be in the good old US of A and as they burn rubber racing around the country they will shift through a few more gears and if you can I can’t recommend taking in a show enough. Sadly I can’t see a venue like Le Pub being big enough when they next give shit island a whirl it’ll be bigger venues I’m afraid but I’m glad I can say I was there.
As a side, it was fantastic to see the band give Gibbs the mic where he expressed his heartfelt thanks for their book drive where they encouraged fans to bring books to the shows to pass on to kids who can’t afford reading books and the stack of paper books at the back of the venue was truly inspirational from a band who give a shit to an audience who gets it Tiny Paws reading I’m sure I saw Bungle wandering off to the tour bus with a copy of Yma O Hyd I didnt know he could read Cymru but fair play. the Bar Stool Preachers are going places and this is just the beginning. What a fantastic night.
On 16th June Ferocious Dog proudly release ‘Live At Rock City’ CD on Graphite Records. ‘Live At Rock City’ was recorded in April 2022 on The Hope tour and features the band performing 29 songs.
On 16th June Ferocious Dog proudly release ‘Live At Rock City’ CD on Graphite Records. ‘Live At Rock City’ was recorded in April 2022 on The Hope tour and features the band performing 29 songs.
The studio version of ‘Broken Soldier’, taken from their critically acclaimed album ‘The Hope’, was originally released to raise awareness and money for Combat Stress, the UK’s leading charity for veterans’ mental health. For over a century, Combat Stress have helped former servicemen and women with mental health problems, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression.
Thought provoking and politically charged lyrics, seamlessly combining with dynamic and eclectic music – Ferocious Dog seem to have the knack of evolving their sound enough to pique your interest, without losing any of the sound or attitude that made you fall in love with them in the first place.
The album will also be available to download from all digital streaming services.
Following their Dogfest Festival in April, Ferocious Dog continue to take their music and message to the masses with further headline shows and festival appearances in 2023, including the A Beautiful Day Out and Rebellion festivals plus Wacken Open Air Festival in Germany.
Texan singer-songwriter Ryan Hamilton is tired of the Bad Breaks, ‘Bad Breaks’ is most definitely available digitally on all platforms from May 16.
“Dear music business executives. I have some things to get off my chest. Are you listening?…” So begins Ryan Hamilton’s latest single release, pissed-off and squaring-up firmly against a self-serving music industry.
Spin magazine has hailed Hamilton as one of the ‘35 Best Lesser Known Artists of The Last 35 years’, but owing to a calamitous series of events around the release of his latest album, it appears the gods of rock want it to stay that way.
Hamilton entered 2023 full of optimism, stating back in January, “I’ve been on the verge of tipping the proverbial scales for several years now. I’ve had some incredible people supporting and championing me. Now that all the pandemic-related road blocks are out of the way, it’s time.”
Nominated every year for the past fourteen for some kind of ‘Best New’ artist award, it felt like the elusive ‘next-level’ was finally within reach.
Originally slated for a March 10 release, ‘Haunted By The Holy Ghost’, Hamilton’s fourth record for Stevie Van Zandt’s ‘Wicked Cool’ label, had all the hallmarks of a career high. Advance reviews were uniformly giddy, Classic Rock magazine for one calling it ‘genius – one for the ages’. Then, days before the album’s release, it all turned to shit. A completely random check discovered that CDs of the album had entirely the wrong audio. A worldwide recall was hastily ordered.
Initially pushed back by over a month, in the week of its new release date, certain retailers inexplicably reported the album was delayed by a further week. And then by another. Completely in the dark, Hamilton was powerless to keep his loyal fan base appraised of the unraveling situation. Reports kept coming in of various pre-orders arriving in homes early and the album being displayed for sale in stores, such a stuttered release totally destroying Hamilton’s chances of emulating or eclipsing his previous multiple Top 10 Official UK Chart placings.
His response in the face of such adversity?…
To immediately write, record and schedule a stand-alone single directly addressing the music industry that has failed him so spectacularly. A brand new track/ single just weeks after releasing the latest album. It’s a bold move.
After the new album delays, manufacturing errors, the album leaking early… then getting delayed – and AGAIN! etc… I decided it was time to draw a line. Do something new, something completely different. Something that I had total control over. One suspects the opening guitar twang on the single doesn’t evoke Beck’s ‘Loser’ by accident, as Hamilton rails unto his audience, spoken word: “I am not a person to you. I am NOT a person to you. You are the Dealer and we are the addicts. You don’t need me. You have Harry Styles and Taylor Swift!” What do you think will be the industry response to the message behind the new single – (or should you even care?) I don’t know and I don’t care. Which is new territory for me. I think because I’ve been through so much shit with the “Industry” over the past several months – and years… and it’s gotten me nowhere… I really don’t care what they think. Truth is, they’ll probably just ignore me. Both Taylor Swift and Harry Styles get name-checked on the new single, what do you think they’ll make of it? They will never hear it. They live in the “super famous” bubble. They don’t visit us down here in Struggling Artist Land. The video for Bad Breaks looks like you’re taking a real beating… Yeah. Nothing like getting slapped in the face repeatedly! Especially when you have to do several takes. But it’s an accurate representation of the song, and how I’m feeling. Hamilton continues the song by championing the cause for better treatment and remuneration of “paycheck to paycheck” artists like himself (“your critical acclaim doesn’t fill my fridge, your awards don’t pay my bills”), positing: “Imagine movies – without music. Imagine television – without music. Imagine theatre… without music.”
Once finally out in the world ‘Haunted By The Holy Ghost’ was embraced by a hugely supportive audience (despite many CDs still carrying the wrong audio). Aware of at least a fraction of the lows (and lows) befalling Hamilton, several fans fighting on behalf of the underdog bought extra copies and gifted forward to friends. But with such a fractured release the album eventually staggered into the lower reaches of the Official UK Charts across several weeks, rather than have one big victorious birth.
For months you seemed to be on a roll promoting this album with hilarious videos highlighting the pitfalls you’ve struggled against in the music industry. Then a devastating cluster of cock-ups with your album led to it being delayed by nearly two months. Does it ever feel like someone’s playing a sick cosmic joke on you? I must have really pissed off the Music gods, because… DAMN! We had so many incredible things on the horizon. I turned in “Haunted By The Holy Ghost” over a year ago. We had been planning and promoting for a year. So, for it all to go to shit the way it has is pretty devastating as far as the hopes we had for the album. So, is this the way forward for you – writing, recording and self-releasing as often as you want, without ‘Industry’ interference/hindrance? Absolutely, 100%! I’ve been so beaten down by all the recent insanity, the only thing that makes me feel excited, or inspired, is escaping and doing things on my own. Does this mean plenty of new music on the horizon? It means an ABUNDANCE of it. I already have another album’s worth of material. You announced a ‘Farewell Tour – Part 1’, which was subsequently cancelled. More bad breaks?…
Yeah. You can’t make this shit up. Album delayed, Tour(s) cancelled. None of it within my control… but I’m the one paying the price for other people’s screw-ups. It’s inspired me to do things differently moving forward. It’s gonna be better. I believe it. Previous single ‘Asshole’, brilliantly released on Valentine’s Day, got the attention of the Darkness’ Justin Hawkins, humorously branding it as ‘career self-sabotage’. It must feel good to get recognition from your peers… Absolutely! Love that guy, and I love the way he operates. To have his support and hear someone I look up to praise a song like “Asshole” is amazing. On even cheerier news, you recently announced that your wife is expecting and that you’ll soon be first-time parents. Congratulations! Thank you. I didn’t think being a dad was in the cards for me. I’ve surprised myself by how excited I am about it. Hopefully no saccharine lullabies for the newborn – there’s been some real stinkers from rock-Dad’s over the years… Haha. ZERO chance of that happening from me. I think it will have a really interesting effect on my songwriting. But I guess we’ll find out soon enough. And presumably you’ll be advising your offspring AGAINST a career in the music business?… Haha. Nah, if they want to get into the Music Business, I’ll just be their Manager and use my wealth of knowledge on what NOT TO DO. And what of touring? Is it ‘farewell’?…
I just confirmed a House Party Tour for early next year. Yes, really. I’m headed to the UK to play in people’s living rooms. I’m tired of doing the same old thing that everyone else is doing. Time to mix it up, and reconnect with the incredible people who support me and my music. Finally, if you could give any advice to independent artists from your own experience, what would it be? Don’t worry about “big” shows or “big” tours. I’ve made that mistake, and been let down too many times. Focus on your craft, promote yourself online, or with a Newsletter (something I just started, and LOVE) … and really focus on becoming a better songwriter, or guitar player, or singer etc. Here’s to Bad Breaks ushering in a run of better luck for Hamilton
Imagine Bloodclot riffing on plenty of NYHC and throwing in some Cerebral Ballzy and the Drips for good measure. You can then press play on this fine record that is over in the blink of an eye. Proper old school hardcore. Heads down and play fast as fuck no bullshit no compromise no fuss.
Absolutely it’s a frantic ’n’ furious 13 minutes If it was any longer it would overstay its welcome – The Hell hail from Norfolk County, Cleveland, and this is their debut offering This shit is proper old school probably the most authentic mid-80s romp from the crows nest to CBGB and back again its that good. It’s relentlessly, pounding and raining earbombs on your skull that sound fresh as anything this genre has thrown up in a long while (Bloodclot probably). Ten songs fly by before you’ve even had the chance to fully get your head around what you’re hearing. If I had a gun at my head I’d say ‘National Razor’ is my Top of the pop then follow it up with the more measured and slower ‘One More Thing’ (partially slower anyway).
The band found each other due to some collision of stars or something like that having all been kicking around in underground bands but it now all makes sense because The Hell are tearing it up on this ferocious debut. It doesn’t matter what the song is called there isn’t time. what you do know when you play it is they feel memorable and fresh and vibrant and at the moment – this isn’t a nostalgia trip to a moment in time long long ago it’s 2023 and in your face enjoy it and turn it up.
You won’t hear a better Hardcore album all year anywhere and if you do, it’s gonna be one hell of a record to be better than this. Get on it! This is excellent from ‘Pistol Grip’ to ‘What A Laugh’ ten slabs of pure Hardcore gold.
Released in UK/ Europe via Drunken Sailor Records, Not For The Weak Records in the USA
Action Rock or Scandi Rock call it what you like – it’s alive and kicking (and screaming) as Dead Express will testify. With this album of loud guitars with some Garage punk rockin’ attitude Dead Express sing from the same Hymn sheet as the likes of Hellacopters and Gluecifer for starters and to be fair they do it really well.
‘Game Changer’ is the bands fourth album and I’d suggest you pull up a chez lounge and a couple of cold beers and get ready to sing along. Formed in Nyköping, Sweden. they’ve certainly not let the grass grow around their feet having produced albums consistantly with a sound DIY ethic the production is crisp and packs a punch.
The songs that come across the best are the ones with the big hooks either a riff or the gang vocals the opener ‘Roky’ has a good riff and the melody grabs your attention no doubt about it. ‘Hang Em High’ is one of the albums strongest songs. ‘Stinkin Rich’ is a badass tip of the hat to Angus and DC with a crisp riff. To be fair the Riffola is pretty relentless as the songs roll by and by the time you hit ‘Road Trippin’ with its fucked with ‘All The Day’ melody nicked from the Kinks and dragged through the dirt on the back of a drag car no doubt whist the band chug beers all the way. I dread to ask what ‘The Swamp Incident’ might be all about.
As the album screeches to a halt, there’s a track entitled ‘Method To My Madness’ – They couldn’t could they? Hell no is the answer to that, few some songs are sacrosanct and that might just be one of them. Their song of the Lord’s name is pretty decent as it wipes its snotty nose all over the song from the choppy riff to the punky melody and sing a long chorus it’s one of the best songs on offer.
This steaming rockin and rollin machine grinds to a halt with a balls to the wall all out rocker ‘The Naked Truth’ and then no doubt they all exploded into oblivion due to rockin so hard. If you want a full tilt sleazy Action Rock experience then Dead Express might just be the band you’re looking for otherwise step aside sucker because these cats aren’t stopping for anyone – they’re hellbound and outta control.
Short, stabbing blasts of lo-fi punk, recorded in the red, and unearthed after some years, Homicide Idols is an abrasive yet extremely satisfying listen. Get over the Lo-Fi sound (it hides a multitude of sins) it shows attitude and challenges the listener whether you like it or not. oh, and I guess it’s the ultimate punk rock sacrifice (just think endless nameless – everyone whose ever played that would love to hear it clean and not fucked). Influenced by the Germs to the mighty Dead Boys to the Reatards, this album has it covered with fuzzed-out, catchy guitar riffs and gravel-spitting vocals.
From the opening punk as fuck ‘Nothing To Me’ is like the Gaggers on 78 played through a biscuit tin. Choppy abrasive riff with a melody buried deep in the mix. I guess thats the bands modus operandi because ‘young, sick And Pissed’ is more of the same just played a little faster. If someone uncovered some Dee Dee Ramone demos under his bed then this is what they might just sound like.
I do love a bit of Lo-Fi and from the rattling snare intro of ‘Terminal Weekend’ I’m all in. I’ve invested my time in this and love it, The Johnyn Thunders guitar breaks are a joy and the fact it slams straight into ‘Dead End Life’ is a bonus. furious and fucked up – crack on gentlemen you’ve got your fingers on the pulse right here.
theres nothign original on offer here but some of these Riffs are sweet – take ‘I Want Blood’ it’s got energy and sounds like a speeding runaway train heading for the buffers and nobody gives a shit because we’re living in the moment and its rockin hard. The fact its barely fifteen minutes is no time at all and certainly not enough time to get bored of the thrashing about or low vocal. Hell on ‘you Got The Leather’ they even have time for a cool yet brief break down.
The album closer starts with a rapid Bass and drum workout (yup there is a bass guitar adding low end – I think) before thrashing off into oblivion covering the listener in gob and sweat whilst wearing a shit-eating grin. That album was a fuckin blast of unadulterated energy and fun and it just leaves time for me to say get on it and fuck them all this shit is da bomb!
The ying and yang of RPM Online as we offer the new video from PJ Harvey lifted from her forthcoming record and follow it up with something altogether louder. Anew song and video, “A Child’s Question, August,” with the announcement of her tenth studio album, ‘I Inside the Old Year Dying’.
The new album – Harvey’s first since 2016’s Grammy-nominated ‘The Hope Six Demolition Project’ – will be released on 7th July via Partisan Records. The album is produced by long-time collaborators Flood and John Parish. Today’s song release comes with a video, directed by Steve Gullick.
Next up is hard rockin mofo and all round good guy Stevie R Pierce & The Hooligans with the uncompromising hard hitting ‘Out Go The Lights’. don’t take our word for it watch the fuckin video and turn it UP!
The video was shot, at the Waterloo, Blackpool.. (voted by the people on Planet Rock as the UKs #1 venue!) .. Stevie says “it’s a second home to me. We’ve done a live album there, so it was kind of fitting. On the day they really bought the idea to life, with Lee Merrison’s pyrotechnics – the idea was to capture a Hooligans show- to walk around in it, to be up close and part of it. Energy and Attitude!”
JUNE/JULY 2023 TOUR DATES :
21/06 Bannermans, Edinburgh, W/ Holy Rude Vault and Main Primate http://t-s.co/st073
Having been under the weather for the previous few days and still suffering from an infection a very busy O2 Bristol gives Libertines, Babyshambles frontman Doherty a very warm welcome in the spacious environment for an “intimate” acoustic performance. Peter is accompanied onstage by his two rather large dogs who stroll on and make themselves comfortable making the whole thing quite surreal.
I can’t help but feel that playing this kind of show would work so much better in a small compact venue but then a fraction of the people would get in but that’s the way it goes, the O2 is impersonal and cavernous for a one-man acoustic show even if it was a treat to hear some gems played this way by a writer who has written some of the best songs and lyrics over the last few decades. Doherty is a genius and it felt a treat and a privilege to witness the man perform in this way. Whilst he might well have been playign to a set list it certainly didn’t feel that way as Peter meanders through the songs finding a comfortable pitch and easing his vocal into the set whist interacting with the audience as shouts go out for favourite songs and classic cuts this is loose as Dylan and Richards and Wood at live aid (go find it) its Libertines heavy in the opening exchanges, ‘Music When The Lights Go Out’ is very early in the set along with a couple of Babyshambles choice cuts with ‘Bollywood To Battersea’ working really well.
Mid set we were treated to a fantastic ramshackled ‘Can’t Stand Me Now’ where the audience found its voice and joined Doherty for the best song written by anyone in the UK for decades. As we headed into the homestraight and Peters voice was showing little signs of wear that had him postpone a show a few days earlier ‘Don’t Look Back’, ‘Time For Heroes’, ‘What Katie Did’ went down a treat before ‘Last Of The English Roses’ was aired along with a new song entitled ‘The Barons Claw’.
Possibly the best song of the night was an epic version of ‘French Dog Blues’ before ‘Albion’ kissed goodnight to a really chilled night out where I witnessed people jostling in the pit to a one man acoustic evening which was cool. To be fair I love his lyrics and I’ll take his music be it with a rock and roll band or ensemble of musicians as well as on his lonesome. Peter Doherty is a poet and one of the United Kingdoms finest songwriters and to him stripped bare like this was a real treat.
Recent Comments