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THE HARD-ONS – NEW VIDEO FOR  “RIDE TO THE STATION” AND US TOUR – WITH POISON IDEA’S JERRY A ON LEAD VOCALS! 

THE HARD-ONS – NEW VIDEO FOR  “RIDE TO THE STATION” AND US TOUR – WITH POISON IDEA’S JERRY A ON LEAD VOCALS! 

THE HARD-ONS RELEASE NEW VIDEO FOR SINGLE “RIDE TO THE STATION” AND ANNOUNCE US TOUR – WITH POISON IDEA’S JERRY A ON LEAD VOCALS! 

NEWS FOLLOWS MASSIVE 40TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR AND ‘BEST DOCUMENTARY’ PRIZE FOR
THE MOST AUSTRALIAN BAND EVER AT THE LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL PUNK FILM FESTIVAL

The Hard-Ons have followed a massive 2024 with the release of the new video for “Ride To The Station” – the single take from their new album I Like You A Lot Getting Older – and the announcement a May/June US tour with old friend Jerry A of legendary Portland punks Poison Idea!

The “Ride To The Station” video was produced by Sydney based studio Kapow Pictures. Director Mark Gravas has said, “I have been a fan of the band for almost 40 years. We have produced several videos in the past for The Hard-Ons and were very happy to produce this one for their 40th anniversary. I was inspired by my favourite zombie film ‘Train to Busan’ and my own experiences on public transport. We animated the video using Quill a software primarily used in VR.”

Kapow has also produced a poster of the video which is available to purchase on their website.

The US tour with Jerry A from Poison Idea on guest lead vocals will see The Hard-Ons joining the heavy weight double bill of Napalm Death and the Melvins for shows across the Mid-West and Western states in the USA. The complete run of dates is listed below.

The Hard-Ons first toured with Poison Idea back in the late ’80s, and first recorded with Jerry A as guest vocalist back in 1993 – Jerry wrote and sung the track “The Blade” on their Too Far Gone album. The track recently resurfaced on Jerry’s solo album From The Fire Into The Water. The Hard-Ons are set to release an album with Jerry on vocals later in 2025.   

In addition to the new album, 2024 saw The Hard-Ons celebrating their 40th anniversary with extensive European and Australian tours and enjoying numerous screenings of (and international acclaim – including the ‘Best Documentary’ prize at the International LA Punk Film Festival 2024 – for) their feature length documentary, The Most Australian Band Ever, directed by Jonathan J. Sequeira for production companies Living Eyes and Play Vintage.

I Like You A Lot Getting Older was the third album by the band’s current line-up of Blackie, Murray, Ray and Tim, and follows 2021’s ARIA top 5 debuting I’m Sorry Sir, That Riff’s Been Taken and 2023’s the Top 30 debuting Ripper ’23. 



The Hard-Ons’ first two shows for 2025 are February 8 at Selinas in Sydney with the Hoodoo Gurus and February 14 at Mary’s Underground in Sydney with NZ’s rocking The D4.

Buy I Like You A Lot Getting Older via Cheersquad Bandcamp 
https://cheersquadrecordstapes.bandcamp.com/album/i-like-you-a-lot-getting-older

Buy/stream via digital providers
https://bfan.link/i-like-you-a-lot-getting-older

For more info on the feature documentary, The Most Australian Band Ever, go to
www.livingeyes.com.au

The Hard-Ons (with Jerry A) appear as guests of Napalm Death and the Melvins as part of their Savage Imperial Death March Part II tour at the following shows:
May 22 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue 
May 23 – Des Moines, IA @ Wooly’s
May 24 – Kansas City, MO @ Madrid Theatre
May 25 – Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
May 27 – Denver, CO @ Summit
May 29 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Music Hall
May 31 – Bozeman, MT @ The ELM
June 1 – Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory Spokane
June 2 Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
June 3 – Portland, OR @ Revolution Hall
June 4 – Eugene, OR @ McDonald Theatre
June 6 – Reno, NV @ Virginia Street Brewhouse
June 7 – Berkeley, CA @ Cornerstone Berkeley

The Daniel James Gang – ‘Darkness Over This Town’ (Rum Bar Records)

The Daniel James Gang – ‘Darkness Over This Town’ (Rum Bar Records)

Indonesian Junk mainman Daniel James releases a four-track EP in January 2025 and I’m all over it like a cheap suit. Of Course, it’s lo-fi down n dirty street punk Rock n Roll because that’s simply what Daniel does and does it better than most. Opening with the title track its got its feet straddling the Replacements meet Thunders Rock n Roll camps with a healthy dose of Roots Rock n Roll thrown into the mix as well as (it would seem) a great knowledge and love of more punky further reaching music, but more of that later. The opener reminds me of Scott Sorry and Mike Ness for the gravelly vocals giving it large with an excellent melody that just flows in the kinda way Jesse Malin does.

‘Misery’ is the kinda laid-back sloppy Rock n Roll with the tortured vocals laying their truth out there for the world to hear. The song meanders carefree with some great guitar breaks emphasising the song beyond a style and the gang vocals are killer. ‘Lies’ injects a much quicker tempo offering some sprightly punk rock n roll, not trying to be clever or original it’s just a good time honest really well-written punk n roll and played with heart and soul. It’s short and sweet and lands a hefty punch. Daniel Is a really good songwriter be it as a solo band or with Indonesian Junk. All roads on this EP lead to the cover of the New Model Army classic ‘The Hunt’ sure it’s never going to be better but as far as interpretations go its captured the energy and power that Sullivan conveys in the original yet its got enough of its own style going on whilst not trying to be clever. A great song is a great song and this is right up there and this version is pretty damn good.

Exactly what a great EP should be – some new music, great original tunes and a cover that raises an eyebrow but in a good way. The Daniel James Gang delivers an excellent bite-size new record to kick 2025 off in style. I recommend you dive in a give it a go because you won’t be disappointed the guy is a talent and you might just discover your new favourite band. Buy It!

Pup announce tour dates with a brand new video

Pup announce tour dates with a brand new video

PUP SHARE FIRST SINGLE IN TWO YEARS

“PARANOID” OUT NOW

ANNOUNCE UK & EU HEADLINE TOUR FOR MAY

Toronto punk heroes PUP – comprised of Stefan Babcock, Nestor Chumak, Zack Mykula, and Steve Sladkowski – released their fourth album, THE UNRAVELING OF PUPTHEBAND, in 2022.


The album earned PUP universal acclaim, countless Top 10 Billboard chart positions including #1 Heatseekers, Top New Artists Albums and Alternative New Artist Albums, and a slew of sold-out shows across the globe. They’re keeping it going with an arena tour on home turf in support of Sum 41 that kicks off tomorrow night, so to celebrate they return today with a new single. The explosive, John Congleton-produced track “Paranoid” is out now, and marks PUP’s first new release in two years. 

Stefan Babcock says of the new single: “My favourite part of this song is the breakdown 1:45 in. Whenever we try and do a heavy breakdown with catchy vocals we end up sounding like the world’s worst melodic hardcore band. But somehow it worked on this song. I think because it’s so intense in that moment that it’s actually kind of funny and a bit hard to take seriously. There’s some humour in that and how it plays against what I’m yelling about in a way I really like. Plus Nestor plays the melody from ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’ on the bass at the heaviest moment in the song which really cracks me up every time I hear it.”

“Paranoid” is accompanied by an ingenious, whipsmart music video by long-time PUP collaborator Jeremy Schaulin-Rioux, who said: “What started out as a way to keep the bruising and heartbreaking lyrics to ‘Paranoid’ front and centre turned into a little love letter for rock band merchandise and the unsung heroes who run the merch table. Special thanks to co-director Clem Hoeney and all the real PUP fans who came out and went so hard for a hundred takes!”


The band are also launching their MORE BAD STUFF – A PUPTHEBAND Substack. A reincarnation of the band’s zine series PUPTHEZINE, this Substack will be an ongoing digital version or, as they like to call it, “PUPTHEBAND’S brand new digital hellscape.” They will use it to post unreleased songs, discuss the writing process, play-through tracks, and to share comics, old photos, live recordings, tour stories and more. The first two posts, featuring the original 4-song EP of pre-PUP band Topanga and some Built To Spill covers by Stefan, are out now.

SIGN UP FOR “MORE BAD STUFF – APUPTHEBAND SUBSTACK” HERE 



And to follow on from their sold-out dates with Jimmy Eat World here at the tail-end of last year, PUP also announce their return to UK and EU shores for a headline tour in May with full dates listed below.

For the EU/UK dates, the band will take Illuminati Hotties along as their main support (all shows excluding Spain) and Goo will additionally join for the UK run.

Go to www.puptheband.com for all on sale and ticketing information.

Canada:

10/01/2025 – Victoria, BC @ Save On Foods Memorial Centre
11/01/2025 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena
13/01/2025 – Kelowna, BC @ Prospera Place
16/01/2025 – Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome
17/01/2025 – Edmonton, AB @ Rogers Place
18/01/2025 – Saskatoon, SK @ Sasktel Centre
20/01/2025 – Winnipeg, MB @ Canada Life Place
23/01/2025 – St. Catharines, ON @ Meridian Centre
24/01/2025 – Ottawa, ON @ Canadian Tire Centre
25/01/2025 – Laval, QC @ Place Bell
27/01/2025 – London, ON @ Budweiser Gardens
28/01/2025 – Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena
30/01/2025 – Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena

UK and EU:

07/05/2025 – Birmingham, UK @ XOYO Birmingham
08/05/2025 – Leeds, UK @ Project House
10/05/2025 – Manchester, UK @ O2 Ritz
11/05/2025 – Glasgow, UK @ SWG3 (TV Studio)
12/05/2025 – Newcastle, UK @ Newcastle University
13/05/2025 – Bristol, UK @ Marble Factory
15/05/2025 – Southampton, UK @ Engine Rooms
16/05/2025 – London, UK @ O2 Forum Kentish Town
18/05/2025 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Melkweg
20/05/2025 – Cologne, Germany @ Club Volta
21/05/2025 – Hamburg, Germany @ Logo
22/05/2025 – Berlin, Germany @ Hole44
23/05/2025 – Munich, Germany @ Strom
25/05/2025 – Paris, France @ Bellevilloise
27/05/2025 – Madrid, Spain @ Sala Mon
28/05/2025 – Barcelona, Spain @ Upload
29/05/2025 – València, Spain @ Loco Club
30/05/2025 – San Sebastian, Spain @ Dabadaba​​​​​​

The Electric Shakes – ‘Ten Years In Overdrive’ (Self Release)

The Electric Shakes – ‘Ten Years In Overdrive’ (Self Release)

An EP always slips through the cracks, and goes undetected on the RPM radar and The Electric Shakes certainly falls into that category so the time has come to put it right. Released in 2024 the ‘Ten Years In Overdrive’ EP is here to testify that the UK can shake its shit up there with the best garage rock available anywhere on the planet.

From the off, your groove is on mofos ‘Breaking Me Loose’ is a sub-five-minute exhibition that what the mighty Thee Hypnotics didn’t fall on deaf ears with its strutting riff giving it large in time-honoured fashion is a smart and precise opener that sets the tone for some pretty impressive ROCK!

Riding on a groove that swings like billy big bollocks ‘Make It Last’ demands you turn up the stereo then when it’s loud enough to hear the windows rattle you’re good to go. With a spot-on production that embraces the old but also sounds modern and fresh it’s a toe-tapper for sure. Clocking in at a smudge over seven minutes won’t put you off once the guitars lock in and we have take off the mid-song breakdown with sing a long made for the live shows vocal is the signal to build into a whig ou frenzy that you can feel brooding. It reminds me in places of the early Datsuns records it’s certainly got elements of that in its DNA which is never a bad thing. ‘White Wine Psychosis’ is the real high point of the EP with an intro to rival some Bon era DC with the lick on that fuzzed-out geetah but it veers off with a psychedelic melody that is far removed from DC and into some pretty wicked MC5 territory and that’s always a good place to be. It’s got an attitude that compliments the music on offer and that’s what should raise it above other contenders.

The EP finishes with another bruising six-minute plus romp, ‘Take The Lid Off My Darkness,’ a song that doesn’t feel almost seven minutes long. I do like the split of the guitars, with one hypnotizing the listener while the other constantly jabs at your eardrums. Get your groove on, kids, and let some Electric Shakes into your collection. I can promise you won’t regret it—buy It!

Buy Here

Author: Dom Daley

BOB MOULD – NEW ALBUM, ;HERE WE GO CRAZY’, OUT MAR 7th

BOB MOULD – NEW ALBUM, ;HERE WE GO CRAZY’, OUT MAR 7th

‘HERE WE GO CRAZY’, OUT MAR 7th ON GRANARY MUSIC/BMG RECORDS

LEGENDARY SINGER-SONGWRITER ANNOUNCES 15th SOLO ALBUM AND FIRST NEW ALBUM IN OVER FOUR YEARS

LEAD SINGLE, ‘HERE WE GO CRAZY’, OUT NOW

Bob Mould is celebrating the new year with the announcement of a long-awaited new studio album. Here We Go Crazy arrives via Granary Music/BMG Records on Friday, March 7th. Pre-orders are available now for standard vinyl, limited-edition coloured vinyl, limited-edition t-shirts, CD, bundles, and more.

Mould’s 15th solo album and first full length new album in more than four years, Here We Go Crazy – which follows 2020’s critically acclaimed Blue Hearts – is heralded by today’s premiere of the lead single and title track, ‘Here We Go Crazy‘, available everywhere now. An official music video is streaming now via YouTube.

“I’ve been spending time in the Southern California desert over the past few years, and the video was shot there. Chilly wilderness atop a mountain, expansive vistas below the hills, distant places to escape life’s routines,” Mould says, “’Going crazy’ can be many different things. The joy of reckless abandon, the uncertainty of the world’s future, the silence of solitude.”


Pre-order the album here: https://rr.lnk.to/HWGCAlbum

Produced by Mould at Chicago, IL’s famed Electrical Audio in early 2024 and then finished and mixed at Oakland, CA’s Tiny Telephone with longtime collaborator Beau Sorenson engineering, Here We Go Crazy – which once again features backing by the crack rhythm section of drummer Jon Wurster and bassist Jason Narducy – sees the legendary singer-songwriter on a set of 11 bracing new songs.

“On the surface, this is a group of straightforward guitar pop songs. I’m refining my primary sound and style through simplicity, brevity, and clarity,” Mould says. “Under the hood, there’s a number of contrasting themes. Control and chaos, hypervigilance and helplessness, uncertainly and unconditional love.”

Mould and band (drummer Jon Wurster and bassist Jason Narducy) will mark the arrival of Here We Go Crazy with US headline dates getting underway April 1st at San Diego, CA’s Music Box SD and then traveling through mid-May. Highlights include stops at venues including Pioneertown, CA’s Pappy & Harriet’s (April 2nd), San Francisco, CA’s The Fillmore (April 5th), Seattle, WA’s Neptune Theatre (April 7th), St. Paul, MN’s Palace Theatre (April 19th), Chicago, IL’s Metro (April 25th-26th), Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club (May 2nd), New York City’s Le Poisson Rouge (May 3rd), and Washington, DC’s Black Cat (May 7th). For complete details and ticket information, please visit bobmould.com/#tour and please find a full touring itinerary further below.

For more info on Bob Mould, head to: www.bobmould.com

Midlife Crisis – ’45 to 33′ (Wild Kingdom Records)

Midlife Crisis – ’45 to 33′ (Wild Kingdom Records)

You might well be sitting there wondering why is he getting his knickers in a twist over this Midlife Crisis album well, let me take you back to the previous website I wrote for where I did the singles club round-ups, when a certain 45 landed featuring members from iconic bands such as The Hellacopters, Maryslim, Backyard Babies, Crimson Shadows, and Mike Monroe Band, offering a unique blend of punk rock n roll outta Sweden I got very interested. When the needle dropped I got a little bit more excited at what I heard. The bands complete output was a smattering of limited edition 7″ vinyl EPs, making this a highly anticipated album indeed fo anyone who indulges in some dark underground punk rock n roll like Moir.

It also Includes guest backing vocals by Danny Furious from the legendary punk band The Avengers and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, adding further punk credibility. Theres even time for a UK Subs classic ‘Same Thing’, titled ‘Samma Sak’. Oh now you’re interested. The album kicks off in style with the anthemic ‘Sick Of You’ which had me thinking was it really twenty years ago they recorded this? My God how time flies.

The band went on to release three more EPs (the latest one in 2018). Now, everything is being released on a most welcome long-playing 12″ via Wild Kingdom Records. ‘The American In Me’ lashes its flag to the mast of Turbonegro and MC5 and thunders along but then so does ‘Cranked Up Really High’ What a fuckin barn burner.

The album flows really well and considering its twenty twenty-plus years old you’d never tell, it sounds like it could have been written and recorded yesterday, simply the energy they capture is awesome. I’d love to think we’d get the chance to see a live show over here on shit island UK but I won’t hold my breath. Covering the Subs in their native tongue is cool and fits right in. It’s all pretty uptempo and sleazy none more so than the groovy ‘Here I Go And Here I Am’ complete with handclaps. The band absolutely nails the sound on the guitars it’s the perfect Steve Jones crunch with the Keith swagger while the production leans towards the classic MC5 production, especially in the vocals, which is never a bad thing.

‘Shitty Shitty Bang Bang’ is the penultimate whig out with that warm fuzz on the guitar waiting for the chorus to throw some beers around and sing along with more than a hint toward Ron Ashton and his TV Eye on you. Leaving only ‘Bye Bye Hey Hey Hey’ to kick this mother home in style. Every ones a banger with the energy of the national grid Midlife Crisis has finally delivered the album they always promised. Don’t hesitate, don’t sleep on this one get out there and pre-order with your nans Christmas record tokens if you buy one album in 2025 already then make it ’45 to 33′ you simply have to. Buy It!

PRE-ORDER links (feel free to spread):
 https://orcd.co/midlife-crisis-album

Author: Dom Daley

Its A Revolution – Podcast Episode 53

Its A Revolution – Podcast Episode 53

Well, it’s 2025 and after a hiatus through December due to health issues of one kind or another and the festive season which took its toll we kick off a new year with an epic extended episode. With a whole bunch of new songs from new albums as well as a few welcome classics there’s much to be getting on with.

We kick off in style with a track from the mighty Lucifer Star Machine and their recent single ‘Baby Outlaw’ lifted from their last album ‘Satanic Age’. We did record an episode in December but sadly it got eaten by my dog or that’s my excuse. The track list will forever be a secret and the exclusive songs we had will forever be locked in the RPM vault, a secret never to be revealed. We did however offer a track for the sadly departed frontman Bjørn Muller who passed away recently and it felt right to play a track on this episode to remember the fallen Rocker so ‘Too Cool For You’ from Backstreet Girls is track number two on this episode.

Next up we play a single lifted from the excellent Frankie And The Studs album that was reviewed last week by Gerald, and follow that up with one from Carol Hodge and her new album ‘ Effortless Insecurity’. Another album from 2024 that really impressed me was from the band Rowdy so it seems fair to drop ‘Just The Tip’ from that debut album into the playlist for this episode. another day another fine record released by the always impressive indie label Drunken Sailor Records who also released some of the best albums of 2024 and I’m sure will uncover some of the best in 2025 (long may it continue).

Now we always say on the show how there aren’t enough bands that reach us from countries that always have healthy live shows like Spain, Italy and Germany so it’s always great when bands like Idol Lips, or Smalltown Tigers break through onto our radar and joining these are Weirdolls also from Italy with a great song ‘Reputations’ from their ‘Almost Unbreakable Toys’ album that has one of the finest album artwork of the year no question great power pop from Italy.

Former Trash Brat Tony Romeo & The Creampies are up next with a track from their I-94 Records single ‘Autumn Song’ quickly followed by an excellent track from the brand new CJ Wildheart album ‘Slots’, ‘Another Big Mistake’. The guy is on fire on the new album and the good news is he’s already done the follow up so if it’s half as good as Slots then 2025 is shaping up to be a fantastic year for fans of CJs.

Some new music for 2025 next in the shape of MC-16 and the opening track ‘Shoot Em Up’ lifted off their debut album ‘Machine Code’ which is released on Feb 14th.

A band I’ve long admired outta Milwaukee – Indonesian Junk and the lead vocalist is a guy called Daniel James not to be confused with the Leeds forward it’s not a side hustle honest, anyway, Daniel has an EP about to come out this month called ‘Darkness Over This Town’ so it’s only right we air that title track from The Daniel James Gang for your listening pleasure.

Another album that came out in 2024 on Ghost Highway Records was The Volcanics. These Australian rockers delivered an excellent album in the shape of ‘Volatile World’ in 2024, The band are heading to Spain in Feb for some live shows and it’s a shame they aren’t heading further afield for some live action but until they do you can head over to Ghost Highway and pick up the record, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

Next up on the show we head to Frankfurt then Denmark for some punk rock in the capable hands of The Pill and their track ‘Hollywood Smile’ quickly followed by Big Mess and this week’s cover being Lou Reed’s ‘Hangin Round’ from their excellent album ‘Cleaning Up With…’ delivering some superb power pop.

Another German band this time in the shape of Nazi Dogs who have just or about to release a new single so still out there doing what they do on Wanda Records and Deadbeat Records. Another recent release from Drunken Sailor Records is the 7″ from Patrol who do a fine line in NWOBHM mixed with some power pop and punk rock a combo that we heartily back here at RPM Online and as our good friend Johnny noted they remind him (quite rightly) of Norways Razorbats who also do this style very well. The track is ‘Cold Blood’ and is a chance for you do put on your studded wristbands and high tops and bang that mullet like there’s nobody watching you solo in your mam’s bedroom mirror.

LA still delivers some fine music and this next record is from the excellent Teenage Frames and a track of their last October release ‘Everything Leads To This’ entitled ‘Fighting The World’, it’s always good to hear Teenage Frames and this is top-notch as you’d expect.

Hands down one of the best-named bands currently kicking up a fuss is The Mary TylerWhores and the new album ‘Savage World’ is apt in 2025 so it seemed like a good time to play the title track ‘Savage World’.

Newport South Wales has a rich history of underground music and always delivering the goods, from TJs to Le Pub its a town that has a rich history from Nirvana to Joe Strummer a place that’s had the Misfits and recently hosted sick of it all and Split Dogs so with locals garage punks Deathtraps dropping their latest EP it’s the perfect time to air a track from ‘The Lust For Likes’ and keep the ferocious level of quality going.

It can’t always be crash, bang, wallop there has to come a point where you give your ears and heart a chance to recalibrate and calm down so it seemed like a great opportunity to play a track from Richard Davies & The Dissidents who as it happens have a new album out next month entitled ‘High Times And Misdemeanours’ and the album opens with the excellent slice of Rock n Roll named ‘Keep Your Fire Burning’. An album that is heading for release is the brand new one from The Hellacopters which is always going to be a much-anticipated record so before the release and the RPM review why not whet the appetite with ‘Wrong Face On’ the first song we’ve aired from ‘Overdriver’ due for release this month.

Keeping it ScandiRock, A recent album that was reviewed on RPM was that of Spiders who released the album ‘Sharp Objects’ which was the first album I reviewed in 2025 so it seems right to offer up the opening trace off it called ‘Rock n Roll Band’ I’m sure you’ll agree it’s soaked in classic 70s Glam rock with a modern twist.

I recently had a conversation about the band The Disconnects from New Jersey and whatever happened to frontman Ryan and it tied in with a conversation about how our phones are listening to our conversations which led me to believe this theory because the same day I was sent to a youtube channel from a guy calling himself Ryan Kidd the human B Side and low and behold My old pal from Jersey was on my TV screen airing classic punk n power pop b sides so I reached out and reconnected with him to find that he has since released an album on his own label and a couple of demos as well as a brand new album that will hopefully see the light of day in 2025 and we can get him on the podcast with his knowledge of a genre we love. so it has to be a track from his 2023 demo tape ‘Degenerate from Ryan Kidd.

The penultimate song on this Episode is from Switzerland I believe and a long overdue return from The Peacocks who released a brand new long player in November of 2024 and this is the lead track entitled ‘Nowhere’.

Closing this mammoth episode is a new song from the forthcoming album on Spaghetty Town Records from Mala Vista entitled ‘Don’t Owe You’. the band hails from the NYC and does punk rock n roll 77-style and do it very well. Being on Spaghetty Town is like a seal of quality assurance so it should need no introduction but closing this first episode of 2025 on a high is a must so Mala Vista has that HONOUR. So lets keep it a ‘Fun Time’ and let these NYC punks rock us outta here, so until next time keep it RPM Online.

Amplifier Returns with Eighth Studio Album, ‘Gargantuan’

Amplifier Returns with Eighth Studio Album, ‘Gargantuan’

Due for release April 4th via Rockosmos Records

New single ‘Invader’ out now!

Amplifier Official Website and Merchandise

British progressive rock band Amplifier announces the release of their eighth studio album, Gargantuan, a testament to the band’s enduring creativity and evolving sound.

Gargantuan marks a new chapter for Amplifier, now a duo featuring Sel Balamir and Matt Brobin. Born from late-night jams in a secluded Sussex smithy, the album sees the band return to their roots, embracing a raw, electric energy while pushing sonic boundaries.

“In good conscience, I could hardly go there and fire up a Marshall stack at 2 am,” says Balamir. “Matt plays louder and harder than anyone else I know, so we irresistibly ended up going down the route of pure electricity.”

The result is an album that’s both expansive and intimate, featuring intricate soundscapes, thunderous riffs, and poignant reflections. From the driving opener “Gateway” to the dark, melodic “King Kong” and the poignant closer “Long Road,” Gargantuan showcases Amplifier’s signature blend of progressive rock and experimental sounds.

“If you look at the back catalogue, it’s very varied,” says Balamir. “The band has never been tied into one thing… We’ve never fitted into any of those moments. But that’s good – don’t be wiped out by the asteroid.”

Gargantuan is not just a collection of songs; it’s a journey through the band’s evolution, reflecting on their past while embracing the future. Recorded using a unique headphone-based approach, the album captures a raw energy and spontaneity that’s both captivating and exhilarating.

Today, Amplifier have let loose a new single and video for the track ‘Invader’; a pulsating, monolithic melodically charged wall of sound that demonstrates exactly where the band are at right now. 

“I think ‘Invader’ is an Amplifier classic in the making. It’s got that raw energy of ‘Motorhead’ or ‘Open Up’, but with a haunting twist,” says Balamir. “The juxtaposition of the major melody and minor chords creates a really unsettling vibe. We pushed ourselves to capture that feeling in the video, which was quite an intense experience! The song is dark and heavy, and we wanted the visuals to match that intensity. 12 hours and countless strobe flashes later, we got what we needed. I don’t think I’ll be volunteering for another video shoot like that anytime soon!”

Amplifier will embark on a UK tour in support of Gargantuan in March and April 2025, their first ever as a two-piece. These dates promise an explosive live experience, showcasing the band’s renewed energy and passion for pushing musical boundaries.

Gargantuan will be released on April 4th, 2025 via Rockosmos Records

Catch Amplifier live at the following dates:

March 6th – Stourport Civic

March 20th – Newcastle – Cluny 2

March 21st – Glasgow – Audio

March 22nd – Lancaster – Gregsons Hall

March 28th – Leeds – Hyde Park Book Club

March 29th – Sheffield – Sidney & Matilda’s

April 4th – London – Hope & Anchor

April 5th – Bristol – Louisiana

April 11th – Northampton – The Black Prince

April 12th – Manchester – AATMA

April 18th – Birmingham – Sunflower Lounge

April 19th – Cardiff – Fuel Rock Club

April 25th – Brighton & Hove – The Brunswick

April 26th – Ramsgate – Music Hall

May 2nd – Leicester – The Soundhouse

May 3rd – Cambridge – The Portland Arms

May 11th – Bournemouth – The Bear Cave

Find Amplifier online at: Amplifier Official Website and Merchandise

Spiders – ‘Sharp Objects’ (Wild Kingdom Records)

Spiders – ‘Sharp Objects’ (Wild Kingdom Records)

Founded in 2012, Spiders quickly made their mark with their debut album Flash Point and continued to build their reputation with follow-ups Shake Electric (2014) and Killer Machine (2018). So not an overnight success by any means these glam rockers hark back to the classic 70s sound with everything being larger than life, bombastic, big time and grande Glam. the solos are retro and full-on. Having Chips Kiesbye
(The Hellacopters, Sator, The Nomads) on board to produce is inspired and it adds another level of kudos to proceedings.

Vocalist Ann-Sofie Hoyles lays down the line in the sand on opener ‘Rock n Roll Band’ and they don’t look back from there. ‘Sweet Boy’ is a dirty riff that is a down n dirty slowed down Ramones groove with the velvet touch of Debbie Harry. The melody is addictive and the groove is classic. In contrast they turn up the dial for an all out rocker on ‘Whats Your Game (Miss Insane)’. The album meanders from street tough classic Alice Cooper (‘Fun In The Sun’) with huge chorus’ and cool groove to the Stonesy ‘Schizoid’ where they dabble with some darker rock n roll with a hint of ‘Gimme Shelter’.

There’s a familiarity with the songs like a well worn pair of stack boots they are stomping all over the turntable and throwing the best party in town. they can kick back as well like on the wall of sound. Soft song for tough guys in ‘Valentines’ before heading off into a galaxy far far away with ‘Life Mission’ baby it’s totally groovy baby and I like it, I like it a lot.

Having enjoyed this album so much its time to dive in to their back catalogue to see how we got here. what a fantastic way to start 2025 with an album packed with tunes, top tunes arranged magnificently kissing the past and kicking it into the 21st century. Get into ‘Sharp Objects’ but be careful not to cut yourself these tunes are razor sharp. Check em out.

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Author: Dom Daley


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Prophets Of Addiction – ‘Face The Music'(Bravewords Records)

Prophets Of Addiction – ‘Face The Music'(Bravewords Records)

Frontman Lesli Sanders put the band together in 2010 after finding sobriety, which he attributes to, “It was time for a change, time to get back to being me, time to make music, Time to make those people who cared proud, time to put a smile back on my face.”  The band released their debut effort, ‘Babylon Boulevard’ via Cargo Records UK the following year. but it’s taken him to the tail end of 2024 to find where he’s really at and deliver the album of his life.

Fast forward to 2024 and Sanders is back in the saddle and has his Prophets Of Addiction ready cocked and loaded. Kicking things off with ‘Flavor of the Danger’ is a more gentle less bombastic opener but the familiar raspy vocals are present and correct and the tone is set for the brand new album. They’re not reinventing the wheel here just rolling with it and drawing on a lifetime’s worth of tales and musical influences – having said that its mainly the 70s glam rockers and the offshoots that are the bass of the music with a darker edge coming to the front on ‘Let’s Get High’.  That darker softer edge continues through the reflective ‘Slipping Away’.

The band turn up the amps on ‘Walk The World’ with a really good production giving the overall big studio feel with the guitars cutting through a strong melody. Halfway through the album, we’re met with a sped up take on the Rod Stewart classic ‘Maggie May’ now there’s nothing wrong with the cover, the playing is on point but I do wonder why? Sure it’s a great song been covered to death but not quite sure it fits in here and besides I’d have preferred to hear another original song but maybe it’s just me here.

Onwards and upwards ‘Superhero’ is up next and a summery rocker with a nod to being a commercial hit the song builds well to the chorus and when it reaches the solo it sort of collides well all around with a top arrangement making for an all-round top tune. The songs keep flowing and the level of quality is high making it the best record Lesli has made thus far in his career. The gritty ‘I Want You To Know’ then followed by the smooth ‘Hollywood’ delving back in time to a laid-back Dogs’D’Amour feel and again maintaining the great songwriting and all-round production values that tap into the groove of the song and complement it really well.

To be fair on repeated plays this record gets stronger as it goes and the last few songs are possibly the strongest on offer sounding like the lyrics are Lesli wearing his heart on his sleeve and coming across as authentic and just in love with rock n roll and that’s always a great place to be. This is a record the band should be proud of stacked with honest rockers n chart toppers Prophets of Addiction might not get to stadium-filling levels but they delivered a really strong album that’s true and honest and well good. Never mind taking me to your leader just take me to the bar where these cats are paying and I’ll have the best damn time rockin out. Check it out!

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Author: Dom Daley