With the brand new album ‘Beyond Everything’ being reviewed today, we thought we’d dedicate this week’s Rainy Days to ~Dion so here’s a little history lesson for the uninitiated and for those cool kids who knew – enjoy!
With a CV that name-checks both the legendary Auckland garage rockers the D4 and professional noise hitmen A Place to Bury Strangers, it is no surprise that Dion Lunadon’s solo offerings are so impressive and sonically abrasive.
Much like the debut, Dion’s follow-up Beyond Everything contains a vast genre appraisal of his career to date. Treating the listener to reams of heavy psych, post-punk, the dirtiest garage guitars, and even some Hammond organ, all delivered in a fresh captivating production that is a frenzy for the senses.
The record, although high quality and engaging are very sporadic in its delivery. In recent interviews, Dion has stated that the record has been written on and off since 2017. The overall package is a formidable one. Going from ‘one punch punk killers’ like By My Side and It’s The Truth to ‘Suicide style’ synth and distorted fury such as Elastic Diagnostic and Glass Doll, this album feels more like a series of EPs and 45s. Not to diminish any of the actual content. As with the first record, the compositions are provoking and make the hair stand on the back of your neck, it’s just not as uniform as album one. But in my book, this is a good thing, the experiments being thrown on the wall are rewarding for the listener, always exciting and balls to the wall, it’s also giving Dion a great reputation as a solo artist that can throw his hand at anything.
With too many to mention, stand-out tracks would have to be garage standard Living and Dying With You, smooth Stooges Esque mover and groover Screw Driver. But if you want something a bit special that will energise you and weird you out all at the same time, Nothing But My Skull is one to have on repeat this summer. With the tempo of Flipper and dirgey guitar and howls of Thurston Moore all wrapped up sounding like some bastardised alternative rock Wings number.
The album is certainly a journey, but one of tremendous highs and pleasing curveballs. Currently, on tour in the US, Mr. Lunadon is hitting the UK in November. Sadly only doing the all too familiar London-only gig. In the meantime let’s make some noise with this record and give him a reason to expand that date and turn it into a tour.
Buy Here
Author: Dan Kasm
Marc Valentine – ‘Death Is Overrated/Break My Heart Anyway’ (Arcane Wires Records) ‘Death Is Overrated’ c/w ‘Break My Heart Anyway’ is out This is his third solo single, ‘Death Is Overrated’ features special guess Wreckless Eric which both tracks are lifted from the superb solo album ‘Future Obscure’.
Marc said he wanted to release two tracks as a perfect taster to the album and show how varied the record is. The opener is a dreamy retro slice of power pop balladeering from Valentine, Exactly what you’d expect but to be fair its of the highest quality. The AA Side is more a party on your stereo as the band go for a steady backbeat and a real slice of sunshine Rock n Roll over a backdrop of perfectly labeled Summer trash pop! Wonderful track – Record of the week? It certainly is!
The Gong Rats – (I Want Some) Cereal’ (Dragstrip Records) What a banger. Plain and simple this is bullshit-free Punk Rock n Roll, Its Motorhead meets the Ramones with some twisted synth added for good measure. It’ll make you hungry for punk n roll if you diet on nothing but this noise. Rapid, energetic, beautiful noise is what it is.
Regardless of the wacky lyrics its got a bucket load of energy and that’s the point Feast on this
Chuck Norris Experiment – ‘All Your Bridges Are Burning’ (Bandcamp) A track that originally came out on their 7″ album – yeah? what of it? From sub-one minute to a full almost three minutes of hard rockin punk attitude loud rock and roll CNE are in the Club baby and they’ve brought their fleshed out big guns. It’s fair to say this ones is a banger, no-nonsense, Bullshit free Hard Rockin shit. CNE do it by the dozen. they simply don’t do bad records and one of our favourite Swedish exports are at it again. New music please gents you’ve had almost two years off now we want more loud guitars and we want them now and if they sound like this then play on! Now where did I leave my flame thrower? those Bridges aren’t going to burn themselves. Here
Dead Horse – ‘Hot Marty’ (Self Release) ‘Hot Martyr’ is the second EP from Dead Horse following up from their lockdown EP release ‘Dead Horse I’. It is also the first release featuring new Organ/Synth member Shallum Intonti. With its slow build-up before some cool horn honking it reminds me of Gallon Drunk in places with its brooding menacing undertones threatening to boil over but never quite breaking out. Excellent garage rock n roll now with added keys.
‘Choose’ adds a little psychosis to proceedings sounding a little unhinged is deffo a plus. ‘Snake Eyes’ adds some surf and is my pick of the pops on this splendid EP that gives it all in an exhausting five-song salvo of jittering, noisy, unhinged Garage Rock n Roll extravaganza. Play on please this is excellent. Pick it up off their Bandcamp page Here
As well as the digital release there is a limited edition run of 50 physical cassettes with four exclusive bonus tracks and a brand new Dead Horse Zine that has been specially created for the release
Gun – ‘Backstreet Brothers’ (Cherry Red Records) Glaswegian rockers GUN are back with a brand new album, ‘Calton Songs’ released on Cherry Red Records on 14 October 2022 and will be available on Cherry Red-coloured vinyl, CD, cassette and digital. ‘Calton Songs’ is a full-blooded celebration of the band’s career so far with enthusiastic and brand new acoustic reinterpretations of the songs that made their name and took GUN to the four corners of the world. These retooled classics are bolstered by the addition of the single ‘Backstreet Brothers’
The Recoils – ‘Breakdown EP’ (Coast Road Records) Sounding somewhere between a raw rough and ready Crazyhead and Early Nowhere League all wrapped up in a garage perfect sound this is something of a john peel wet dream as ‘Breakdown’ shows what its got right from the start – something of a banger from the barely “hanging on” verse. That raw guitar slashing away and the catchy punk rock n roll melody on the chorus is complete with the Diggle delicious guitar solo.
It’s old school and enjoyable just like it should be. Whilst the B side ‘Grifter’ rides the crest of a surf-like guitar lick. with some garage rockin vocals, this is a wicked tune with some synth fleshing out such a cool song. love how the guitar solo is hyper like a Cheetah Chrome lead break just because he can. As far as debut singles go this one is an absolute winner! Bandcamp / Website
The Special Bombs – ‘Punkrock Is Not Cool Anymore’ (SBÄM Records) Is punk rock still cool? What was celebrated as a lifestyle by millions of kids back then has now become a small scene for the 30+ generation. You could say that it’s normal and that no generation has ever heard the songs of their parents. You could… You could also say that it is normal when people “grow up” their enthusiasm for music and subculture decreases. You could…You could also refuse to accept “the normal”
Mudfight – ‘Another Boy’ (SBÄM Records) Another Boy is the second single from Mudfight’s forthcoming debut album Time For Revolution. Anthemic Pop Punk leaning heavily on Green Day vibes makes for a pretty decent single – Don’t take my word for it hit the video link.
Black Star Riders – ‘Better Than Saturday Night’ (Earache Records) from the new album ‘Wrong Side of Paradise’, this is an upbeat slice of dueling distorted 70s Rock with a fair dose of hard rockin’ power-pop with undertones of Suzi Quattro meets Sweet. It’s an Excellent single, full of that summer sunshine rock and roll but with a modern twist. Anthemic and Glittery stomping Rock n Roll (if there’s such a genre this is it) out 20th January 2023 from Here. At the same time you could book for one of the dates on their extensive jaunt around the UK and Ireland around the albums release.
Rebel Priest – ‘Lesson In Love’ (Batcave Records / Thundermoose Entertainment) I just had to include this because I don’t know if I secretly love it or am horrified. I think they might have been trapped in a Batcave since 1986 and only just escaped suck is their image and those post NWOBHM riffs and the finger tapping rapid solo it’s retro alright but is it ironic or are they ahead of the next curve? My brain is fried I know that much. Flesh, Facial hair, flash bombs (probably), booze, boobs, and battered eardrums. Bang your head and throw them horns in the air Rebel Preist are coming to a dive bar near you and they’re bringing the R-O-C-K.
Fusion metal pioneers Dub War have released a new video for their latest single “Vibes In The Place”, the third track to be taken from their first album of all-new material in over 25 years, ‘Westgate Under Fire’.
The hip-hop infused metal track sees fellow Newport resident and good friend of the band Mikee “KRUPA” Gregory take on frenetic drumming duties, whilst groove-heavy distorted guitars propel the track forward alongside frontman Benji Webbe’s (Skindred) rhythmic and powerful vocals. As with the singles that have come before it, the track is a consummate insight into the band’s ability to traverse multiple styles and genres, whilst nurturing a sound which is distinctively their own.
Speaking on the new video, Webbe says, “This particular song was mixed by the late great Rick Will (Incubus, Grinspoon). For the “Vibes In The Place” video, we wanted to have fun (as much fun as we had making the song!) and it’s another incredible video created by the genius Aran Webster. Add this one to your Saturday night party playlist!”
Going on to speak about the track Webbe says, “Vibes In The Place was one of the first songs we wrote when we got back in a room together. It features that old little Yamaha ha ha ha ha keyboard that we use live right up to this day. What’s particularly special about this song is that a massive friend and fan mixed this track – Mr Rick Will. Rick was down to mix the whole album but due to one thing or the other we went with Richard Jackson.
For me this song is inspired by Talking Heads – I’m sure many will say ‘what are you on about’, but for me it’s definitely got a flavour of David Byrne (I guess it’s the part where I say ‘hold the door’!)
“Vibes In The Place” definitely captured Dub War from back in the day – this track is one of the songs we actually wrote with a drummer in the room, Mikee “KRUPA” Gregory.
This song captures the live element of Dub War and once it’s known by the ‘War lovers, it will for sure be a live favourite..
Sadly after mixing this song, Rick Will past away… So this is a track that means so much to me, Jeff and Richie.”
The new track follows the release of Dub War’s rousing ragga-punk cover of the Max Romeo and the Upsetters’ classic “War Inna Babylon”, which features guest vocals from the legendary Ranking Roger of The Beat in his last ever recording before his sad passing in 2019.
The band also announced their return with a single titled “Blackkk Man“. Released in the midst of the celebration of Black History Month in the US last month, “Blackkk Man” is a furious revolt against racism and a bleak reflection of crucial events from this decade in particular, including the murder of George Floyd. The accompanying lyric video, compiled and edited by Aran Webster, serves to drive the critical message contained in the lyricism of “Blackkk Man” further, putting society’s outrageous double standards in plain sight via news footage and articles.
“Blackkk Man” and their latest singles “War Inna Babylon” and “Vibes In The Place” launch Dub War back into the industry as the band who turned heads with their groundbreaking genre-bending once more. Alongside these potent punk rock-laced track, ‘Westgate Under Fire’ offers up dance infused metal, ragga-punk and sinister metal with exotic beats.
A band born and raised in Newport, ‘Westgate Under Fire’ shines a light on a crucial event in their hometown’s history, the Newport Uprising. An event which would play a role in transforming democracy in Britain and the world, the uprising in 1839 saw thousands from the Chartist movement march through south Wales, seeking social reform, including the right for men of all classes to vote. The marches ended in a bloody battle at the Westgate Hotel, which saw many of the Chartists dead or wounded. ‘Westgate Under Fire’ aims to embody the empowerment that Chartists took upon themselves and coincides with the local community resurrecting the derelict Westgate Hotel into an exciting new venue.
‘Westgate Under Fire’ is available for pre-order worldwide on signed, limited edition coloured vinyl, black vinyl, signed CD and limited cassette at earache.com/dubwar. Due for release 5th August 2022.
LISTEN BACK TO BOB IN SESSION FOR JOHN KENNEDY ON RADIO X HERE
NEW LIVE EP, THE OCEAN,
OUT NOW ON MERGE RECORDS
his eagerly anticipated Solo Electric: Distortion & Blue Hearts! Tour having previously taken the show on the road across the US and Canada earlier this year. Kicking off at Brighton‘s Concorde 2 on June 9th and running through July 1st at Whelan’s in Dublin, these dates are Mould’s first on this side of the pond since the release of both his critically acclaimed 2020 album Blue Hearts on Merge Records, as well as his solo career-encompassing Distortion boxset series, available now on Demon Music Group. Catch a show across Mould’s nearly month-long UK/Ireland residency and you can expect to hear solo takes on classics from across his beloved solo back catalogue, from his iconic time with Hüsker Dü and right through to Blue Hearts. Support on all dates comes from ascendant UK singer-songwriter Katie Malco.
Of the upcoming dates, Mould says: “I’m looking forward to the upcoming Solo Electric shows in the UK and Ireland. I’m excited to be performing songs from 2020’s Blue Hearts, as well as revisiting the prior 40 years of my songbook.”
Ahead of his UK dates, Mould recently appeared in session on John Kennedy‘s Radio X show to perform a series of tracks from across his career: ‘Makes No Sense At All‘ (from Hüsker Dü’s 1985 LP Flip Your Wig), ‘Hoover Dam‘ (from Sugar‘s 1992 opus Copper Blue), ‘The Descent‘ (from his revelatory 2012 solo set Silver Age) and ‘The Ocean‘ (from Blue Hearts). Listen back to the session and interview in full here.
UK/IE tour dates:
June 9th | Brighton, UK – Concorde 2
June 10th | Ramsgate, UK – Ramsgate Music Hall SOLD OUT
June 12th | Birmingham, UK – The Mill
June 13th | Southampton, UK – Engine Rooms
June 14th | Oxford, UK – Oxford O2 Academy 2
June 16th | London, UK – Islington Assembly Hall
June 17th Nottingham, UK – Rescue Rooms
June 18th | Stoke-on-Trent, UK – The Sugarmill
June 20th | Bristol, UK – Thekla
June 22nd | Glasgow, UK – Oran Mor SOLD OUT
June 23rd | Newcastle, UK – Riverside
June 24th | Liverpool, UK – Arts Club
June 25th | Leeds, UK – Brudenell Social Club
June 27th | Chester, UK – The Live Rooms
June 28th | Cardiff, UK – The Globe
June 30th | Belfast, UK – Limelight 2
July 1st | Dublin, IE – Whelan’s SOLD OUT
Tickets for all shows available at https://bobmould.com/tour/
Can you carry your own weight in beer? Do you think legendary merch seller PK can do it after two long years of the road? To find out, check out The Good The Bad and The Zugly’s new music video. Diet 1-2-3!
Taken from their fantastic new record out now on Damaged Goods Records ‘Back In Mono – B-Sides & Outtakes’ available on 10” and CD which is out now on Damaged Goods
The Courettes continue their tour tonight at The Moth Club, Hackney with support from The Shadracks.
The remaining dates are….
8 June London The Moth
9 June Brighton The Albert
10 June Middlesbrough Westgarth Social Club
11 June Glasgow McChuills
12 June Edinburgh Voodoo Rooms Ballroom
14 June Newcastle The Cluny
15 June Liverpool Zanzibar
16 June Manchester Night & Day
17 June Folkestone Chambers
18 June Southend The Moonraker
Tickets available here.
The gang are back, just in time for summer. Perhaps ironically, it all kicks off with lead single ‘Murder The Summer Of Love’, a typically punchy but slick opener. ‘Young Drunks, Old Alcoholics’ if anything, would have been a better choice, hook-laden with a sleazy solo.
‘Derelict Palace’ is reminiscent of a mid-paced Lords song, especially the bass line and hanging chords. Here, Monroe has never sounded better, I have to wonder if he was thinking of Stiv at the time of recording. ‘All Fighter’ starts off like The Damned’s ‘Ignite’, no bad thing, obviously. “Sing it all for the hopeless and rejected”, there’s no resting on laurels just yet.
‘Everybody’s Nobody’ is the story of a “Coulda been a contender” musician. Hmm, I think a lot of us know the feeling. ‘Antisocialite’ is the inevitable, piano-led ballad, but, to his credit, cheesy cliches are avoided and it sounds like he means it.
You might already have heard ‘Can’t Stop Falling Apart’ via the video, another fine singalong number. ‘Pagan Prayer’ is a timely, full-speed-ahead rocker, bound to be great live.
The title track comes with a guest solo from Slash. I guess that will appeal to some, and I understand it helps shift units, but the band is great regardless of guest appearances, as is the song. ‘Dearly Departed’ A somber note to end on, but remains moving, nonetheless. It’s unlike anything else on the album, and a brave choice.
Since ‘Sensory Overdrive’, all Monroe’s albums have been solid, some more exciting than others and all have some real belters. This album shows the band’s strengths to good effect. I have a preference for the rockers, but you’ve got to respect his canon of work. And I look forward to seeing them take the roof off a venue somewhere soon.
With I Live Too Fast To Die Young, it is clear Michael Monroe is striding into the summer with a triumphant roar to offer you the real rock ‘n’ roll escape of 2022. It’s been way too long. Besides Nobody does sleazy Rock and Roll better than Michael Monroe that’s a fact!
I Live Too Fast To Die Young’ will be available on CD Digipak, 12” Red Vinyl, Signed Limited Edition 12” Vinyl with Alternative Artwork, Digital Download, Streaming and special D2C bundles. Available to pre-order Here
Author: Martin Chamarette
Follow Michael Monroe:
www.facebook.com/michaelmonroeofficial
www.twitter.com/michaelmonroe
www.instagram.com/michaelmonroeofficial
www.michaelmonroe.com/web/
German Hardcore punks in Christmas are coming for a small tour to the UK. It’s the first time they’re touring the UK with their new album “Hot Nights In Saint Vandal”, which was released in 2020 by TNS Records.
The band is delivering 40 minutes of sweat, blood and energy each night!
06.23.2022 – Stockwell – The Queens Head
06.24.2022 – Abertillery – Slugfest
06.25.2022 – Brighton – The Cowley Club
“The album opens with a track that is so full of life and boundless energy that it’s ridiculous. ‘Father Time’ has a hook that will light up the joy endorphins of Wildhearts fans and anyone who loves a bit of loud Slade-like melodies”. Now that opening blurb got the juices flowing. Slade and The Wildhearts in the same sentence, Wow!- It is indeed a Rockin way to open up the new album. A rousing sing-song with guitar licks and thrills that are the equivalent of a fire-breather at the circus. Giz Butt is throwing out the shapes left right and center and all around him are layers of gang vocals belting out the sing-song like it’s New years eve – oh, it’s also got some bonkers guitar breaks for good measure. The band gets their riff on for ‘Rollin With The Punches’ and marches right through your speakers. Giz Butt is on fire (like you weren’t expecting that?)
The record sounds more accomplished than ‘Angel In The Flames’ it has the feel of a band that is or has gelled and their creative juices have been overflowing. It’s hard and heavy on tracks like ‘I Don’t Want Your Sympathy’ with Giz leaning heavily on more melody in the vocals, I’d also suggest that the department of vocals has gotten stronger here with every sinew of the vocal chord being pushed to the limit on this bruising tune.
It’s a real riff-a-rama of an album with songs like ‘One More Ghost’ with its big chorus and the vocals are lush enough to break into America surely? ‘Clusterfuck’ is cheeky enough to not offend the odd Gammon with a great verse that thrashes and bashes around on the verses before heading down a dark path on the chorus you’ll be nodding along and then singing along before the second chorus – guarantee it. I think the album flows better than its predecessor which is all we can ask for from the bands we love. Progress and ‘FYBF’ certainly does that. Pound for pound and song for song this is a grower no doubt about it.
‘Mariana Trench’ has boundless energy as it gallops by on its hooky melody that digs in and burrows in. ‘Stick’ will please and draw in a new audience of classic rockers from its thick end bass thump to the assured riff to the almost spoken verse. Punch the air and bang your head it’s all good fun. Stick around because ‘My Culling’ rocks as well like a runaway monster truck it’s got some welly and resists adding big gang vocals on the chorus and just hunkers down like a good deep cut should echoing some of that Thin Lizzy spirit locked in its DNA.
Hell, Have we reached the end? With just the qwerky ‘Shoot Me If I Don’t Have The Right’ isn’t a traditional ballad but more an atmospheric opening verse that builds for the first ninety seconds before shifting gears but in a restrained manner – a song Dave Grohl would possibly write. Janus Stark clearly spent lockdowns honing their craft and writing some great songs that flow as an album and cross style and genres with style and quality. Buy It!
Buy Here / Time & Matter
Facebook /
Author: Dom Daley
JANUS STARK ‘FACE YOU BIGGEST FEAR’ 2022 TOUR
JULY
22: London, 100 Club – ALBUM LAUNCH PARTY
(with Dealing with Damage / Spring Park / Healthy Junkies)
TICKETS: Here
23: Leeds, Santiago Bar
(with Healthy Junkies / Articulate Outburst)
TICKETS: https://ticketsource.co.uk/songsofpreysgigs/janus-stark-live-in-leeds-with-healthy-junkies-and-articulate-outburst/e-pykzxo
29: Stamford, Mama Liz’s – Rebellion Warm Up
(with Spring Park / Laserchrist / Misinformed)
TICKETS: https://wegottickets.com/event/547370
AUGUST
04: Blackpool, Rebellion Festival
TICKETS: https://rebellion.keekmerch.com/
19: Luton, The Castle Tavern
TICKETS: https://facebook.com/Thecastlelive/
20: Corby Clubhouse Music Venue (Unity Festival)
TICKETS: FREE Supporting British Red Cross Ukraine Appeal, MIND Northants & Project 1615 Homeless Charity Sponsored by Unite The Union Northants Central
SEPTEMBER
03: Liverpool, The Outpost
TICKETS: https://skiddle.com/e/36086643
08: Canterbury, The Lady Luck
TICKETS: https://theladyluck.co.uk/
17: Stamford, Mama Liz’s (Scary Clown Presents)
(with Midwich Cuckoos / All Fall Down / Top Left Club)
TICKETS: https://thescaryclownpresents.co.uk/product/janus-stark-mama-lizs-tickets/
OCTOBER
13: Grantham, The Nobody Inn
TICKETS: https://facebook.com/nobodyinn/
14: Gateshead, The Black Bull
TICKETS: https://theblackbullvenue.co.uk/
15: Aberdeen, Krakatoa
TICKETS: https://krakatoa.bar/
27: Edinburgh, Bannermans
TICKETS: https://tickets-scotland.com//venues.html?event_method=viewevent&event_id=aa7b79cc-ba65-11ec-bee6-068a576e08fe
28: Glasgow, Nice and Sleazy
TICKETS: http://t-s.co/janu1
29: Dundee, Beat Generator Live, (Punktober Festival)
(with Left For Dead / Loaded 44)
TICKETS: punktoberfestdundee.bigcartel.com
NOVEMBER
05: Pontypool, The Dragonffli
(With The Mighty Human Generator / Masenko)
TICKETS: https://facebook.com/Thedragonffli/
17: Bristol, The Crofters Rights
(with The Diaz Brothers / Nosebleed)
TICKETS: https://eventbrite.co.uk/e/janus-stark-diaz-brothers-nosebleed-at-the-crofters-rights-bristol-tickets-339587253617
18: TBA in September (Cambridgeshire)
(with The Diaz Brothers / Nosebleed)
19: Bradford Tapestry
(with The Diaz Brothers / Nosebleed)
TICKETS: https://ticketsource.co.uk/songsofpreysgigs
20: Newcastle, Little Building
(with The Diaz Brothers / Nosebleed)
TICKETS: https://ticketsource.co.uk/songsofpreysgigs
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