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COCKNEY REJECTS ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM ‘POWER GRAB’ TO BE RELEASED OCTOBER 28TH VIA CADIZ MUSIC

COCKNEY REJECTS ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM ‘POWER GRAB’ TO BE RELEASED OCTOBER 28TH VIA CADIZ MUSIC

Power Grab is the ninth studio album from terrace rock legends the Cockney Rejects. Pre Order Here Bosh!

Having created the ‘Street punk’ phenomenon with their EMI released debut album ‘Greatest Hits Volume One’ in 1979 and its eponymous follow up, ‘Greatest Hits Volume Two’ in 1980, the band shifted direction to their preferred hard rock leanings with the Pete Way produced ‘The Wild Ones’ in 1982, to much critical acclaim. After the ‘Lethal’ album in 1990 the band called it a day, exhausted by the ‘Hooligan Rock’ accusations and the lack of live work. In 1999 they enlisted new bass player Tony ‘Van’ Frater and drummer Andrew Laing, and now a touring tour de force they played to ecstatic audiences all over the world and released several albums right until Tony’s untimely death in 2015.

After much soul searching, the band recruited former bass player Vinny Riordan (from the band’s classic first line-up) and powerhouse drummer Joe Perry Sansome (from Reigning Days) and the boys hit the road again, to even more rabid response than before. Then came covid, and like many thousands of bands the world over, they reluctantly had to down tools. Never a band to rest on their laurels, Mick and Jeff began to write, and the band spent long weekends in the studio with producer Kevin Poree creating their finest, and possibly last, studio album, ‘Power Grab.’

And what an album it is. It’s the culmination of 43 years on the road and in the studio (“it’s a microcosm of everything we have learned and loved since 1979,” says guitarist Mick Geggus) resulting in the most cohesive work they have ever done. From their fledgling Punk days to their Rock heyday, it’s all here; the hooks, heartfelt lyrics, searing guitar work and thunderous rhythm section, all in one package. From the gentle, acoustic intro to the blistering Punk snarl of the opener, ‘We were never bothered’ through the mighty title track, to the closer ‘MUG’, there isn’t any filler here- in fact the band jettisoned some six songs to make this collection the most vibrant and vital thing they have ever created.

“It’s 40+ years rolled into one. It’s the culmination of evolution. Everything is on this album” states drummer Joe Sansome.

At the end of 2023 the Cockney Rejects will be retiring from the touring scene. They will leave behind a legacy matched by very few of their contemporaries. Catch them while you still can. And listen to ‘Power Grab’- It’s what Rock ‘N ’Roll SHOULD sound like. The caged beast. And something so alive it hurts. If this indeed is going to be their swansong, they couldn’t go out on a bigger high.

Find the Cockney Rejects Here Bosh!

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JIM JONES ALL STARS ANNOUNCE DEBUT SINGLE ‘IT’S YOUR VOODOO WORKING’ AND LIVE DATES INCLUDING SPECIAL HALLOWEEN LONDON GIG

JIM JONES ALL STARS ANNOUNCE DEBUT SINGLE ‘IT’S YOUR VOODOO WORKING’ AND LIVE DATES INCLUDING SPECIAL HALLOWEEN LONDON GIG

The explosive new project from the warped musical mind of rock’n’roll evangelist Jim Jones kicks up several gears!

Following their rapturously received shows across the UK and Europe, Jim Jones All Stars have announced details of their debut single and live dates including a special Halloween hometown gig.

‘It’s Your Voodoo Working’ – originally recorded by Charles Sheffield – is released on 7th October via Ako-Lite Records and will be available via all major download and streaming services. Recorded earlier this year at Memphis Magnetic Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, this thick slice of greasy R’n’B is fuelled by grinding rhythms, rude horns and augmented by guest vocalist Nicki Hill.

Says Jim Jones: “Exciting times! This will be first blood for both Jim Jones All Stars and Ako-Lite Records – and ‘It’s Your Voodoo Working’ is the perfect addition to any Halloween playlist.”

To celebrate the release of ‘It’s Your Voodoo Working’, Jim Jones All Stars will play a special Halloween show at the Walthamstow Trades Hall in London on Saturday, 29th October. This is the band’s first indoor London headline show since February. With a license extension and after party until 1am, Jim Jones All Stars will be joined by variety of special guests. The full line up will be announced soon.

Speaking of the gig, Jim Jones says: “It feels great to be back on home turf. The last London show sold out well in advance, so this time we’ve got a bigger venue. It’s a Saturday night and with buses and tubes running well after closing, this is going to be one hell of a Halloween!

“This is the one you’ve been waiting for!”

Jim Jones All Stars also play The Golden Lion in Bristol on 14th October.

October dates

14 – Bristol, The Golden Lion

https://www.headfirstbristol.co.uk/whats-on/the-golden-lion/fri-14-oct-the-jim-jones-all-stars-79872

29 – London, Walthamstow Trades Hall

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jim-jones-all-stars-halloween-special-tickets-427270616917

Skid Row – ‘The Gangs All Here’ (Absolute Records)

Skid Row – ‘The Gangs All Here’ (Absolute Records)

We all know about Skid Row’s past. I’m not going over old roads that’s been run over a million times because there are way too many potholes to avoid. All we need to focus on is the fact that Skid Row have put out their strongest album since the Slave to the Grind days. New vocalist Erik Gronwall has stamped himself all over the album and this means that there is a huge step up in quality. I really can’t emphasise enough how good he is.

This new opus is called The Gang’s All Here and the album cover with the five band members sporting matching stars and stripes leather jackets, shows a united front (well, back actually) and it really feels that Skid Row will at last lose the Sebastian Bach shaped shadow that has loomed over them for so long. The current line up of Dave Sabo, Rachel Bolan, Scotti Hill, Gronwall, and drummer Rob Hammersmith really are a juggernaut of classic metal. The album really gels as a whole and the crystal-clear production from Nick Raskulinecz ensures that the songs leap from the speakers with a newfound energy that the other incarnations of Skid Row have struggled to achieve.

The album opens with Hell or Highwater, it’s a perfect introduction with ex H.E.A.T. man Gronwall spitting out the lyrics and hitting some incredible high notes. The band really seem to have a new lease of life, there are crunchy, heavy riffs everywhere with more hooks than Leatherface’s butchering room. The title track gives a cheeky nod to Tricky Little Vicky who first appeared in the band’s 1989 song Rattlesnake Shake. Not Dead Yet is an up-tempo affair with another ear worm of a chorus, the band sound like they are having the time of their lives here, a real highlight of the album. I can imagine beaming smiles all round during the recording process.

Time Bomb is a down tuned monster with an absolute beast of a riff that Iommi would be proud of. Resurrected sounds like a band that have been just that. They really have been born again with this line up, strong songs, superb performances, and a real throwback to when the band were at their best. Nowhere Fast is another barnstormer with some great guitar work from Sabo and Hill. The album closes with World on Fire which is no doubt a hint to the last few years we have all experienced, as well as the environmental disasters that seem to be more and more frequent.

I really think that this incarnation of the band will be the most successful since the Bach heydays. Miss this album at your peril. The band are touring the UK and Europe from Oct 19th and judging by a few YouTube punters videos that I checked out before sitting down to review this album, they will be a force to be reckoned with live.

Sebastian who?

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Author: Kenny Kendrick

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Therapy? Announce UK Tour Dates

Therapy? Announce UK Tour Dates

Bringing a mix of songs from their back catalogue as well as a few unheard gems from their forthcoming album, Therapy? will be hitting the road this November with stops in Plymouth, Falmouth, Dover, Bournemouth, Guildford, Swansea and Swindon. 


Of the newly announced live run, Therapy? say:
“This tour will be very different to our last few tours, we are playing places and venues that we have not played for a very, very long time or indeed before at all. As well as going back to places ‘from our past’ we will also be going back to songs from our past. We will have a totally different setlist to that we had on the ‘Greatest Hits’ tour. We will be picking songs from our old catalogues as well as a few from our forthcoming new album. It will be loud and noisy, and may well be the last time that we play some of these songs. So come along to hear the old, the new and the noisy… and be aware that these shows will be much more up close and personal!”


Since 1990 and the self-release of their debut single “Meat Abstract”, Therapy? Have lived through the troubles, a peace process, seven record labels, three drummers and a cellist. They’ve witness the widespread use of the mobile phone, a personal computer in every home, the internet, the introduction of WiFi, a single European currency, the rise and fall of baggy, grunge, britpop, nu metal and emo, released fifteen albums and sold in excess of three million records, had hit singles, collaborated with a myriad of artists including Ozzy Osbourne and David Holmes, toured the world many times and played countless live shows.


Amongst all this cacophony they have continued to plough their singular vision with determination and wit, all while making friends in the process. Celebrating their 30th anniversary with the release of ‘Greatest Hits (2020 Versions)’, an album of very special recordings made at the legendary Abbey Road Studios with producer Chris Sheldon (Troublegum, Semi-Detached, Cleave), Therapy? also marked the occasion with a Greatest Hits tour earlier this year. Released via Marshall Records in 2020, the album saw Therapy? Grace the UK Top 40 once more and was accompanied by an official biography of the band written by Simon Young a few months later. 
*****
THERAPY? UK TOUR 2022
10 Nov – Depo, Plymouth

11 Nov – Princess Pavilions, Falmouth

17 Nov – Booking Hall, Dover

18 Nov – Sound Circus, Bournemouth

19 Nov – Casino, Guildford

20 Nov – Sin City, Swansea

03 Dec – Level 3, Swindon

FOR MORE INFORMATION & tickets : Here

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HOT HOT HEAT ANNOUNCE ‘MAKE UP THE BREAKDOWN’: DELUXE EDITION

HOT HOT HEAT ANNOUNCE ‘MAKE UP THE BREAKDOWN’: DELUXE EDITION

THE NEWLY EXPANDED/REMASTERED 20th ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF THE BAND’S BELOVED FULL-LENGTH DEBUT

PRE-ORDER HERE: 
https://ffm.to/makeupthebreakdown

Hot Hot Heat’s Make Up The Breakdown: Deluxe Edition is the newly remastered and expanded version of the group’s breakthrough full-length and will be available again on vinyl, just in time for the 20th Anniversary of its release, on Friday, December 2nd, 2022 from Sub Pop.
Make Up The Breakdown was produced by Jack Endino (Nirvana, Soundgarden, Sonic Youth) at Vancouver, BC’s Mushroom Studios with additional engineering and mixing from former Death Cab for Cutie member Chris Walla at The Hall of Justice in Seattle, and released on October 8th, 2002 as a ten-track album.

Brian Tamborello, circa 2012 



For this deluxe edition, Make Up The Breakdown has been expanded to twelve tracks and now includes ‘Apt. 101‘ and ‘Move On‘, two tracks only previously available with a UK-only single for ‘Bandages‘.

Make Up The Breakdown earned praise from the likes of AllMusic, who called the album “an addictive, densely packed pop gem that ranks among 2002’s best albums,” and Pitchfork agreed, including it at no. 20 on “The 50 Best Albums of 2002.” The official videos for ‘Bandages‘ and ‘Talk to Me, Dance With Me‘ saw regular airplay on MTV. Meanwhile the singles saw huge support at Alternative Radio, with both songs going to no. 1 at the KROQ in Los Angeles.

Make Up The Breakdown: Deluxe Edition is available now to preorder from Sub Pop. LP preorders from megamart.subpop.com, select independent stores in North America, the U.K., and E.U., will receive the limited Loser edition on yellow vinyl.

Kid Kapichi – ‘Here’s What You Could Have Won’ (Spinefarm Records)

Kid Kapichi – ‘Here’s What You Could Have Won’ (Spinefarm Records)

A subtle variation on the title of this sophomore release from Hastings four-piece Kid Kapichi (made up of Ben Beetham on guitars, vocals, Eddie Lewis on bass, George Macdonald on drums and Jack Wilson on vocals, guitars) will already be known by some of us of a certain age as the catchphrase from an 80s gameshow called Bullseye. Said gameshow would end with the pair reaching the show’s finale asked if they would like to keep the prizes they had already won or risk it all on a six dart 101 or more shit or bust scenario, for a super, (smashing, great,) star prize that would only be revealed once the outcome of the challenge was known.  As you can probably guess (if you’ve never actually seen the show) said catchphrase was uttered more than it wasn’t and as such it left the failing contestants open to humiliation by TV as they saw their dream of a new car, caravan or new kitchen hauled off in front of their tear-filled eyes. Not unlike maybe, a few of those who voted Tory at the last UK general election must now be feeling.

Yes, I just mentioned politics folks, so if you prefer your music devoid of conscience you best look away now.

I actually first heard Kid Kapichi at the start of 2022 via the single and lead track here ‘New England’, largely because it features a mid-song rap tirade from the highly respected Bob Vylan, and after that opening blow to the senses, I was well and truly hooked and couldn’t wait to hear the full album. Bouncing in like a ‘We Care A Lot’ for the 2020s ‘New England’ is indeed a righteous sound. Punk as fuck yet not in your normally gnarly guitar driven sense. Nah, this bad boy swaggers around full of electro rap attitude and dares to tell those who campaigned for Britain to leave the EU what they have actually achieved. I’ll leave the rest for you to figure out.

After this explosive opener the remaining ten tracks that make up the album could have actually  been something of an anti-climax, but fear not folks, its only when the almost Oasis-like ‘Party At Number 10’ (an acoustic ode to the Partygate farce that basically saw the UK government laughing in the face of the entire country) pops up at track five that you actually get to draw breath, as the likes of ‘I.N.V.U’, ‘5 Days On (2 Days Off), ‘Rob The Supermarket’ and the immense ‘Super Soaker’ are all fist in the air anthems, delivered in vicious bite sized chunks of hook laden electro-beat punk.

‘Cops & Robbers’, which crops up mid album is perhaps my favourite track here, fusing the spirit of Tone Loc with the dancefloor anarchy of The Prodigy, it actually also reminds me of The Howling the band Towers Of London guitarist Rev formed after he left them and then guested on guitar with the twisted firestarters. 

It’s not all-party anthems though as the once again Oasis-like ‘Never Really Had You’ proves and if it were 1997 this track would have been instantly labelled Britpop rather than simply a top tune, and hats exactly what ‘Here’s What You Could Have Won’ is jam packed full of, as the closing one-two suckerpunch of the heavy as hell ‘Smash The Gaff’ and the ballad about working class poverty and its impact on mental health ‘Special’ (a song which has flashes of the 60s psych pop-end of early Blur) prove.

Expertly produced by Dom Craik from Nothing But Thieves ‘Here’s What You Could Have Won’ is indeed the musical equivalent of the 101 in six darts being hit during an episode of Bullseye. A middle finger to the establishment that so wants us all to fail, and a wakeup call for a music scene seemingly devoid of soul.

So, save up all your bus fare home and snap up a copy of ‘Here’s What You Could Have Won’ NOW!

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Author: Johnny Hayward

2 for Tuesday

2 for Tuesday

Basel’s finest punk-rocker “Bitch Queens” have a brand new song & video out called “Recycled Youth”. 
It’s the first single of the upcoming EP “Party Hard(ly)” which will be out October 28th on vinyl. 


The five new tracks will also be available on a CD Deluxe Edition together with the latest album “Custom Dystopia” which was only released on vinyl so far. 


Go and have a listen to the probably most versatile “Bitch Queens” release ever! Buy Here

Dutch label Music on Vinyl is reissuing The Posies “Frosting on the Beater” October 7. The Omnivore reissues were unfortunately limited by Universal Music to North American distribution only – so if you live in Europe and missed out, this will be in stores this week! 180 gram audiophile double LP. Want to know more? Follow @theposies on Instagram, check their latest post! 

Also, Ken Stringfellow will debut new songs and revisit his work The Posies, including previously unreleased material, in an online show live Sunday October 16, 2022 at noon Seattle/3pm NYC/9pm Amsterdam or streaming for 24 hours if you can’t tune in live. Want to know more? Follow @kenstringfellow on Instagram and check the link in his bio.

Tony Wright – ‘The Anti-Album’ (Graphite Records)

Tony Wright – ‘The Anti-Album’ (Graphite Records)

Usually seen bouncing around on stages singing about whales & dolphins and the benefits of tequila, Terrorvision frontman Tony Wright travels a much more melancholy path when it comes to his solo albums. With Terrorvision being a part time concern these days and his printing studio/coffee shop Bloomfield Square in Otley keeping him busy, Tony still finds time to record solos albums and tour acoustically with his faithful sidekick/Terrorvision keyboard player Milly Evans.

Following his 2014 debut solo album ‘Thoughts n’ All’ and the follow up 2016 album ‘Walnut Dash’, Tony releases a third solo album, written during lockdown, entitled ‘The Anti-Album’ that sees the singer take a more honest and darker approach following being locked up with just a guitar, a bunch of songs and nowhere to go.

‘The Anti-Album’ is a lo-fi, stripped back and largely acoustic affair that sees the singer questioning life, love and faith. Musically it sees Tony explore the Country & West Yorkshire vibes that were prevalent on the ‘Grand Ole Otley’ covers album he did with Texan singer/songwriter Ryan Hamilton a few years back.

Over the ten tracks on offer there is a sense of reflective melancholia, more than a few home truths and a need to escape the harsh realities of life. Album opener ‘Sleep’ seems to say it all. With a simple bass drum beat and an acoustic riff that hints at the MASH theme ‘Suicide Is Painless’, all Tony wants is to turn off the lights and sleep all his troubles away.

Next, we have a pair of tracks that exude spaghetti western vibes, aching desolation and soul searching. ‘Nothing To Write Home About’ is a tale of unremarkable small-town existence. Love, heartbreak and divorce is a familiar tale to most, yet here in this context it completely enraptures the listener. The following ‘Get It Wrong’ creates a dramatic and desolate mood with its country twang and heartfelt passionate vocal delivery. It sees the singer questioning his ability to tame that old beast we call love. It builds nicely over a stripped back sound that creates an expansive, almost cinematic vibe. Stunning stuff indeed.

Of the three singles released so far, ‘Dreaming I’m In Love’ is the stand out for me. Tyla-esque heartfelt balladry at its best. With heart on sleeve, Tony delivers a tune that proves one man armed with just an acoustic guitar, 3 chords and a head full of passionate lyrics can be as powerful as a whole orchestra on a big stage. Beautiful and emotive goodness that will bring a tear to the eye.

‘Buried You Deeper’ with its intertwining guitars and harmony vocals is a stand out cut also. While the quirkier ‘Cannonball’ showcases Tony’s honesty and Yorkshire humour, tackling a tale of despondency and despair. “Nothing going for me, shit hair…shit teeth” he sings during a tale of dreaming big dreams.

Tony Wright is an artist who has spent some time soul searching and now seems to have found his identity as a singer/songwriter. ‘The Anti-Album’ is a collection of songs that showcase the wit, sadness and irrefutable charm of this Northern soul. A dark, rootsy record that is a stark and honest look at life and could not be further from the care-free, party tunes that Terrorvision are best known for. Yet it is just as essential as their finest records.

‘The Anti-Album’ is available on vinyl and CD and a 17-date tour to promote the album will wrap up with a hometown show at Nightrain in Bradford on November 6th.

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Author: Ben Hughes

Starcrawler – ‘She Said’ (Big Machine Records)

Starcrawler – ‘She Said’ (Big Machine Records)

Album number 3 for LA garage rock darlings Starcrawler sees the band broaden their musical horizons and aim to break away from the feral punk rock that they are best known for. ‘She Said’ is Starcrawler’s lockdown album and sees the band going through some major changes. The addition of Bill Cash on guitar/pedal steel now makes the band a five-piece, a major label deal with Big Machine and a big-name producer in Tyler Bates is as much a statement of intent as the opening track and first single ‘Roadkill’.

With 10 songs delivered in just over 30 minutes, ‘She Said’ does not seem that much of a departure really, but sonically and songwriting-wise it definitely is. Then there are the videos. Produced by Gilbert Trejo and featuring cameos from Steve O and Danny Trejo, it seems Starcrawler have pulled out all the stops. Hey, I’m sold, not only do they sound good but they look good too! With the pink/black imagery they have going on and a singer with the best hair since Michael Monroe in his Hanoi Rocks days,  Starcrawler are the poster band for the younger generation.

Live, it’s definitely Singer Arrow De Wilde and guitarist Henri Cash who steal the show but let’s not forget that in the songwriting department bassist Tim Franco is credited with the duo in every song.

So, to the music. With urgent beats and a wall of guitars ‘Roadkill’ explodes from the speakers. If there was ever a song designed to deliver a statement of intent, then this was it! A chorus that wraps around your brain like a viper waiting to strike, it will not leave your head intact. Arrow’s lazy, dreamy vocals, Henri’s backing vocals, and the relentless stabbing feel of the tune pummeling with every beat. 2 minutes and 22 seconds of punk rock energy.

The radio-friendly title track follows. It has that grunge quiet/loud/quiet format and sounds more like Hole than Courtney Love has in 20 years. It helps that the songwriting is first class and they have the coolest middle eight I’ve heard this year. De Wilde’s nonchalant vocal delivery and Cash’s wailing licks are a match made in heaven. One of the standout tracks of the album for sure.

A killer one-two is always a great way to start an album, but there is the risk of shooting your musical load prematurely. ‘Stranded’ is ok with a so-so chorus that does grow with repeated listens, and ‘Thursday’ continues with spikey, new wave vibes, but ultimately falls short.

Then we get to the point where Starcrawler have really excelled themselves and broken the mold. ‘Broken Angels’ is a cinematic affair, with strings, killer beats, and a melody to die for. It exudes romanticism and LA cool chic, in the same way, ‘Hollywood Ending’ did, but here they do it better.

With its effect-ridden guitars and 80’s alternative stylings, ‘Jetblack’ comes on like The Pretenders meets Duran Duran, sideswiped with early Hanoi Rocks, a sound I can’t really fault. Again, in the likes of ‘Midnight’ Arrow’s delivery has this dreamy, new wave quality to it that sits well.

The pop-punk of ‘Runaway’ is fantastic, and the sort of thing Starcrawler excel at. High energy, catchy, and pumping. De Wilde’s dreamy, yet powerful vocal rules the show and it has definite Ramones/Runaways vibes. I must note there is an acoustic version of this on YouTube of the band performing on a canal boat which is just as good but creates a completely different vibe.

Which leads us to the countrified album closer ‘Better Place’. It sees De Wilde and Cash share lead vocals over acoustics and pedal steel guitars. The juxtaposition of the male/female vocals works well, and the dreamy, emotive vibes created bode well. If this is the direction Starcrawler finds themselves heading in the future, then I’d be happy with that.

With a fistful of potential hit singles and the coolest album cover of the year, Starcrawler are definitely making a statement with ‘She Said’. While it’s certainly their best, most cohesive album to date, it still feels like a band who have more to give and are still finding their true direction. The fact that it has 3 of my favourite songs of the year and their recent live show was one of my highlights makes Starcrawler one of the most exciting bands of the year for me.

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Author: Ben Hughes

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Sending PMA to Mike Peters

Sending PMA to Mike Peters

Just reading the news about Mike Peters’s health fight with Leukemia and his recent pneumonia after his UK tour and all the complications that came with his latest scare. It was fantastic to read that he had been let out of hospital to further his recovery from home after a stay in Hospital. RPM would like to send our good wishes to Mike and his family and praise his medical team in North Wales and wherever else they may be across this globe who’ve offered help and advice that has helped him do what he does.

We all know Mike is a fighter and continues to move forward under whatever circumstances and extreme challenges that get thrown his way. I’m sure I speak on behalf of all the writers and readers at RPM Online in sending PMA and healing vibes down the interweb and he recovers to full health in the near future. PMA Mike!

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