Today, Dublin avant-rock 5-piece BATS have announced details of their first new album in 7 years, ‘Alter Nature’, and have shared the first single to be taken from the record, ‘Old Hitler’.
‘ALTER NATURE’ is a full-frontal attack to all of the senses. BATS incredibly idiosyncratic and cacophonous yet entirely rousing experimental noise-rock delves into intelligent and complex territory both lyrically and musically, but BATS understand that it need not exclude it from having a raw, rhythmic energy and a strong sense of melody.
This translates perfectly into their live shows and has seen the band earn plaudits and fans playing alongside the likes of The Locust, These Arms Are Snakes, The Jesus Lizard, Gang Gang Dance, Sebadoh and Chrome Hoof. BATS will also play this year’s ArcTanGent festival with further live dates TBA.
7 years in the making, the band have purposefully set about honing and crafting these tracks with precision and dedication. If you’re lucky enough to have heard BATS before or have even seen them live, then this incredibly strong third effort should be instantly recognisable as a consummate and direct snapshot of the devastatingly efficient unit; let alone as another step towards wherever the band might take themselves. If you’re still yet to hear them, then you could have picked no better space-time.
‘ALTER NATURE’ is due out 10th October – pre-order HERE
‘Peter Doherty & The Puta Madres’ will have many rushing for the exit and some will stick around and check it out whilst others are true believers that Doherty was handed the baton of real rock and rollers who always find what they’re looking for even if they don’t quite know what it is they are looking for. They manage to write with great talents to interpret what’s coming out of their mind and who just click and make all the madness sound cohesive and at times quite beautiful, it’s fair to say the record at times is intimate with tales of love, loss, happiness, tragedy, addiction and work on many levels. The album was recorded live to capture the essence and spirit of the Puta Madres at a family home overlooking a fishing village in Étretat, Normandy, over four days in the summer of 2018. so as the needle drops we are gently led into ‘All At Sea’ with the unmistakable wavering vocals of Doherty. The band are given the room to breathe and at times I’m reminded of albums like Dylans ‘Blood On the Tracks’ and Velvet Underground for the loose arrangments and use of instruments (ok so this might not stack up to those two albums but you get the gist).
‘Whose Been Having You Over’ has a galic flavour and once you lock into the groove its a majestic thing with some fine guitar work from Jones and Doherty and as the first track the violin of Miki Beavis is exceptional and add eastern flavours. ‘Paradise Is Under Your Nose’ is Dohertys finest five minutes and his duet with Jack Jones is on another level for a quite beautiful song.
The autobiographical ‘Narcissistic Teen Makes First XI ‘ is classic dreamy Doherty. I promise the payback from this album is massive if you invest a bit of time and energy into it. sure I can see how people will play it once and call it a shambles I get that but give it a chance. There’s a gentle hand at work here and Doherty sounds content and comfortable with the musicians he’s assembled around him for this record as they play around his relaxed skiffle on tracks like ‘A Fool There Was’ as that gypsy violin leads a merry dance.
It’s not The Libertines and its not his loudest record but it might just be his best.
The Finnish band The Empire Strikes(Denim rock, some guys with denim jackets, guitar necks up, you know…) put out last Friday “Rainmaker”, the 3rd single of their upcoming album! Have a look, give it a shout!
The new album “Charm” will be available on Ghost Highway Records. for Europe and Savage Magic Records. for the USA (a sure guarantee of value in terms of Rock’N Roll)
Building a reputation for their live performances, they played many shows across Europe since 2012, opening from time to time for bigger bands like Phil Cambell & The Bastard Sons and Marky Ramones Blitzkrieg… But they were also in good company with their Swedish neighbours, hitting the road and sharing stages with Honeymoon Disease, Scumbag Millionaire andGrande Royale…
By the way, if you like those ones, if you’re singing along on Imperial State Electric melodies while stamping feet, there’s no doubt that TheEmpire Strikes will excite you!
Plus, if you’re living in Spain, or Swiss, or France (or Finland, of course), you’re gonna get a chance to catch them live at the end of September / early October!
(Spain Tour soon announced)
02/10 : Brin de Zinc, Chambéry (FRANCE)
03/10 : Irrsinn Bar, Basel (SWITZERLAND)
04/10 : TBA, Paris (FRANCE)
05/10 : L’Imposture, Lille (FRANCE)
First up this Monday we have the punk rock of Acid Blood with ‘Don’t You Die’ taken off their blistering debut album reviewed Here Pay em a visit and tell em RPM sent you – Facebookinstagram
If that was all a bit too much for you this morning before you start the weekly grind how about some Classic NWOBHM with some Diamond Head and their brand new video ‘Belly Of The Beast’.
Hot from an electrifying performance at Wacken Open Air, Diamond Head are relentless in their quest to bring ‘The Coffin Train’ to the world. The band are touring Europe for the rest of 2019 and are confirmed on the line-up of two very special UK shows with NWOBHM giants, SAXON, which will take place on October 19that London’s iconic Hammersmith and October 20that the O2 Apollo in Manchester. Check out the press release for tour dates and album details
Finally, we have a live in the studio video from Australias Press Club whos track is taken from their brand new album ‘Wasted Energy’ reviewed Here
The Hip Priests / Grindhouse – Split (Savage Magic) It just wouldn’t be a singles round-up without a Hip Priests 45 so here you go, boys and girls, the undisputed kings of UK garage punk rock ‘n’ roll are back in the ring and this time they’re tag-teaming with the down under divas Grindhouse. It’s a no brainer that we’re gonna be all over this slice of noise firstly the two tracks offered up by The Hip Priests are ‘Stand For Nothing’ from the album of the same title and ‘I Hate The City’ that just scorches like a dragster on the Bonneville Salt Flats. Fair play to the buggers it doesn’t matter what year who they play with and who ignores them and their tunes They know and I know that the Hip Priests are da bomb and always kick serious backside and there is no other band with their volume of quality singles under their collective bullet belts peerless dirty filthy rock and fucking roll. Get on it before they are all gone. As for the flip. Australia has always been strong in the fucked up loud Rock and Roll stakes and there’s no denying that Grindhouse have probably eaten their way through a fair few. the perfect split partners as their contribution is a Lemmy inspired romp through ‘All Washed Up’ followed by ‘Cum Punch’ I won’t even begin to ask but I do know I like it no I love it (not Cum punching but the tune) Dirty Boys. Single of the month? What do you think? Of course it is.
The Snivelling Shits – Bring Me The Head Of Yukio Mishima (Damaged Goods) Sounding like classic late 70’s punk rock The Snivelling Shits spit n snarl their way through this rather splendid single. Having made a comeback some 40 years after the last time the band played this single celebrates the life and death of the actor, model, poet film director Mishima who ended up losing his head quite literally. It’s backed by a cover of ‘Et Moi, Et Moi, Et Moi’ which is more of the same to be fair and a bloody good couple of vintage punk rock tunes. Head over to Damaged Goods to pick up your copy.
Wilmette – Anxious Body(Mutant League Records) a 4-piece from the Chicago suburbs that combines pop-punk and hardcore with a fresh style that relies on pop hooks, honest lyrics, and strong musicianship the band’s opener sounds like a load of Taking back Sunday tunes wrapped into one from the quiet opening to the crashing chorus. The EP spread over five tracks covers all bases from the tight chord changes of ‘Carol From HR’ to the video track featured below. Big sounds from the newcomers.
TAROT RATS – Only The Brave (Will Remain) (WDFD Records) Big – Dirty guitar riffs are the order of the day for Tarot Rats who release this new single and video. Tarot Rats offer up a unique and contemporary take on indie blues-rock. With a critically acclaimed eclectic mix of filthy riffs and soulful melodies, the Rats can be found free from the flock of generic sounds, playing all over the UK.
The Survival Code – Crosses To Carry, Coffins To Fill (Good Deeds Music) The band are a London-based rock duo with an unabashed passion for riffs, soaring melodies and thunderous drums. Long admired for their driven and energetic live performances, the two-piece serve up intense and brawny rock cuts that lodge deep into your senses. To date, the duo have racked up rampant support from many industry tastemakers, picking up exposure from Kerrang!, Classic Rock, Powerplay, Fireworks Magazine, and Rock Sound Magazine, as well as widespread radio support from Kerrang! Radio and Planet Rock. Formed in 2012 THE SURVIVAL CODE will continue their ascent with the release of a series of videos to coincide with the EP, as well as a string tour dates:
August 15th – Big Red – London (EP LAUNCH); October 23rd – Bunkhouse – Swansea; 24th – Fuel – Cardiff; 25th – Slaughtered Lamb – London; 26th – The Hope & Ruin – Brighton; 28th – The Tin At The Coal Vaults; 29th Chameleon – Nottingham; 30th – Castle Hotel – Manchester; 31st – Outpost – Liverpool; November 2nd – Old England – Bristol; 3rd – Suburbia – Southampton.
THE FANTASTIC TERRORS – Empty Refrigerator Sunday (Ikaros Records) The Fantastic Terrors released their 7″ debut record, including two songs titled “The Yodeler ” and “Empty Refrigerator Sunday”. Coming out of Greece The band release a rather strange video to accompany this single. Loud guitars being the order of the day and a pretty decent introduction.
Scumbag Millionaire – Rolling Heavy (SuburbanRecords) The fourth single taken from the bands pretty awesome album sees ‘Rolling Heavy’ on one side and ‘Rolling Heavy’ (live) on the other. To be fair if you don’t already own the album then this will give you a pretty decent indication of what to expect but its not rocket science here it’s Swedish Action Rock and Roll played to excess and with a truck full of passion. If you want our advice then pick this up and do a deal to get hold of the long-player this is taken from ‘Speed’ as well you won’t regret it at all.
Glitter Machine – Take The Pain From their debut album, ‘Hanging Out For Fame’. It’s a feral love song and who am I to disagree. Its got a great groove and some neat guitar-slinging.check out the video
Roxy Girls – ‘Spanners For Hands’ (Moshi Moshi Records) Sunderlands Roxy Girls are sparse power pop punk rock angular sharp guitar chords and licks (not dissimilar to the mighty Buzzcocks) The track is taken from the forthcoming mini-album (remember them?), not unlike the first track released of the record ‘Trials And Tribulations’ which reminded me of vintage louder XTC – I’d wager these cats kick up a shitstorm in a sweaty club with the volume turned up. I look forward to hearing the complete record and not just a single or two – exciting times for new wave fans.FACEBOOK – TWITTER – SPOTIFY – MOSHI MOSHI RECORDS
TidalBabes – ‘OMG’ Do I Like it? Fuck knows its got a great big funky bassline and a lush chorus but infectious pop melodies, described as bubblegum goth summer fun! is about right. Potty mouth lyrics that come out of the blue won’t see it on BBC but who gives a shite about that?
Singer Lyndsi Austin and songwriter/producer Chris Qualls (Concord Music Publishing/Cutcraft Music Group) were attending a concert in Hollywood when they started discussing a potential new project together. Both grew up playing in rock bands but had switched over to making pop music for years. That night, inspired by the rock show they had just seen (and a little bit of whiskey), the two began brainstorming the foundation for a new band that combined all the things they loved about Southern California and it’s musical history; Surf rock guitars; The energy of Orange County punk rock; Beach Boys harmonies; The sassiness of the east LA socialites and fashionistas; Cruising down Sunset Boulevard. Facebook – Twitter – Instagram
The Atom Age – Never Looking (Tiger Dream/Asian Man Records.) The second single off their soon to be released album ‘Cry Til You Die’ mixing up some Rocket From The Crypt for sure (I never understand why more bands don’t invest in some saxophone) Hailing from Oakland these guys are kicking out the jams for sure. With a lineage hailing from The Sonics to the Hives they’re channeling some great shit into their own music and it’s paying dividends because if the single is anything to go by then the album is gonna burn. Facebook
City Under Siege – Freaking Out (Third String Records) Straight out of Buffalo NY City Under Siege. this single precedes their debut album that the band are working on with Weezer producer Marc McClusky. Its a big pop punk sound and one that will no doubt do rather well for the band who also head out on tour with Mark Rose (Spitalfield) and Ryan Dunson (Rookie of The Year) all across the good ole US of A.
British rising stars The Fallen State are thrilled to announce their headline UK tour in October 2019.
The Fallen State is one of the most exciting British rock acts to emerge in recent years and this tour will celebrate the band’s new studio album “A Deadset Endeavour”, which was released earlier this year through Last Man Music.
“A Deadset Endeavour” is the perfect showcase for the UK five-piece rock act – a band with a mutual love for powerful, anthemic and beautifully executed rock. The Fallen State’s soundscape blends grooving and ruthless rhythms courtesy of drummer Rich Walker and bassist Greg Butler with the exuberant and soulful voice of singer Ben Stenning, the artful emotive phrasing of lead six-stringer Jon Price and a Dan Oke inspired harmonic wall of warm, contemporary rock guitars. From the powerful opening salvo of “Statements” to the driving rhythms of “Open Wound” to the heavy brutal riffing of “Torn”, “A Deadset Endeavour” is a stunning statement of a band at the very top of their game.
The band supported Pop Evil across Germany, France, UK and Holland in February and March 2019, having previously toured with the likes of Black Stone Cherry, Tremonti, US Grammy winners Halestorm, 3 Doors Down, Puddle Of Mudd and fellow UK rockers Young Guns and Heavens Basement.
The UK forthcoming festival dates and headline shows are as follows:
UK Tour Dates:
Sun 21st July 2019 – Ramblin’ Man Fair Festival
Fri 18th October 2019 – Barnstaple, The Factory
Sat 19th October 2019 – London, 229 The Venue
Sun 20th October 2019 – Plymouth, Underground
Mon 21st October 2019 – Bristol, Exchange
Tue 22nd October 2019 – Birmingham, O2 Academy 3
Wed 23rd October 2019 – Oxford, O2 Academy 2
Thu 24th October 2019 – Manchester, Rebellion
Fri 25th October 2019 – Newcastle, Think Tank
Sun 27th October 2019 – Nottingham, Alberts
Mon 28th October 2019 – Bournemouth, The Anvil
Since forming in 2013, The Fallen State have developed a fearsome live reputation by selling out shows with their modern, incisive and inspiring performances allied to their prolific output of five skillfully crafted EPs (“I,II,III”, “Crown Your Shadows” and “The View from Ruin”). The Fallen State’s critically acclaimed single “Nova” (featuring Chris Robertson from Black Stone Cherry and released in Christmas 2017) was a huge hit. The “Nova” single has had over 3 million views across socials.
“The Kritikal Beatdown continues as Black Gladiator and Slovenly Recordings present the second album from Athens via Crete dynamic duo HAND & LEG. The new LP is called “Lust In Peace” and it advances the post-punk infused concoction of blazing garage and art-driven destructo-rock as established on their grinding debut. Murky shades of sexual negativity plow forth with the help of white-hot distortion, alternating between soul-crushing fuzz bass dirges, ungodly squalls of noise, and occasional playful rhythmic rituals that offer brief respite from the saturation of musical sadism.”
That’s the labels blurb taken care of as we turn up the speakers to furniture shaking levels to get the full experience of this headfuck of a record. after ‘Faux’ sort of give you a peek behind the curtain its ‘Softyhead’ where shit gets interesting as we get the ying and yang of the garage rock clashing head-on with the post-punk grind but that’s only the aperitif for ‘L.I.P’ (fuck knows what’s going on here) but its loud and I mean LOUD! as the guitar fuzz hacks and slashes whilst the vocals are Numan like monotonous and flat in their delivery until the chorus when things sound like a nuclear reactor gone out of control.
This album twists and turns as it tries to find a comfortable place whilst scratching at the listener. I daren’t ask what the lyrical content is about I’d rather just enjoy the noise pouring out of my speakers. Take ‘Grave Gravy’ for instance its creeps into existence and your just waiting for the breakout but its more subtle than that or so you think.
At times this ten-track assault on the ears can be a challenge as the brain struggles to cope with the audio bombs going off left right and centre and the duo revel in the attack. ‘Shoplift’ doesn’t sound like a good experience and not a soundtrack you’d have liked playing whilst fingering the pick and mix in woolies. Having said that ‘Peter Pancake’ is someone we’d all like to get to know. Iro and Stelios have delivered a post-punk garage meets art-rock album that will fuck with you play after play. I’m guessing they like to fuck with the listener but with a cheeky wink here and there and some serious ringing in one’s ear. The art rock crowd of the lower east side would have been all over this one and a perfect touring partner for VU has finally arrived decades too late ho-hum check out hand and leg the crazy fuckers.
Euronymous was a founder of and central figure in the early Norwegian Black Metal scene. He was a co-founder and guitarist of the Norwegian black metal band Mayhem and was the only constant member from the band’s formation in 1984 until his death in 1993. He was also founder and owner of the extreme metal record label ‘Deathlike Silence Productions’ and record shop Helvete in Norway.
Euronymous professed to be a Satanist and was known for making extreme misanthropic statements. He presented himself as leading a militant cult-like group known as the “Black Metal Inner Circle”. How much of this was image, bravado, bullshit or just youthful boasting to create a bigger image? We’ll never truly know.
In August 1993, he was murdered by fellow musician Varg Vikernes. Its a complicated and tangled web of who did what to whom and when and staggeringly why but ultimately several people lost their lives in all of this and today we remember one of the pivotal figures of Norweigan Black Metal Euronymous.
Recently the subject of the shocking and true film ‘Lords Of Chaos’ Øystein was one of the lead roles for all of the above. He was possibly responsible for taking what the likes of Venom were doing in the UK and taking it across the line and making the sounds of Bathory, Hellhammer more extreme more brutal more antisocial. For the pioneering groundbreaking contribution to extreme metal, we remember Euronymous and hope he rests in peace wherever that may be.
The recent film ‘Lords Of Chaos’ loosely tells the story of Euronymous and his inner circle and depicts his horrific and violent demise at the hands of Varg. We reviewed the film Here It does depict their scene as a band of misfits bonded by dark ideals and metal. It was Aarseth who discovered his singer after his suicide and it was he who took the picture of his dead bloodied body and took pictures and allegedly took pieces of Deads skull. However, he was also the guy who set up his own label, set up his own record shop and pioneered a network of worldwide black metal fans (remember this is pre-internet) he also set up base in his own record store Hellvete.
Its his raw and brutal songwriting that set the blueprint for many others to follow check out the riff on ‘Deathcrush’
Slovenly Recordings presents the latest full-length hunk o’ junk from San Francisco’s last standing Budget Rockers THE CONTROL FREAKS! Remember a time when bands like The Ramones pumped out albums full of sing-a-long singles that you could jump around to well, The Control Freaks do that. From the opening explosion of the title track, we’re off and running. Its garage punk with plenty of pop sing-a-longs. count in 1-2-3-4 and the wonderfully titled ‘I Hate Your Face’ muscles in. it’s full of bluster and has a wonderful garage rock rattle. What’s not to like?
‘Elevator Girl’ kicks off with a dirty overdriven bass before steaming off.
‘Telephone City’ seems to be the catalyst to up the insanity a notch or two as shit gets faster and a little more out of control. ‘Hate List’ takes it up a notch or two with added madness.
So yeah, like, It’s fair to say this record is packed with hit after smash hit like “I Hate Your Face,” ‘Creep You Out’ is on the level with some top tub-thumping and sleazy guitar slashing. ‘I Am Crime’ thrashes about some more if you haven’t already had enough. and you might need A ‘First Aid Kit’ it might come in handy at some point if you’re slamming around to these tunes and the cheap keys are gonna drive you insane. Its ferocious and sweetness rolled into one take ‘Time Out’ with some sweet vocals over an absolute banger that Dee Dee would have been proud to have penned.
‘Dowanna Love’ is the first, (yup I did say first) cover on the album by Babeez Greg takes the vocals here whilst the second comes as the penultimate and more laid back (really) ‘Nobody Wants Me’ where Sherrilynn Nelson takes the vocals and delivers the best sultry Debbie Harry style vocals for thirty years on this dark lo-fi slice of scuzzy rock.
This is one of the most consistent garage punk albums I’ve had the pleasure of in quite a while. Why would anyone mess with Jessica? she sounds a handful. Thirteen tunes crammed onto one album with every conceivable bit of space filled to the gills with rock and roll noise noise noise. I love it and you will too. Go get some kids you won’t be disappointed and if you are then I suggest Rock and Roll just isn’t for you either that or you might want to check for a pulse.
After 5 years on hiatus, WOLVES LIKE US will be releasing their 4th album titled ‘Brittle Bones’ on October 25th via Pelagic Records. To support the release, the Norwegian four-piece will embark on a European tour in December with PLANES MISTAKEN FOR STARS, whose vocalist Gared O’Donnell is also making a guest appearance on the Wolves’ upcoming album.
Formed in Oslo, Norway in 2010, WOLVES LIKE US emerged out of the ashes of local punk / hardcore pioneers JR EWING, AMULET and INFIDELS FOREVER, among others. The new band quickly made themselves a name as a super-energetic live band in the local scene, blending equal parts Quicksand and Afghan Wings with their own idiosyncratic post-hardcore sound. After only 5 shows, they instantly signed with Prosthetic Records for a 3 album deal, and hit the road for tours and shows with KVELERTAK,PLANES MISTAKEN FOR STARS, SWING KIDS, JUNIUS and GALLOWS and festivals like Oya or Groezrock in the months to come. 3 releases saw the light of day under the roof of Prosthetic Records since,Late Love (2011), Get Gone (2012) and Black Soul Choir (2014).
After almost 5 years of family responsibility- induced hiatus, the 4-piece is now back with a killer new album: Brittle Bones, demoed by Bjarte from KVELERTAK and mixed by Scott Evans of KOWLOON WALLED CITY, shows a grown up and more dynamic wolf pack than ever before. „There was less tension this time, we almost didn’t argue at all – which is rare for us“, says drummer Jonas Thire. „A lot has happened to us at a personal level. Positives, like we all have kids now. But dark shit too. There’s been a divorce. Lars has been really sick. He wrote the lyrics as a kind of diary to deal with issues like abuse, literally and figuratively.“
The band has been good friends with iconic post-hardcore band PLANES MISTAKEN FOR STARS for years, whose singer Gared O’Donnell visited them in Oslo randomly that week when WOLVES LIKE US were tracking vocals for Brittle Bones. He ended up laying down his second guest appearance for the band: „On a drunken night in May after Lars, Toy and Rune (the engineer) had taken him out for one too many beers“, comments vocalist & guitarist Lars Kristensen… „we ended up shirtless doing
vocals“.
Lyrically, the red thread that goes through Brittle Bones is the topic of «honesty», which is to say „dealing with demons in a real way, facing them and giving them the middle finger so to speak“, says Lars. Brittle Bones is juxtaposing the catchy and the raspy, the pretty and the ugly, comfort, and disturbance of such… for the essence of art can only be understood as equally „disturbing the comfortable and comforting the disturbed“, says Lars.
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