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Joe Jennings MVP’s – Nothing Wrong With Giving Up’ (Rumbar Records, CD) (Sweet Grooves Records, Vinyl)

Joe Jennings MVP’s – Nothing Wrong With Giving Up’ (Rumbar Records, CD) (Sweet Grooves Records, Vinyl)

Here at RPM Online HQ, we’ve always been fans of Joe Jennings work from way back when we first heard his debut single and reviewed it for our singles club back in the old Uber Rock days and have consumed every single record ever since so when we heard JJ had a new record coming out on the most excellent Rumbar record we were overjoyed to see a meeting of great minds and one of our favourite labels in the US teaming up with one of our favourite rock n rollas. So the real Jerks are on hiatus and JJ was now heading up the MVP’s but still dishing up some awesome Rock n Roll of course we were going to all over it like a rash.

Having recently relocated to Tucson Arizona, Joe teamed up with Matt Rendon of The Resonars/The Freezing Hands/The Lemon Drop Gang fame to write & record 11 brand new tracks. The results are a no-nonsense highly energetic blast of raw yet melodic power-pop-infused garage rock n’ roll. If it’s in your DNA then you’re good to go and don’t mess with what you’re good at. The first time we heard the lead track ‘Doing Time on the Company Dime’ it was burnt onto my brain and from the sleazy melody to that fantastic chorus I couldn’t shake it and found myself singing the chorus for days if not weeks. The rattle of the tambourine and wheeze of the harmonica is a really welcome addition to an already excellent tune.

It races off on ‘Cult Radio’ with a mixture of snot and sweat as the song wrestles with the likes of The Ramones at their best going toe to toe with some old-school garage punkers howling at the moon and giving it all they’ve got. Theres barely time for a gasp of breath before the band are into the next one. ‘Help IS Not On The Way’ has Joe pulling out all the stops as he rinses his guitar of every ounce of Chuck Berry on speed riffs n licks all tied down with a thunderous Bassline and a drum beat that is cool as fuck and surfing off into the sunset looking for some other party to crash and tear up, Super stuff.

‘Good As Gone’ opens with the sound of a guitar racing off like an Ambulance on a hook and melody that is what Joe builds his albums with and it’s all about the groove and melody. If the song is fast or not quite as fast there is always an awesome hook to hang the guitar licks on and that is what makes these songs so damn addictive. You won’t hear any cheesy balladeering or any checking out from Joe and his MVPs’ its honest and wholesome Rock n Roll all the way on this record and it’s that authenticity that draws you into the frey and will have you rooting for these guys to succeed.

By the time you’ve played the whole album, you’ll be wonder where has this band been all your life and when they do take a chill like on the title track Joe whips out his secret weapon and blows that Saxophone and takes it to another level. A superb record by a great songwriter and musician I urge you to give this record some love and the reward will be you’re in the cool kids club and enjoying one of 2024s finest releases. Don’t hesitate to hit the links and get on board. these MVP’s are the dog’s bollocks and this album is an absolute banger. Buy IT!

Sweet Grooves Records – Vinyl Here

RumBar Records CD Here

Author: Dom Daley

The Dictators – ‘The Dictators’ (Valley Entertainment)

The Dictators – ‘The Dictators’ (Valley Entertainment)

So here we go 2024 and The Dictators are back in the ring swinging but let’s first address the elephant in the room. This is Andy Shernoff led Dictators no Handsome Dick Manitoba. So regardless of the why and whereforths or who did what where when and why I’m gonna review this with an open mind like the Dictators are brand new band and the baggage is left outside the studio door.

‘Get The Band Back Together’ is a sprightly opener on this ten-track proto-punk record and a jolly decent introduction it is too. Welcome to 2024 The Dictators are in da Mofo Funkin house. To be fair the tempo is fist-pumping heart-racing stuff and the energetic gang vocals on ‘My Imaginary Friend’ is most welcome and the production is massive and really helps create a really good energy. Sure they’re not here to reinvent the wheel but more designed to show the listener that these guys still have the chops to deliver good old school hard rockin punk n roll with the best of em and to be fair they deliver throughout. Its clear the MO was to rock out, do it to the best of your ability and leave nothing behind and as far as that goes it’s job done. I really enjoyed ‘All About You’ and this one showcases a really strong lead vocal on a song that is as good as anything the band has in the catalogue. Stick to what you know is always a safe and authentic move and songs like ‘God Damn New York’ hammer this home. It’s got a beating Big Apple heart and the chorus is something you’ll be punching the air to and that is always welcome be it the 70 or the 2000’s its great to hear. I guess this album does exactly what you wanted it to, if you’re a fan from the old days or you’re a more recent disciple looking for a fix from a band who knows who and what they are and just delivers.

The world is always a better place with bands like this making albums and writing new material as good as this and to close the album off there’s a tribute to one of Noo Yawks finest – ‘Sweet Joey’ is a tribute to the one and only Joey Ramone and a really good tribute it is too with heart-felt lyrics and some great riffage from Ross The Boss. Don’t worry about the politics of the band just play the record and appreciate how damn good it is, it’s only Rock n Roll baby and I like it.

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Various Artists – ‘Silver Patron Saint – The Songs Of Jesse Malin’ (Sweet Relief)

Various Artists – ‘Silver Patron Saint – The Songs Of Jesse Malin’ (Sweet Relief)

Wow, simply wow. Talk about PMA when I first got wind that a Various Artist record was coming out to help Jesse with his medical bills I thought that was so cool and being something he’d be fully behind if it was one of his peers but hell, I wasn’t expecting a triple album with quite so many platinum artists rallying around and all adding their own twist on Jesse’s songs in such a majestic way.

Often a contributor to other people’s causes, Malin being the humble human he is must be blown away by all the musicians who have rallied around him, from Springsteen, Billie Joe Armstrong, Lucinda Williams and Elvis Costello, The Hold Steady, Tommy Stinson, Alison Mosshart (with the late Wayne Kramer), Tom Morello, Counting Crows, Dinosaur Jr., The Wallflowers, Spoon, Susanna Hoffs, Frank Turner, Rancid and many more. The full album tracklisting is a proper trawl through his career from the glorious D Generation days right up to the very recent past.

Anyone whos seen Jesse live knows how funny and compelling his performances are be it so or with a band he is a commanding spirit who also knows how to introduce a song with a special story and a superstar clang here and there. Rolling Stone magazine editor David Fricke, said it best when he wrote that “Jesse Malin knows about scars, from his youth, observation and more. They all carry tales, and he’s not done telling them. ‘Silver Patron Saints’ is the gang back at the bar, coming to the stage to toast the composer and his story so far.”

I don’t want to overstate how good this is and to go through every song would be a war and peace review so I’ll focus on first impressions and the stand-out cuts. Sure Springsteen owning ‘She Don’t Know Me Now’ is a stunning Americana interpretation and showing how damn good a writer Jesse is both lyrically and musically. I also love ‘Oh Sheena’ covered by Counting Crows frontman Adam. Also, Green Day frontman Billie Joe really cranks it up on ‘Black Haired Girl’ and it sounds so good it could easily have been a stand-out track on ‘American Idiot’ or 21st Century albums.

Hearing a ragged ‘Brooklyn’ absolutely owned by Dinosaur Jr is stunning. Owning a song but retaining its beating heart is no easy task and changing it without going too far from its roots is a fine art but Mascis does it superbly. The supergroup that dusts the cobwebs off ‘Turn Up The Mains’ Wayne Kramer, Tom Morello, Steve Van Zant Mike Watt and Joey C join Alison Mosshart for a blistering rip through the song. Lucinda Williams has been a long-standing collaborator with Malin and here shes joined by Elvis Costello for ‘Room 13’. Frank Turner plucks out a tune before Spoons takes a stroll through ‘The Way We Used To Roll’.

As the first half of this release takes a breather with the beautiful Rocky O’Rourden interpretation of ‘Shane’ you take in the diversity and consistently strong songwriting Malin has dished up for decades. Sure he’s surrounded himself with some awesome musicians from the D Gen days right to the here and now but his lyrics are also noticeably excellent, I always hear a line and smile at just how good it was and there are plenty on offer here and some I’d probably forgotten but hearing these talented artists shine a new light is stunning.

Butch Fuckin Walker twists ‘Modern World’ and owns it before Susanna Hoffs freshens up ‘High Lonesome’ beautiful song. One of my favourite recent Malin songs is ‘Greener Pastures’ which is owned by Graham PArker who turns it into a simpler harmonica and acoustic folk song. Alejandro Escovedo takes ‘Meet Me At The End Of the World’ somewhere I wasn’t expecting. The Hold Steady followed by Tommy Stinson dish up their usual high-quality interpretations on ‘Death Star’ and ‘Riding On The Subway’ respectively and to hear Ian Hunter own ‘Dead On’ and take it on a late-night sleazy walk is fantastic. The fact is there isn’t one single letdown on the whole twenty-seven tracks on offer and that is nothing short of miraculous. There are so many more songs I’d have loved to hear versions of which leaves the question of when can we hear Volume Two and who will be on that? It has to happen, doesn’t it? Willie Nile rocks it up before Rancid digs deep into the archive for a thrilling ‘No Way Out’, Man D Gen were a band and a half and this version is a belter.

Before this record finishes the old guard of the Bowery turn it up and open up a circle pit with the mighty Agnostic Front knock-out ‘God Is Dead’ before the album is disintegrated by Murphy’s Law own ‘Frankie’ and a more diverse line up you won’t find anywhere do justice to the living legend that is Jesse Malin, I’m sure he will be humbled by this record (or three) and shows that good guys do get helped when they fall down and having so many icons of music rally round is a beautiful thing. Buy this record, and you will marvel at its content regardless of whether you are a Malin vet or new to his music Jesse Malins’s music is in safe hands and a full recovery is all we want and if buying a copy of this helps that reality then I’ve don’t my small bit now what about you? PMA

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UK Subs – ‘Flood Of Lies’ (Jungle Records)

UK Subs – ‘Flood Of Lies’ (Jungle Records)

Another day another Subs reissue. Get over it I say the more the merrier. Looking for a crisp copy on vinyl with a raft of bonus songs pertaining to the release is most welcome. The fifth Subs studio album, from 1983, not available on vinyl for years, gets an October rebirth just in time for some live-action where we might get to hear some long-lost tunes.  The remastered LP has a new inner bag featuring the lyrics and unseen band photos in limited, transparent yellow ochre vinyl with improved original sleeve art so whats not to like?

The 2xCDversion has seven extra tracks from singles; and a bonus CD ‘Gross-Out USA’ – plus three never-before released demo tracks, one an unheard song.  Packaged in an all-card 6-panel sleeve.   Albums ‘F’ and ‘G’ in the UK Subs A-Z series of albums, on Fall Out Records. Now that’s not to be sniffed at either.

The album came at a time when punk was changing from the original burst of bands who (most of ) were no longer a going concern to the bands who were born from that original youth movement. Remember it took time for the word to spread there were no mobile phones – no social media and the second wave saw the UK Subs right up there. Punk was no longer fashionable, this record saw Charlie having to start from scratch and form what was effectively a new band. Call in Subs bassist Steve Slack (who’d left before their first recordings, replaced by his brother), drummer Steve Jones and guitarist Captain Scarlet.

Embracing wider styles and God forbid acoustic guitars and strings many songs were co-written by Slack and Scarlet with Charlie’s lyrics reflected the current times and politics.  ‘Soldiers Of Fortune’ with its intro made way for a more familiar sound. ‘Working For The DBs’ is punk by numbers and only highlights the “of its time” production that let down some of the songs off this time period. at times it’s paper thin and would possibly have benefitted from a complete overhaul and a (dare I say It) modern production offering some bottom end, especially on the tribal drumming and bass on ‘Tampa Bay’.

I’ve enjoyed replaying an album that probably doesn’t get the love it deserves and considering what it followed it’s probably benefitted from the distance of its release. ‘In The Red’ is still quality and the medieval intro of ‘Dress Code’ still baffles me to this day. The band were clearly not put off small straying away from the punk rock many would have expected and some of the drum stabs explosions like on ‘Jelly Devils’ are of the time for sure. I’m also hearing some Ant music in the arrangments and that’s no shock ‘In The Wild’ could be a punier Adam Ant song. All in all its a great addition to any Subs LP collection and one that should appeal not just to completists but people curious to investigate the second wave or third wave of Subs music. Buy it! Its worth it for the cover art alone, superb.

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Author: Dom Daley

Peter Hook & The Light Return To Rebellion Festival 2025

Peter Hook & The Light Return To Rebellion Festival 2025

Following a hugely successful and sold-out Rebellion Festival this August just gone, the organisers are already deep into booking bands for Rebellion 2025, set to return to its annual home of the Blackpool Winter Gardens, August 7th – 10th 2025.

Fans of legendary Manchester bands Joy Division and New Order are in for a treat next year when their bassist Peter Hook returns to the Festival with his band Peter Hook & The Light for a thrilling deep dive through his vast back catalogue.

“Really looking forward to returning to Blackpool once again to play the Rebellion Festival,” says Peter. “The crowd is always amazing, and I’m sure 2025 will be no different.” 

Peter Hook joins a host of punk luminaries already confirmed to bring their power and energy to Blackpool. These now include Hugh Cornwell, The Selecter, HR from Bad Brains, Zounds, DOA, Los Fastidios, Crux, Buster Shuffle, Down By Law, The Undertones, MDC, UK Subs, Paranoid Visions, The Exploited, Riskee & The Ridicule, Voodoo Glow Skulls, 999, Millencolin, Pegboy, Toxic Reasons and many more.

Rebellion Festival 2025 is already hotting up to be one not to miss!

Head to www.rebellionfestivals.com for more information and updates.

DISCOUNTED TICKETS ON SALE NOW: https://www.rebellionfestivals.com/buy-tickets

Family friendly / All Ages event with under 12s FREE (accompanied by an adult)

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/RebellionPunkMuskFestival

Hi-Fi Spitfires – ‘Off The Radar’ (Bandcamp)

Hi-Fi Spitfires – ‘Off The Radar’ (Bandcamp)

When Stephen Straughan isn’t slinging six-string duties with the UK Subs he can be seen and certainly heard plying his trade with his band Hi-Fi Spitfires who do a rather splendid job of churning out very loud albums (This being their fourth) and possibly their most accomplished to date. They sort of stride the louder parts of SLF meets a more hard rock output with shades of Bad Religion here and there to be fair. The riffs are big often bludgeoning the speakers like a musical baseball bat attack but backed up with some great hooks and melodies. ‘Death TV’ has some excellent riffage happening and some of the fretwork is blistering but never at the expense of the song and rather working with the strong tune that will have you singing in no time. Keeping the tempo on the up ‘Out Of Reach’ has some of the Dirtbox Disco sing-a-long harmonies but driven by a frantic pace and full-blooded attack. Loving the breakdown as well as the album begins to take shape it’s clear Steven has been soaking up working alongside Alvin and Charlie and really honed in on his songwriting skills.

There’s no let-up in the pace of the record and neither is there a lull in the quality on offer. All the tracks were penned by Steven except ‘Berlin’ which sees Bass player Tony have a crack and to be fair on the first few plays it just happens to be my favourite track with a rollicking melody and beaming sunshine lick going on it could have been written by the Loyalties at the peak of their powers – a really excellent song indeed.

The Clash and SLF influence shines through on ‘Operation Underground’ from the reggaefied (is that even a word? it is now) intro through the sprightly verse and into the chorus you’ll be throwing shapes and punching the air on the gang vocals as we dive back into some skanking good fun times. It would be unfair of me not to mention the vocals as well because they are really strong throughout the record.

the record sets off on a blistering pace and to be fair doesn’t relent throughout and will please Subs fans who know the potential Steven offers so it won’t come as a surprise to people who have previously jumped on board with the HI-Fi Spitfires but they will be impressed with the strength in numbers throughout this record and to sign off as they came in with the awesome ‘Wolves At The Door’ giving the listener another two and a half minutes of pogoing and circle pit whirling before calling it a day and heading back to track one for another blast around what is a most excellent record of quality songs played to an exceptional standard. Get this fucker on your radar is a proper banger. Over and out its a no-brainer Buy It!

Buy Here

Author: Dom Daley

Zeke have Snake Eyes

Zeke have Snake Eyes

Following their highly acclaimed single ‘Ride Hard Ride Free’, the undisputed kings of balls-out rock’n’roll ZEKE have a new 7′ entitled ‘Snake Eyes’ slated for October 4th.

ZEKE is a punk rock and hardcore institution, forming in 1992 in Seattle and still going strong. They are still doing what they do best, loud fast and heavy punk rock with a hint of blues. You can say that they were punked up Motörhead but they brought a certain punk rock and hardcore element to the genre that many bands after them picked up on.

RPM Online wrote, “Zeke really are like no other band in the world right now” and that “It’s not fast, its fucking hypersonic hardcore”, while Maximum Volume highly recommends “… they are the kings of the underground.”Vive le Rock in UK is pleased “the quartet will be giving Brexit the finger.” and also Ox Fanzine from Germany confirmed, “they are in top form, just as we celebrated them back in 1996 for Super Sound Racing.”

With original members Blind Marky Felchtone (vocals and guitar) and Donny Paycheck (drums) along with Jason Freeman (bass) and Jeff Hiatt (guitar), ‘Snake Eyes’ is as uncompromising as ever, with a furious whirlwind rhythm the foundation for a tidal wave of fast guitars. Feltchtone’s serrated knife vocal might be even more toxic than two decades ago.

‘Snake Eyes’ slows down the punk speed a bit in favor of a high-octane rock affair that, like Hellacopters, comes across as played at the wrong speed.

On the flipside you will find pure intensity with ‘The Knife’ and you can imagine ZEKE driving one through the night doing whatever they are doing in the back and once its finished you feel dazed and confused. Like one of those masochists who likes pain you want to put it on again too.

‘Snake Eyes’ was produced by Jack Endino (Mudhoney, Nirvana, High on Fire, The Accüsed) at Soundhouse in Seattle, WA, and mastered by Joe Bozzi at Bernie Grundmann in Los Angeles, CA.

The tracks are not available on streaming platforms.

LIVE DATES:

16.10.2024 – DE – Dresden – Chemiefabrik

17.10.2024 – CZ – Praha – 007 Club

18.10.2024 – PL – Moglino – Magazyn Zbozowy GS

19.10.2024 – DE – Berlin – Roadrunners Rock & Motor Club

22.10.2024 – AT – Wien – Arena

23.10.2024 – DE – München – Backstage

24.10.2024 – IT – Milano – Legend Club

25.10.2024 – IT – Verona – Colorificio Kroen

26.10.2024 – IT – Roma – RCCB Init

27.10.2024 – IT – Bologna – Improved Sequence Festival

29.10.2024 – ES – Barcelona – Upload

30.10.2024 – ES – Valencia – 16 Toneladas

31.10.2024 – ES – Mardird – Gruta 77

01.11.2024 – ES – Oviedo – Gong Galaxy Club

02.11.2024 – ES – Vitoria-Gasteiz – Jimmy Jazz

05.11.2024 – GB – Bristol – Exchange

06.11.2024 – GB – Manchester – Rebellion

07.11.2024 – GB – Birmingham – Castle & Falcon

08.11.2024 – GB – London – New Cross Inn

09.11.2024 – GB – Brighton – Green Door Store

10.11.2024 – BE – Gierle – JK’t Hoelske

11.11.2024 – DE – Wiesbaden – Schlachthof

13.11.2024 – DE – Düsseldorf – Pitcher

14.11.2024 – NL – Den Haag – Paard Small Hall

15.11.2024 – NL – Arnhem – WillemEen

16.11.2024 – NL – Eindhoven – Helldorado Festival

17.11.2024 – NL – Amsterdam – Melkweg

ZEKE is: Blind Marky Felchtone – Vocals, Guitar / Donny Paycheck – Drums / Jason Freeman – Bass / Jeff Hiatt – Guitar

It’s A Revolution Podcast – Episode 42

It’s A Revolution Podcast – Episode 42
You might need a thicker skin but you need to give yourself some cool credit points for tuning in to the latest episode of the Podcast as Double D and Chris’Not Too Posh To Mosh’ Davie indulge you the listeners in some pretty awesome tunes from around the globe both old and new. We kick off in style with another new track off the Hip Priests swan song EP and a cracker entitled ‘Need A Thicker Skin’ we don’t let up as Conservative Military Image bing some bovver with ‘Yard Hard’. Short but oh so sweet.

How about the latest from Amyl & The Sniffers? ‘Chewing Gum’ before we head to Sweden for some good old acoustic rock n roll courtesy of Dynamic Drinking Club cut from the same cloth as Dave Kusworth and Nikki Sudden or Johnny Thunders. Its available from Beluga Records and well worth the investment.

Repeat Records are releasing some fantastic records of underground talent and they also released this split track from SMASH and we play another on the next show as well, one of my favourite labels at the moment pumping out great bands and promoting some great shows in south Wales as well.

Another great label we always look forward to hearing what they put out is Slovenly Records and this single Scared Of Chaka and the single ‘Bated Breath’. One of the best band names we’ve come across in a while has to be The Mary Tyler Whores and their new single ‘American Sex Fiend’ what a banger this is.

Jesse Malin has a triple album (Silver Patron Saint) coming out where artists perform one of his songs and we’ve already played Billie Joe Armstrong a few weeks back and this week we offer Bruce Springsteen taking on a Malin classic and knocking it out of the park. Can’t wait to get my hands on this triple album when it comes out this month. I strongly suggest you jump in as well so you don’t miss out it’s going to be special.

As more tracks are released I’m sure we can be persuaded to play more from this.

Captain Razz and Hard Ons have new singles we air from Down Under respectively before we wake you all up with the awesome Shove and their tribute to ‘King Diamond’ before Swami And The Bed Of Nails make us a little peckish with a new one from their fantastic short but sweet album. It’s been a while since we played some Glam Rock, so we offer Starcrazy and ‘What Its Worth’ without further ado.

If you were wondering what cover we have in store this week then look no further than Boundary Breakers Asian Dub Foundation featuring Iggy Pop for a romp through his classic ‘No Fun’ done in a very Asian Dub style before we sign off this week with a Wonk Unit classic from the vault as we sign off with ‘Guts’. Join us next time kids for some more drivel chatter and the most excellent bunch of tunes anywhere. Adios Amigos until next time.

Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts – ‘Rogue To Redemption’ (Gypsy Rose Records)

Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts – ‘Rogue To Redemption’ (Gypsy Rose Records)

“I’ve been trapped in the maze of the errors of my ways…now I am making up for the mistakes I have made”. So sings Tuk Smith on the title track of his sophomore long player ‘Rogue To Redemption’. Here at RPM we love the underdog, the outcasts and the artists who fight to keep the dream alive. Former Biters frontman Tuk Smith is one such dude who has travelled the rocky road to rock n’ roll damnation and he’s been through the ringer with the music business. But lost deals, empty promises, broken dreams and even a global pandemic can’t stop the Georgia native from keepin’ on, keepin’ on.

Following the killer 2022 release ‘Ballad Of A Misspent Youth’, Tuk and his band The Restless Hearts return with ‘Rogue To Redemption’, a 9-track affair (10 if you are a streamer, possibly more if you live in Japan). It’s a defiant “fuck you!” to the naysayers, and a glorious and triumphant trip through the annals of rock n’ roll.

The album opens with a killer one-two designed to fill stadiums. ‘Take The Long Way’ is an instant earworm with a rousing chorus that just makes you wanna reach for that volume button and blast it. ‘The following ‘Glorybound’, as with the opener, just sounds like it has always been in my ears. As soon as that chorus hits, it’s like an old forgotten friend has returned and all is well in the world. It’s a song of hope and dreams, a middle finger to the non-believers and a euphoric ride from the first beat to the last ringing chord.

Ok, so those two are previously released singles and I have already given them plenty or airplay, so there is familiarity. But third track ‘End Of An Era’ is brand new to my ears, yet those Thin Lizzy inspired twin leads, the sneering vocals and the instantly satisfying chorus just make me wanna punch my fist in the air and sing-a-long, that is proof enough that Tuk Smith is on a roll right now with his songwriting.

For me there is a lyrical suss that hits in the feels, that tells a story and transports you into the song in a way few modern day songwriters can. Up there with the likes of Butch Walker, Ginger Wildheart and Frank Turner for me.

The 70’s rock influences continue on ‘Still A Dreamer’. Not so much a nod to The Biters classic glam stomper ‘Ain’t No Dreamer’, but more to Thin Lizzy with its pumping bass line, cool vocalisin’ and use of space. One of those songs that gets better with every listen. There’s a lot of soul searching going on with this album and Side One closer ‘Little Renegade’ is autobiographical and from the heart.

For me, ‘Blood On The Stage’ is the centerpiece of a very strong record. It builds on a simple, strummed acoustic progression, and an emotive lyric. There’s an Oasis swagger and a stadium-sized chorus that begs to be familiar to millions. The title track follows, another highlight that comes on like Butch Walker doing Thin Lizzy, it builds and builds to a powerful climax. It seems every song is a winner.

In the second listen through of this album, closing song ‘When The Party’s Over’ sent shivers up my spine on the buildup to the first chorus. That doesn’t happen very often, and is a good sign that we’re onto something special.

Who was it that said “Difficult roads lead to beautiful destinations”? Well, difficult roads have certainly shaped the songs on ‘Rogue To Redemption’. For the first time, I feel the Nashville resident has not only matched, but surpassed the promise that his old band The Biters showed on their early EPs.

There’s classic 70’s rock influences, a fistful of power pop and a smattering of Brit Pop going on. With killer songwriting, great song dynamics and a top-notch production Tuk Smith has delivered the album of his career and I’m pretty sure none of us saw that coming.

Buy Here

Author: Ben Hughes

PROPHETS OF ADDICTION TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM

PROPHETS OF ADDICTION TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM

PROPHETS OF ADDICTION TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM, ‘FACE THE MUSIC,,’ – THROUGH BRAVEWORDS RECORDS

At some point in your life you just have to take account for your actions and face the music. PROPHETS OF ADDICTION mainman Lesli Sanders has taken that to heart. PROPHETS OF ADDICTION’s fourth album, Face the Music is set for a release on 25 October via BraveWords Records. The first single, Superhero, from the upcoming album will be released 27 September.
 
Kicking things off with the downright dirty “Flavor of the Danger,” the listener is immediately clued in to what they’re getting with Face the Music, an album loaded with catchy late 70s inspired glam punk n roll riffs, powerful and emotionally resonant vocals and a clever lyrical output. “Let’s Get High” sees the band slide slightly into a melodic goth route ala Sisters of Mercy. The song isn’t a drug reference, but a “recollection of the excitement that a new record would bring as a teenager and after the long wait finally able to hear it for the first time,” says Sanders. The band’s take on the Rod Stewart classic “Maggie May” is nothing short of punk magnificence, The band had the opportunity to play the track for drum legend Carmine Appice, who played with Stewart from 1976 – 1982. Appice was so impressed that he asked, “would you mind if I send this to Rod?” The album’s lead single “Superhero” comes complete with a hook that won’t leave your head for days. “Superhero is a song I have been sitting on for a few years and wasn’t going to record until the right musicians were put in place, realizing the potential. I finally found that group of musicians,” the frontman states.
 
Face the Music, PROPHETS OF ADDICTION’s debut for Bravewords Records was recorded between 2022 and 2023 in Seattle, WA and Las Vegas, NV and produced, mixed and mastered by Phil Soussan (bass player for Ozzy Osbourne, Billy idol and more). Drummer Wayne Stokely says of the album, “We wanted to make a classic 70’s style rock n’ roll album without losing our raw and punky vibe, but with a modern 2024 production. There’s not a lot of records out there like this one, so I think we achieved our goal. The songs speak for themselves,” while Sanders adds “this is the record I have been wanting to record for years. The feel is right, the musicianship is right, the songs are right and now the time is right for you all to give us your thoughts.”
 
Of the band’s signing with hotshot upstart label Bravewords, Sanders declares “We were looking for the right label and the search was extensive, the most important aspect to me was getting it out there for people to hear – otherwise, what’s the point, right?” while Stokely adds, “I’ve known Tim and Giles for years now. Plus, I’m already signed to the label with another act so it seemed like a natural fit.”

Website: https://www.prophetsofaddiction.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheProphetsofAddiction