Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard/ Dead Shed Jokers-Priory sessions – Abergavenny 26/10/19

Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard/ Dead Shed Jokers-Priory sessions – Abergavenny 26/10/19

Before I write another word, you might have noticed (if your from the local area) I’m a headliner missing, no Henry’s Funeral Shoe who were said headliner, yours truly made the conscious decision to abstain, having already seen them any number of times, what drew me tonight were the opening two bands.

Openers Dead Shed Jokers have to me released the LP of the year in All the Seasons, produced by ex Tortoise Corpse’s Tim Hamill in his studio down in far West Wales, which you can pick up on Band camp (Sadly the Corpse have long since necrosed, but if you fancy listening to some absolutely stunning technical thrash, dig deep into the metal graveyard), in fact its not just me who’s been raving about this release, I think every mag that’s reviewed it has been stunned by how good a record it is, and I hope this is the one that drags them kicking and screaming out of the underground, I mean its even trending as I write in HMV in Cardiff.

Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard, I had heard nothing but good things about live. And coming off the back of a tour slot with Miles Kane, recent Radio 1 coverage and a feature in NME, these are another Welsh band going places, shows how vibrant and diverse Welsh music is at present.

Opening to a more than half full priory the Dead Shed Jokers proceeded to tear the place a new one, no compromise and with only playing songs from the new LP, the band absolutely nailed it. Live the music takes on a whole new dimension, it’s complexities driving rather than slowing things down, when you watch the band, influences flick through your mind but ultimately what you are listening to is so unique the influences pale into insignificance, this is 100% original and I love the refusal to bend or re-shape the sound for the mass market.
Now I have to say after reviewing All the seasons I didn’t realize how much of a monster Dreams of North Korea was going to be live, you could have picked my jaw up off the floor. The only shame about tonight’s performance was it was too short!! Fact!

Now talk about rock music on the other end of the spectrum, as Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard kicked in their set I found myself transported back to the ’70s, frontman Tom very definitely channelling his inner Bowie drawing down early days Jagger when preening was par for the course, and recalling classic Glitter band, Bolan, Wizzard et al. And for the whole duration of the set, the band got tighter and tighter with the crowd expanding more and more, dancing and smiling taking over en masse with tracks like Late night city, Love forever and double denim hop, bringing the stomps.

Two bands, one pushing a totally new direction for rock music, the other caught on the revivalist train each relevant now and today, showing how strong rock music in Wales currently is, it doesn’t get much better for a Saturday nites entertainment.

Author: Nev Brooks

Redd Kross announce UK and European tour

Redd Kross announce UK and European tour

California legends Redd Kross have announced their first UK and European headline dates in several years including two intimate dates at The Lexington in London which promise to be evenings to remember.

Steven McDonald had the following to say:

“This is the most comprehensive headlining tour we’ve done of the UK and Europe since ‘97. We are beyond thrilled to be bringing our booty shaking, mind melting party to your shores. So get your head fixed right and polish up those dancing shoes, because we are ready to DO THIS!”

The evergreen band’s latest album, “Beyond The Door”, landed in August on Merge Records to critical acclaim worldwide. Long famed for their raucous live show you can catch the band live on the following dates:

25.04 – The Albert – Brighton
27.04 – The Deaf Institute – Manchester
28.04 – Broadcast – Glasgow
29.04 – Brudenell Social Club – Leeds
30.04 – The Exchange – Bristol
01.05 – The Lexington – London
02.05 – The Lexington – London

Tickets now on-sale from reddkross.com

Order the album via Merge Records

Further details on Redd Kross & Beyond The Door:

Beyond the Door is available now on CD, digitally, and on limited-edition opaque purple Peak Vinyl in the Merge store.

Beyond the Door is an album inspired by the band’s “total commitment to having the best f*cking time we can have while we’re all still here” (what they like to call “The Party”). Musically, it’s guitars, bass, and drums topped with a generous portion of sweet vocal melodies often delivered with an ambiguous edge. The album marks Redd Kross’ most collaborative record to date. Steven describes this evolution: “Jeff is still very much the driving force behind the compositions, but with more help from me than ever. Jeff and I haven’t shared this much of the writing and singing since Born Innocent in 1981.” Guitarist Jason Shapiro and drummer Dale Crover (Melvins, OFF!) are longtime members of the Redd Kross live band, but this album marks the pair’s recorded debut with the group. Mixed in Los Angeles by Steven McDonald, Beyond the Door includes notable guest appearances from Anna Waronker (That Dog), Geré Fennelly, Buzz Osborne (Melvins), and Josh Klinghoffer.

On the surface, the album title is a playful reference to an Italian horror film the McDonald brothers watched as children, a loose rip-off of both The Exorcist and Rosemary’s Baby that stars Juliet Mills of ’70s television program Nanny and the Professor. But like all things Redd Kross, it would be a sad injustice to stop digging there. No one knows what lies Beyond the Door… but we’re all in front of it.

Inspirations as varied as K-pop, glitter gangs, embarrassed tweens, long-term relationships, a mysterious character named Fantástico Roberto, and much more all contributed to Beyond the Door, an album that lures the listener into Redd Kross’ secret club full of riddles and inside jokes, with the ultimate reward of the perfect pop moment!

More Kicks – More Kicks (Wanda Records, Adrenalin Fix, Dirt Cult, Snap Records,Beluga Records)

More Kicks – More Kicks (Wanda Records, Adrenalin Fix, Dirt Cult, Snap Records,Beluga Records)

I love a band who love Rock and Roll.  More Kicks clearly are in love with Rock and Roll so its a no brainer when they knock out tunes full of melody and crafted guitar licks that jolt and shake and are like wrapping a silk scarf around the listeners neck to pull them closer to the speaker to catch the hooks that are just falling nonchalantly out of the speakers.  It can’t be this easy to pen an album full to bursting with great songs, can it? Maybe it can pop pickers or maybe More Kicks have the gift.

More melodies than you can shake a tambourine at – groovy rhythms at ever middle eight and chorus. With members known to the London scene who also ply their trade in other most excellent bands (it makes you sick I know)  its garage power pop with a huge fuckin’ smile – I don’t know if they’re smiling because they know how good they are or because they don’t give two hoots what you or I think because they’re doing what they want to do on nobodies terms except their own.  It really is a beautiful thing.  Sulli, Kris and Paolo sound like they’ve been playing together forever

It is a melting pot of the finest 60s garage – pop – mixed with some 50s melodies and some 70s attitude it’s gritty and sharp.  These cats have a strut like they just invented Rock and Roll and they want everyone to know it.

Twelve songs (including the first which is entitled ‘Intro’) we’re off and running with ‘What A Mess You Make’ and a rip-roaring opener it is too. The songs are short storiesand this one after a bit of doing the boxer beat on the drums we’re off and its never looking back from there on in.  The melodies wash over you as Sulli makes that guitar sing like a tree full of larks. Was that really only two minutes?  I could have hit repeat and just played that all damn day but wait ‘You Left A Stain On Me’ slinks in with some great BV’s.

The songs pile in one after the other and you get the feeling you might have heard it before somewhere.  ‘Shes A Reaction’ feels like the LAs mixing it up with some classic Bluetones but with added psychedelic edge with those keys in the background. The two singles follow ‘I’m On The Brink’ and ‘It’s A Drag’ but there are eleven singles on here, they could and probably should all be hits in a just society.

The tunes are short and oh so sweet and on ‘Rock And Roll Again’ you even get a tutorial on how to get dressed.  the way the tune builds is a joy. Lots of records get front-ended with the best songs but More Kicks don’t need to do that because this record is like a diamond throughout however you look at it from the 50’s breakdown of ‘Aint That Just The Way’ with another immaculate chorus. Topping all that has gone before it is the standout track on a standout album for me has to be ‘Blame It On the Satellite’ with its punchy rhythm before the guitar picks away on the fringe of the second verse and it just builds from there. Bloody brilliant! The lyrics pretty much epitomise where More Kicks is, they’ve taken the best bits of their record collections and thrown them into their own more kicks melting pot and poured out the result into the grooves of this here album. It’s fresh – it’s exciting and first and foremost it’s a bloody triumph.  Whilst the worlds is hellbound in a handcart More Kicks are kicking against the norm with a record that makes me want to smile and just fall in love with Rock and Roll all over again. There’s even a wicked guitar solo on ‘What You thinking Of’ and the amps do go up to eleven on ‘Young Enough’ and the albums closer ‘Your Vibration’.

Listen, You don’t have to take my advice but give this record a listen and turn the bugger up loud and have a party on your stereo.  One of the finest Garage – power pop albums I’ve heard in a long long time. It makes me happy to play More Kicks and in these dark times thats no easy task. Buy It!

 

Buy ‘More Kicks’ Here

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Acetate Records unleashes Junkyard’s previously unreleased 1992 album “Old Habits Die Hard” on November 22!

Acetate Records unleashes Junkyard’s previously unreleased 1992 album “Old Habits Die Hard” on November 22!
Junkyard opens the vault and blows the dust off a killer collection of recordings slated as the follow up to 1991’s “Sixes, Sevens and Nines.” Guitarist Brian Baker’s (Bad Religion, Minor Threat) opening riff serves up the concoction of raucous, bittersweet, bloozy rock that follows. Loose and tight in good measure, with stomping beats and dual guitars zigzagging around David Roach’s raspy howl… make no bones about it – this band could play.
The strut and swagger of “Pushed You Too Far” and the soulful “Tried & True” are balanced by the slow, dirge of “Blue Sin” and the melancholic duet “Hangin’ Around With My Dreams.” “Old Habits” recalls everything from Sticky Fingers-era Stones and ZZ Top to the Ramones and Lynyrd Skynyrd (who they toured with in ’91). More than anything else, though, it sounds like Junkyard.
Back in 1992, Junkyard was a well-oiled machine, their previous two releases performed well, they had multiple videos in rotation on MTV, and successful club and arena tours under their belt. Looking to infuse more of their musical sensibilities into their third effort, they began writing and recording and in a short few months, they had compiled over 20 songs. The new material reflected more of their alt/punk roots, which wasn’t much of a directional change considering their strong punk pedigree.
But the major label’s rush to jump on the next “popular music trend” quickly led to Junkyards demise. “At this point, Nirvana’s “Nevermind” album had been out a few months and we all kinda knew which way the wind was blowing,” singer David Roach recalls, “we didn’t really ‘officially’ break up as a band, it was as simple as the party’s over.” So, with zero fanfare, the band members signed their release paperwork from Geffen (a whopping 2 page fax), gathered their gear and parted ways… the tapes were left to gather dust in the vaults.
Twenty years later, Geffen re-released the first two Junkyard albums and once again, the band was in demand. Tours of Japan and Europe followed, including a headlining slot at Serie Z Festival in Spain, and the band started writing again. In early 2017, Junkyard released “High Water”, their first full-length album in 26 years on LA indie, Acetate Records. The album peaked at 24 on Billboard’s Hard Rock Charts and Junkyard once again played to packed houses across America and Europe. With the band back in form, it seemed like the right time to dust of the tapes.
“Old Habits Die Hard” pretty well summarizes where the band was at the time,” Roach continues, “The addition of Tim Mosher (yes, way back then) brought another element to what Chris Gates and I had been doing. So it was the hard rock, blues, southern thing plus some more melodic and punk which was also a natural course considering where we came from.”
“During the months we recorded these songs we were in various stages of dealing with Geffen. Trying to write a single, but also trying to not care and write for ourselves. The songs indicate the direction we were ultimately not able to take until all these years later.”
“Old Habit’s Die Hard” will be released via streaming, CD and ‘Beer’ colored vinyl on November 22, 2019. A limited number of signed LPs will also be available via acetate.com.
Pre-sale link CD: Here
Pre-sale link LP: Here

PEACEVILLE RECORDS ANNOUNCE THE SIGNING OF HELLRIPPER

PEACEVILLE RECORDS ANNOUNCE THE SIGNING OF HELLRIPPER

Peaceville Records are extremely excited to announce the signing of Hellripper to the label; one of the most electrifying young, up & coming metal acts in the scene today. 

Hellripper, aka James McBain, based in Aberdeen, Scotland, is fast gaining a reputation for whipping up an infectious storm of blackened speed metal greatness in the spirit of old. 

With the new studio album from Hellripper scheduled for release on Peaceville for early 2020, James comments on the signing and updates on how the new album recording is progressing “I am honoured to be part of such a legendary label alongside Darkthrone, Autopsy and Bloodbath to name just a few. It means a lot to me personally as some of the first metal CDs that I bought as a kid were released on Peaceville. 

It’s ridiculous how far Hellripper has come in such a short time and to be recognised by a label of this calibre is amazing. I believe that Peaceville are the right people to be working with as they understand and respect Hellripper’s sound and the ethos behind it. The creative and recording process has remained the same as it has always been for this album and hopefully you will all enjoy listening to it as much as I have enjoyed making it.” 

Inspired by the likes of the old-school legends including Venom, Kreator, Sabbat [JPN] and Metallica, McBain formed Hellripper in 2014 and with the release of the debut EP The Manifestation of Evil shortly after, the band were already making a very clear mission statement… Total fucking mayhem! 

Building on the momentum of the debut EP, Hellripper release a series of split EPs, assemble a live and touring line up and their debut album Coagulating Darkness is released in 2017 to media acclaim with the UK’s Metal Hammer hailing Hellripper as “Scotland’s King of the arcane mosh”. The band supported the release with live shows and festivals to an ever-increasing audience.  2019 has been a hectic year for the band with the release of a new EP – Black Arts & Alchemy on Reaper Metal Productions and the band embarked on their first European tour in April which included an appearance at the acclaimed Roadburn Festival pre-show.

Hellripper still have some shows lined up in 2019 including as special guests to Orange Goblin in London in December and are preparing a live campaign to promote their forthcoming new studio album.

Nov 29 – Glasgow – 13th Note

Nov 30 – Newcastle – Byker Grave Festival (https://www.facebook.com/BykerGrave/)

Dec 20 – London – Electric Ballroom – support to Orange Goblin

May 21-23 – NL – Pitfest, Resort Zuiddrenthe, Erica

Follow Hellripper

https://twitter.com/hellrippermetal
https://hellripper.bandcamp.com/

https://www.hellripper.com/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXkwGbnmrT4JtNp9pkBEP3g

https://www.instagram.com/hellrippermetal/

https://www.facebook.com/hellripper1

https://peaceville.com/bands/hellripper

JIM JONES & THE RIGHTEOUS MIND ANNOUNCE DOUBLE SUNDAY SERVICE AT THE LEXINGTON

JIM JONES & THE RIGHTEOUS MIND ANNOUNCE DOUBLE SUNDAY SERVICE AT THE LEXINGTON

 

Having just scored their first Top 10 vinyl hit with the standalone single, ‘Get Down Get With It’, Jim Jones & The Righteous Mind have announced two special hometown shows on the same day to give the New Year that jolt that it’ll be sorely needing.

The rabble-rousing band will play matinee and evening shows at The Lexington in London on Sunday, 12 January. The all-ages matinee show kicks off at 2pm, while doors open for the 18+ evening show at 7pm. Support comes from avant-garde blues outlaw Bone Zero (matinee) and London-based psych mavericks Daemonik Fonce (evening).

“Think of it as a double Sunday Service,” says frontman Jim Jones. “The earlier show will help baptize kids into the righteous ways of rock’n’roll, while the later show will be more of a confirmation. Either way, you can’t beat the Devil’s music on the Lord’s day.”

Organisers of the show have promised earplugs for sensitive young ears, but parents are welcome to bring their own ear defenders.

Tickets for the shows are priced £14 + booking fee each, while a ticket for both shows is priced at the discounted rate of £25 + booking fee and are available here: https://bit.ly/2pe8XN0

Praise for Jim Jones & The Righteous Mind

“Jim Jones’ groove is fully maintained in gale force determination, resolution and incision.”
Mojo

‘CollectiV’’s variety never slows the album’s constant state of attack. If anything it increases the impact of the singer’s jowl-shaking, balls-out commitment.”
Classic Rock

“Thank f*ck for Jim Jones: 9/10 for an album of perfect rock’n’roll from foot-to-the-pedal raw rushes to dark introspective ballads distilled to perfection.”
Louder Than War

“This album is a must.”
Vive Le Rock

“A dense, dark and dangerous album.”
Shindig!

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