Chesty Malone & The Slice Em Ups interview Exclusive

Chesty Malone & The Slice Em Ups interview Exclusive
Back in the old days, there were a few bands who responded well to being harrassed by some writers from this side of the pond and some who lurked in the underground punk rock scene consistently knocking out great punk rock and B movie videos. Recently one of those beasts reconnected with RPM and had some new music available so it seems only fair that we threw out a few questions to Anthony about just what Chesty Malone is up to? So here goes a quick chat whilst your waiting for the new album to drop…
Hi Anthony, What have Chesty Malone & The Slice Em Ups been up to lately?
We spent most of the spring and summer of 2019 playing east coast shows in support of our ‘Satanic Brooklyn Scum’ 7” that came out on April fool’s day this year. We played with Dr Chud’s solo band in Delaware, we headlined a record release show at Lucky 13 Saloon in Brooklyn where we had a satanic blessing just before we went on. We also played Philadelphia, PA, and Altoona and State College, PA plus a bunch more I’m currently not remembering hahaha, I think we made it somewhere in Ohio too. We also have a brand new 3 song 7” coming out on Friday the 13th in December, ‘19. It’s called ‘Destroy All Humans’ and it’s gonna be on green, purple and black wax on 1332 Records. We also have upcoming shows in Brooklyn where we’re opening for Poison Idea’s final show along with our first ever shows in Pittsburgh, PA and Baltimore, MD and more!

For those new to the band can you give us a potted overview of who you are and what brought you together?
We formed in 2006 in the very depths of Queens, NY. We (Anthony Van Hoek and Jaqueline Blownaparte) were both heavy in the NYC Punk and hardcore scene and we decided to come together to bring back a more extreme old school feel. Music wasn’t our only influence, lots of B movies, Coors Light and hanging out with cool cats (the animals, not the people) inspired our new brand of sound. We like to express our love of those things and our feelings of disgust with society and people around us. Have you ever wondered what it’d be like if the OG Misfits played a VFW show with Metallica, the Cramps, the Plasmatics, the Stooges, Venom and some Las Vegas Strip club bands from the ‘50s while a Twilight Zone marathon played between bands with a white female Dolemite MCing the whole shabang? Well, wonder no more.
The East coast around the New York area especially has been such a creative centre for great Rock and Roll? what memories have you got of getting into punk rock?
My very 1st punk rock memory is probably when my uncle Allen brought the 1st Ramones record over to our house one summer when I was about 7 years old. That made a huge and indelible impression on me for sure. The east coast is great but we still wanna make it out west one day too!
Who influenced the sound of Chesty Malone?
I mean, life in general hahaha. Walk down the street behind a bunch of inconsiderate a-holes who don’t realize there are other people trying to use the sidewalk and you can get influenced by that for sure. Be a bouncer at a biker bar in New York City where you have to listen to the same country and classic rock tunes every night for years on end and that will inevitably sink into your soul. Ride the subway every day of your miserable life alongside rats, roaches and every form of assorted degenerate the world has to offer and, well you guessed it, huge influence! Sure I could name some bands we like but that’d be a bit boring and you can probably draw some conclusions on your own anyway.

 

You have a new record on the way what are the chances of a long-player? What about live shows?
We are currently writing and rehearsing for a new full-length album, thanks for asking! I’ll even give ya a scoop: it’s gonna be called “Please Chesty Don’t Hurt ‘em” and we’re always playing shows! Comin’ at ya live!
What about 2020 any plans for the band?
Well yeah! We’ve got the ‘Destroy All Humans’ 7” coming out at the end of 2019 so we’ll be shamelessly hawking that hot slab ‘o wax along with ‘Satanic Brooklyn Scum’ and all our other stuff all year. Maybe our 4th album that I mentioned above will come out in 2020. Unless something terrible happens of course. 
On to you personally, What or Who made you pick up the guitar in the first place?  From the scene that you started out in who are still kicking about?  I’ve seen some cool footage of shows from places like Coney Island they always look like a lot of fun and a great community? where has everyone gone or are they still around?
Yeah, it’s more of a WHAT that made me want to play the guitar. I’ve always loved the dirty heavy sound of a loud distorted guitar. Literally from the scene, I started out in, I can only think of the band Slough Feg that’s still around. Look ’em up if ya don’t know.
Your videos always look like a load of fun some great B movie humour going on where do you get your ideas?
Thank ya! I sometimes wake up in the middle of the night with video concept ideas and song ideas and artwork concepts etc. I keep a notebook and pen by my bed for these purposes.
There you go, folks, a quick catch up with our Favourite Queens punk rockers check out the videos and go listen to their tunes stream them or pop along to one of the links provided and pick up an old school record – they rock!
The label’s site, where you can order the new record
All photos by Rusty Glessner

Prong – ‘Age of Defiance’ EP (Steamhammer/SPV)

Prong – ‘Age of Defiance’ EP (Steamhammer/SPV)

I guess this 5 tracker EP released as a stop gap between albums should really be in Dom’s monthly singles round up, but this 12” and CD release is by Prong brothers and sisters, so you’ll forgive me if I indulge you further.

It’s safe to say that since the revitalised band signed for SPV back at the start of this decade they have been in a rich vein of form and haven’t really put a motorcycle booted foot wrong. Even ‘Songs From The Black Hole’ their 2015 album of cover versions was a “must buy” simply because as Prong do…they made that oh so well worn format (are you listening Cleopatra Records) all their own…and by God it worked.

Even with things are not going exactly to plan (like their website recently getting hijacked by an ex-manager for example) it’s the strength of character and conviction that Prong main man Tommy Victor has in his band and its music that keeps driving the band forwards, and whilst their albums are now largely devoid of the short sharp punk rock blasts the band first started out playing, that all important punk rock heart is still very much beating under that post-apocalyptic industrial metal exterior that now pervades all, meaning it’s still just as easy for the band to slot onto bills alongside the likes of Agnostic Front and Hatebreed as it is any out and out metal bill.

Consisting of two new studio tracks and three live tracks ‘Age of Defiance’ sees Victor welcoming drummer Aaron Rossi back to the fold (alongside long-time bassist Jason Christopher) whilst once again co-producing the release alongside Chris Collier who has worked with the band since 2014’s immense ‘Ruining Lives’ album.

Having digitally released the chugging thrasher ‘End of Sanity’ back at the end of October (which kind of made me think what Jaz Coleman might sound like fronting early Exodus) I was wondering if this release might mark the return of Prong to their earlier crossover days, but a few bars into ‘Age of Defiance’ it’s clear that Victor isn’t going to be breaking with the winning formula he’s developed over the past three studio records. Underpinning the huge slabs of guitar set to stun with pulsating rhythms that the melodies deep into your brain, this is the sound of Prong in 2019 and it sounds absolutely marvellous.

Moving onto the live tracks then and this trio were all recorded in Berlin back in 2015 revisiting tracks from the band’s initial mid 90s surge into the mainstream with ‘Rude Awaking’, along with ‘Cleansing’ duo ‘Another World Device’ and ‘Cut Rate’ showcasing why Prong always was and always will be a band out of time.

Like Victor himself states” Prong isn’t something he does for fame or glory”, it’s something I have to agree with the man on when he also states “it’s something spiritual, and a God given gift”. Why does he think this? Well check out ‘Age of Defiance’ and you’ll soon understand.

Once again this is truly amazing stuff from a truly amazing band.

 

Author: Johnny Hayward

Buy ‘Age Of Defiance’ Here

The Rocket Dolls Release brand new video ahead of New Album

The Rocket Dolls Release brand new video ahead of New Album

Brighton rock trio The Rocket Dolls are thrilled to announce their brand new album “The Art Of Disconnect”, due for worldwide release on 1stMay 2020. Alongside the forthcoming record, the band will be launching the first single “Enthusiasm And Fumes” the video is out today

 

 

The release of “The Art Of Disconnect” is the living embodiment of how the rock music and the rock community are very much alive. The story behind the record sees The Rocket Dolls being one of the many bands affected by the PledgeMusic crisis. Undeterred, the band re-launched the fund-raising campaign from their own merch store, smashing the target thanks to their loyal fans.

“The Art Of Disconnect” has been two years in the making and displays a varied soundscape: the pure rock energy blends with hints of pop sensibilities and grunge riffs, creating their fullest and most accessible record yet. The record was produced by George Donoghue at British Grove Studios, with industry heavyweight Chris Sheldon at the mixing desk (Foo Fighters, Biffy Clyro and Don Broco).

Front-man Nikki Smash says: “These songs are possibly the most personal of all the stuff I’ve ever written. This album is about dealing with lies and deceptions, dealing with destructive habits, dealing with costly mistakes, staying with the program and trying to be healthy.”

Formed in 2008, The Rocket Dolls are rapidly establishing themselves as providers of massive soundscapes, dirty riffs and lyrics that provoke a roller-coaster of thrilling emotions. It is a band forged in friendship, fused together over a long period, and merged with collective influences from Nirvana, Silverchair, the riff-spiration of Alkaline Trio and the melodic, top-line sensibilities of Panic! At the Disco.

Since 2018’s critically acclaimed album “DeadHead” the band has toured extensively, accumulating miles of road experience and playing festivals such as Hard Rock Hell, Ramblin’ Man and Planet Rockstock. The band will be hitting the road again in support of “The Art Of Disconnect” in 2020, with full details to be announced soon.

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SKY VALLEY MISTRESS JOIN NEW HEAVY SOUNDS

SKY VALLEY MISTRESS JOIN NEW HEAVY SOUNDS
Hard rock, stoner outfit Sky Valley Mistress have signed to London label New Heavy Sounds which is also home to the likes of Black Moth, Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard, BlackLab, Cold in Berlin and Limb.
The Blackburn, Lancashire based band will release their debut album next year which they recorded with Dave Catching no less (QOTSA, EODM and Mojave Lords) at Rancho De La Luna in Joshua Tree, California after he invited them out there.
Over the past few years they’ve also played Liverpool Sound City, Camden Rocks and Download Festival, plus support slots with The Subways and Band of Skulls. They are also opening for Black Moth at their final ever Leeds this Friday.
 Kayley from Sky Valley Mistress says “We are so excited to finally bring our new album to the world and we can’t wait to work with New Heavy Sounds as we already feel at home and are proud to be added to such a formidable roster. We are incredibly proud of our debut album and can’t wait for you all to hear it.”
 
Sky Valley Mistress will support Black Moth on Friday 6th December in Leeds at the Brudenell Social Club.
 
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L.A. Guns – Another X Mas In Hell (Frontiers Music)

L.A. Guns – Another X Mas In Hell (Frontiers Music)

Hooray for The L.A. Guns.  I was secretly hoping that someone would make a Christmas record and I wasn’t bothered if it was original or cover versions to be fair I just wanted it to be good and low and behold who steps up to the plate with an EP of Christmas themed bangers but my old muckers The L.A. Guns.  Now I raved about their new album (rightly so)  and I loved Cuts when they did that EP especially the Japanese version because it had more tracks and ones that should have been more widely available because they were so good.  Anyway I digress.  L.A. Guns whilst toured and seemed happy to be lumped in with a lot of absolute dross in the 80s and onwards and haven’t always made it easy to follow the band and what they were doing and to negotiate the often soap opera goings on with the bands personal but when they did settle down and let the music do the talking they were more than a step up from a lot of if not 99.9% of the hair metal tosh they were wrongly lumped in with. those early records were great and still sound great and when they went over the edge they twisted the melon and introduced a little Gothic flavour into the mix but they also always had taste outside america, maybe due to Phil and his previous workings but covering Generation X and the Damned always sounded fantastic to me and the versions they did showed they were people who got it and understood the task they were facing.  Lots of band fuck it up and miss the point so badly but not the Guns. So, Onto 2019 and this Christmas offering well, it might only be an EP of five tunes but one is a Ramones cover, a Slade cover and A Damned cover whilst for the opener they bring out William Shatner for a cover of the Billy Squire tune ‘The Bills/Christmas Is The Time To Say I Love You’.

Now don’t snigger at the back this is serious. bloody brilliant having the Shats on the intro is classic.  All hail the L.A. Guns and Shats you guys nailed it. There are those who say you shouldn’t touch a classic especially one like Slades Merry Christmas Everybody’  but fuck it, they nailed it again and obviously Lewis is no Holder but they take on a beast of Christmas tunes and own it. ‘Dreidel’ lasts nine seconds what else can I say?  Now onto the highlight of the EP and the Damned  ‘(There Ain’t No) Sanity Clause’ and again they prove they just get it and a finer Christmas tune doesn’t exist so I’ll take this every day of the week.  Well done you lot. To finish it off the Ramones ‘Merry Christmas I Don’t Want To Fight Tonight)’ is exactly what you’d expect of a Ramones cover of this nature.

 

That’s it in a nutshell an admirable effort that hits the spot and when anyone round my gaff asks for some Christmas tunes I know what I’ll be playing.  Same time next year boys?

Author: Dom Daley

Quireboys release digital only live album

Quireboys release digital only live album

The Quireboys have today announced the digital-only audio release of their momentous 35th Anniversary performance at the O2 Forum Kentish Town in London on September 14th this year.

The gold and platinum disc recipients sold out their 35th Anniversary gig, and played a stunning set of 17 classic Quireboys tracks in front of over 2000 adoring fans, including major hits such as Hey You, I Don’t Love You Anymore, 7 O’Clock and Sex Party plus stunning tracks from their new album ‘Amazing Disgrace’ including 7 Deadly Sins and Original Black Eyed Son.

The setlist in full:

Hey You
There She Goes Again
Misled
Roses & Rings
Man on the Loose
Take Me Home
Sweet Mary Ann
Whippin’ Boy
I Don’t Love You Anymore
Long Time Comin’
7 O’Clock
Mona Lisa Smiled
7 Deadly Sins
Original Black Eyed Son
This is Rock’n’Roll
Sex Party and Mayfair

The lads are already deep into a world tour supporting their latest album ‘Amazing Disgrace’ – which includes dates in Europe, Australia and the US, which will keep them busy until deep into 2020.

The 35 & Live album is out on Today and can be pre-ordered: Here

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The Slop – The Slop (Outro Records)

The Slop – The Slop (Outro Records)

When a band gets in touch and says they’re influenced by a bunch of bands that pretty much name for name are the very same bands that are the heartbeat of your record collection why the fuck wouldn’t you jump on board and take them for a spin.  Well The Slop did just that and when I sat back with my pencil and a piece of paper in hand whilst the music jumped out of the speakers I had to sit up and give it my full attention because they do have The Cramps and Chuck Berry propping up their sound with just enough of That Ramones and Dead Boys DNA coursing through their veins. They’ve mainlined the likes of The Stones and Chuck Berry alongside plenty of Iggy and Stiv and its coursing through their veins into their DNA.  The Opener ‘Halloween’ is a sloppy Ramones meets Poison Ivy kinda junk vibe and an honest as the day is long grasp on what its all about.  but hey it gets better because ‘Godzilla’ is another romp on the wrong side of the tracks that goes faster and louder than the opener its rolled in trash and spat out lo-fi n all.  Its a lot of fun I know that much.

‘You and Me’ has a grand melody that’s been taken out the back and given a good kicking after the drums sound like they’ve been dragged behind a truck It’s a minute and a half of unbridled joy in audio form I know that much and ‘Feel So Good’ is everything you need to know in a song title.  It does exactly what it says on the tin with a Stooges rhythm hashed out through broken speakers it’s not in the gutter but if it drinks anymore it might be. There is a hint of Gunfire Dance going on here folks and it feels great.

The lyrics are as throwaway as the beer cans I guess and I’m hearing Baby a lot and I like that. ‘Airwaves’ is a Ramones melody they must have picked up from the ether that blew over from the LES.  Its a glorious bit of trash that gets into your ear and burrows deep but you like it, you like it a lot but only until ‘Rocker’ turns up.  Covering DC in the style that Chuck Berry intended it to be played is a beautiful thing.   It’s rapid and dangerous to know – simply irresistible from the screams to the solo you need this in your life.

It’s not just noise for the sake of noise damn you could dance to ‘Oh Yeah’ if you wanted to but be careful you don’t put a hip out or slip in those Cuban heels. You also get a lot of bang for your buck as well with fifteen songs on offer and it’s not front-loaded or gimmicky at all because my favourite is the snotty street fighter ‘I Can’t Take It’ with its choppy riff and brisk tempo and songs like ‘So Sick’ are like a bad bump or is that a good bump whatever its another cracker. But hey I’m outta breath, I can’t keep up with ‘Slop Bop’ is chaos reigning supreme over a traditional riff that Brian James would have been proud to lay down once upon a time. I guess what I’m trying to say is if you honestly really really like your Rock and Roll a little sloppy and a little bit dangerous and you haven’t gone soft and you still love noise with melodies and a bit of rhythm then you really do need to jump on this album its that good boy n girls.  As its that time of year as well why not ask Santa nicely for a copy I’m sure he’d love to deliver you one.

 

Buy The Slop Here

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Author: Dom Daley

Bitch Queens announce European tour dates

Bitch Queens announce European tour dates
Our favourite Basel Action rockers Bitch Queens are heading out the door to rock around the mainland on their City Of Class Tour.  They then plan to head back to shit island and Spain which will be announced soon.
20.12. Slow Club Freiburg (DE) w/ THE MONOFONES 
21.12. Fasskeller, Schaffhausen (CH) w/ BRONCO 
03.01. Horst , Saarbrücken (DE) 
4.1. Zebra Club, Hausen (DE) 
20.2. Klub Famu Prag (CZ)
21.2. Arena, Wien (A) w/ Boogie Hammer
22.2. Klub Falcon, Klatovy (CZ)
13.3. l’Atelier des Môles, Montbéliard (F)
14.3. Freak SHOW, Essen (DE)

UK & ESP to be announced soon.
City Of Class album Review Here

Gone But Not Forgotten – Pete Shelley 1955-2018

Gone But Not Forgotten – Pete Shelley 1955-2018
Photo by Andre Csillag

Today RPM would like to remember Peter Campbell McNeish born on 17 April 1955 but sadly passed away on this day twelve months ago of a suspected heart attack.  Can’t place the name? worry not because you will remember him as Pete Shelly one of the singer-songwriters from Buzzcocks and writer of classic punk tunes such as ‘Ever Fallen In Love (with Someone You Shouldn’t ‘ve?).

Shelley formed Buzzcocks with Howard Devoto after they met at the Bolton Institute of Technology in 1975 and after the pair travelled to High Wycombe, to see the Sex Pistols. The band included bassist Steve Diggle and drummer John Maher; They went on to make their debut supporting the Sex Pistols in their home town of Manchester.  After the band went onto an indefinate hiatus it was touring or being asked to open for Nirvana around North America that sparked a renewed interest in the band and they never looked back.

McNeish changed his name to Shelley after his favourite romantic poet which shouldn’t come as a surprise with the style of songs and the lyrics Pete wrote throughout his career.  From the debut classic ‘Spiral Scratch’ right through his solo years and up until his untimely passing as a member of the reformed Buzzcocks sadly he missed his bands playing at The Royal Albert Hall  Pete Shelley is sadly missed and has left a giant hole in the hearts of many fans around the globe.

The first three albums are regarded as the classic years where Shelly was thrust into the frontman role ably assisted by Diggle but it was Shelly’s melodies on hits like ‘Ever Fallen In Love’ and ‘What Do I Get?’ the band hit something of a wall in 81 after the release of ‘Singles Going Steady’ and a dispute with their then label.  He went on to have a decent solo career until he and Diggle reformed the band in 89 with the release of ‘Trade Test Transmission’.  there were several new albums from Buzzcocks including ‘The Way’ and ‘Flat Pack Philosophy’. His death was broken to the public through his brother Gary via Facebook.

Shelley had moved to Tallinn in Estonia, in 2012 with his second wife, Greta, an Estonian, he sited the less hectic pace there to that he had spent the last thirty years in London. He died in Estonia of a suspected heart attack on the morning of 6 December 2018. His passing rightly made the national news as he had so much left to give and Buzzcocks were still very capable of delivering devastating live performances with so many hits they tried to pack into their live show they never disappointed.  The band were heralded by the likes of John Peel who was synonymous with playing their singles before they were released and helping turn the public onto Shelley penned classics.

 

Shelley left behind a quite remarkable catalogue of records spanning several decades five solo albums, fourteen singles as for Buzzcocks; there were nine studio albums, five live albums, no less than thirteen compilation albums, ten EP’s and twenty-four singles.  It’s hard to believe looking back that the band never achieved a top ten single in the UK when you consider some of their most memorable releases.

 

Puppy & The Hand Jobs – ‘I Hate Everything’ (Slovenly Records)

Puppy & The Hand Jobs – ‘I Hate Everything’ (Slovenly Records)

PUPPY AND THE HAND JOBS (Yup, that’s their name) are apparently three obnoxiously jackoffs who (amazingly)  are back with another crude EP of filth-ridden, barely listenable/tolerable punk called ‘I Hate Everything’.

With seven songs crammed onto a seven inch single EP. VFM or what? Seems like some effort to make a record trying to alienate people to never buy your record (maybe these guys are minted and bored) in a way the likes of GG Allin could only have dreamt of.  Titles like ‘Cocksucker’ (all 36 seconds of it) and ‘Rocker Hag’ and ‘Predator’ a bass-heavy riff all about duck taping someone up in the trunk of your car and barely keeping them alive will always have an audience. It’s crash bang wallop with a Ramones influenced melody.  Puppy and the gang don’t seem too bothered about sound levels either which is why they hate everything I guess.  I’m surprised they can get their tongue out of their cheeks long enough to record this but hey fill yer boots.

Wait a minute ‘Plan 9’ is over a minute long and has a melody and a tune and sounds like some effort was used to write it at least. Is Puppy playing us all? to take this sucker home they leave us with ‘That’s Bullshit’ which must have taken all of 30 seconds to write which leaves me wondering how it lasts almost two minutes? it’s like punk-prog and having a bass-led breakdown and spoken words middle eight they’re getting ahead of their pay grade here which is absolutely Bullshit the noisy bastards.  If you like some filthy pointless punk rock then you should be all over this much like the X rated artwork that goes with the single and not the clean one they’ve sold out for on the digital version because they’d be banned.  Fuckin’ punk rock sellouts they really do hate everything. But it’s worth checking out for the artwork it’ll make every schoolboy chuckle out loud For fuck’s sake.

Bandcamp Here 

as for a Fecebook link, of course they’re not there these guys are punk as fuck!

Author: Dom Daley

 

 

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