Peter ‘Blackie’ Black, Ray Ahn, Murray Ruse and Tim Rogers, otherwise known as The Hard-Ons from out of that there Australia where every creature wants to kill you.

If you’ve never heard of them this is album #14, off the back of their most recent release, 2021’s ‘I’m Sorry Sir, That Riff’s Been Taken’ the Hard-Ons have been busy constructing this beast from all the parts of music they dwell in down there punk/rock/metal/thrash/pop its all there.

From the punky attack of the records first single ‘Apartment For Two’ to the big riffage of ‘In Falls Everything’, the record is packed to the gills with big hooks and a unrelenting power but its wrapped up in melody and a great production.

Renowned for their pop-infused punk meets metal to rock, that goofy oz tongue-in-cheek humour, The Hard-Ons are the original Australian punks that kicked down the door for the likes of Amyl, The Chats and others to walk through. Their influence should not be underestimated globally. 

‘Ripper 23′ is the band fucking with you and having the best of times doing it. Marking an ode to the actual Ripper compilation albums from the 70s (if you know, you know) in the UK we had the Top Of The Pops albums with a page three stunner on every record in various stages of undress be it across a greasy chopper or just coming out of the sea all wet and bothered (of Course) sexist? Um!?, everything old is cool and retro is in vogue, Hell it’s 2023 anything goes and The Hard-Ons know that.

‘Apartment For Two’ is punk as fuck and a riotous opener that Hard-Ons do as good as anyone else in the genre. Next up, ‘Three Separate Light Bulb Moments’ is a riot in audio from the frantic thrash but as you settle down for the full attack it’s done. ‘Going It Alone’ is a wonderful pop song like when Husker Du offer up stonking melodic indie rock or the Lemonheads cut loose on a Buffalo Tom tune. Hang on ‘Sheets Are A Shroud’ is rockin’ with the best of them. A crisp clean riff that sounds sharp as fuck which only paves the way for ‘Chopping Block’ as it gallops through the record like a stallion. Hang on ‘Grandiose’ is heavy as an anvil and about to explode at any second then the gang vocals join in. The record then changes tracks with a DC riff pounding its way as those who are about to rock do just that, its six-packs of beer and a foot on the monitor wedge – let Rock and Rock hard! Big, big balls!

‘Ripper 23′ always sounds like it has a good time through every song, be it hard rock or frantic punk. ‘Makes Me Sick’ cleanses you with some firework punk rock where the guitars sizzle and spit, while ‘Sling Shot’ gallops like a metal riff fest, with hushed vocals to counter the riff before a killer guitar solo that Brian May would be proud of cuts through a frantic flurry of drums.

And closing out this record, the upbeat ‘Letterbox’ is like a Blag Dahlia wet dream with folky harmonies fucking with you before kissing you goodbye with the bluesy throb of ‘Ordinary Things’ with its pianos, and melody it grows into some epic pop-rock blow out.

The Hard-Ons do whatever the Hard-Ons want to do and again they achieve the impossible cross overs with ease and make anything and everything possible. What and where they go next who knows, whatever it is it’ll be quality and you will love it. Get Ripper 23 you wont regret it at all. 

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Author: Dom Daley