What new superlative can you use about a band who’ve constantly delivered above and beyond? Every time they released a record I’m so happy because they kill it every time, they don’t reinvent the wheel they just roll with it doing what they do and doing it better each time. They’ve pretty much delivered faultless, flawless Punk Rock mixed with power pop, good time rock n roll, and trawled the decades to improve each time. Always delivered with a sparkling production with timeless relatable themes with succinct lyrics and political commentary through the energetic, enthusiastic riffs ‘n licks that pour energy onto the blazing tunes that set the tempo to the soundtrack of your day. The Cyanide Pills are the leaders of the pack in a saturated scene they manage to shine through like diamonds with each album release.

Throughout the pandemic, I craved some music to pass the days of endless government BS and spin and scouring the Internet for any news on bands I love. Often checking in on Dirty Leeds finest, Come one Cyanide Pill it’s been too long I’d tell myself and then after a gap of too many years, I have the email to tell me the wait is over, a clutch of new tunes were in the can and I could wake up to a new soundtrack. Boy, was my anticipation rewarded! the soundtrack to the new Cold War was upon us and it burst into life Opening with the fantastic single ‘The Kids Can’t Be Trusted With Rock n Roll’. The first taster we had from the band still sounds fresh and makes me smile now hold off calling the Punk Rock Police.

If you’re familiar with the band’s output you’ll kinda know what to expect with the likes of ‘Running Out Of Time’ its classic Cyanide Pills, exactly what you want for these reprobates in leather jackets doing punk rock better than anyone currently kicking up dust on dancefloors. I love how sharp that overdrive riff is on ‘Hope Your Having Fun’ whilst the lyrics get spat out of the speakers it’s a bitter sweet pop tune riding a great clean overdrrivven guitar. But you can Bop til you drop for some ‘Low Budget Rock n Roll’ snot everywhere but be careful you 60s babies thinking you can still boss it this one’s quicker than you think.

‘Day After Day’ is power pop perfection with a big hook on that chorus as the riff leans on Joan Jett and of course, the Ramones why not when it sounds this good? ‘Lapdog’ is a slice of bootstomping Rock n Roll thats like a howling good time out on the lash with Mott The Hoople and Slade with some top riff-a-rama yelping at your ankles and who doesn’t want to howl Woof Woof!

‘Act Natural’ they say, don’t get too excited Phil whispers in my ear as the uptempo onslaught continues Catchy, energetic, poignant its all in here kids. Earworm, done. The jive talking ‘Won’t Be Long’ is a classic and I hope to God that the lyrics pan out. I so fuckin hope so, 13 years is long enough to suffer the smug cunts. Come the revolution I’ll be dancing round the burning skip singing ‘won’t be long’ on the top of my voice.

‘I Know What They Can Do’ heads down a darker road altogether but the attitude rises up and is a beast of a song. Whilst ‘Do You Wanna Go Out Tonight’ is a tub-thumping reminder of classic Hanoi Rocks punk rock. The record picks up steam as we head into the home straight and sixteen tracks more than makes up for the wait for this 4th long player but they’ve always offered quality and lots of it. That’s Alright With Us’ is a bittersweet, happy-go-lucky song with lyrics that would and should make you angry but it’s hard to stay fumin when the music is so fuckin good! We might be heading to Hell in a handcart but the soundtrack is fuckin’ champion. You know the drill by now ‘Tell Me Something New’ is beautiful. Simple this Rock n Roll game. Write a whole bunch of banging tunes and get rich and famous, isn’t it?The penultimatee rocker is ‘Pecking Order’ a straight no nonsense two minutes of crash bang and wallop. Leaving a happy go lucky ‘It’s Over’ to put a full stop on proceedings. Another day another masterclass from Cyanide Pills. Me I’,m going back to the start and playing this through again and again and again.

I hear by announce the final result, Cyanide pills are still in charge and on top of their game. They should be duly elected to run whatever they fuckin like. lifetime peerages all around me thinks. Buy this album it’s a Banger.

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author: Dom Daley