THE METEORS were formed way back in 1980 post punk explosion and pre UK 82 to be more precise. They’ve released about a million albums both studio, live and compilation albums since then and its quite an achievement that in 2024 they are still enthusiastic and motivated to keep writing and recording original music and to be fair making music as good if not better than they were doing back in the 80s. To be fair doing this Rock N Roll lark for that many years they should be half decent by now.

Preferring their songs to contain topics about vampires, graveyards and radioactive kids, P. Paul Fenech, still the bands leader and six-string slinger and songwriter has vocals that are distinctively gravel chewing, whisky and cigarette-induced rasp and perfect for this style of Rock n stomp.

With fourteen tracks being wedged onto this latest offering it’s uncompromising and sounds like The MEteors doing it their own way as you’d expect. The surf Rock guitar and minimal tub thumping drumming and subdued salamander stick slapping of that stand-up Bass. They might have paved the way and inspired a whole scene along with a couple of other stalwarts of the scene but they do carve their own path through the scene. ‘The Swampy ‘Blood Moon’ has some sweet guitar licks and very rhythmic drumming taking centre stage.

The title track has a wandering almost folk rhythm going on through its heart with a great arrangement and use of instruments, excellent stuff. Fourteen songs is a lot to get through but there is quite a bit of variety on the theme and whilst its not variety for the sake of it songs like ‘Murder Party’, dare I say it there is a more mature feel to these songs or it might be the more restrained production but you wouldn’t say that on the lyrics which constantly made me chuckle. If you’re looking for a high point then look no further than ‘The Rage’, and ‘The Devil Take Me Highway’ truly majestic slices of the genre, no question about it.

There are the obvious rockabilly, country, surf and rock’n’roll aesthetics. A sound woven by Paul Fenech’s rockin’ guitar and bile-spitting Beelzebub-rousing lyrics. ‘40 Days a Rotting’ proves once again that form is temporary and class is permanent and The Meteors are indeed class. Buy It!

Pre-Order here 

Author: Dom Daley