Monty Oxymoron – ‘The Piano Plays ‘Til Midnight’ (The Songs Of The Damned) (Damaged Goods)

Monty Oxymoron – ‘The Piano Plays ‘Til Midnight’ (The Songs Of The Damned) (Damaged Goods)

Monty has been a valued member of The Mighty Damned since 1996 and has contributed to the songwriting process, and has also written and played with the Captain, but did you know he is a trained Psychiatric nurse and Psychotherapist

Now its fair to say The Damned have been the pioneers of Punk since its inception and have easily weaved their magic through many of its subgenres as the pioneers never afraid to take a chance and always had diversity in th e records introducing keyboards and having songs with synths so it might only have been a matter of time before someone in the camp inspired Monty to get in a studio and lay down his parts or interpritations for many of the bands best loved songs adding another flavour to many classics and some not so classic. Join Monty on this magical mystery ride.

Now I’m not sure if his tongue is firmly in his cheek or this is a deadly serious project, either way I was intrigued to investigate all nineteen tracks. Sure, we would all agree there are some quite beautiful songs that either already have significant piano parts or involve keys in some fashion, so beginning with ‘Beauty Of The Beast’ is safe territory, but having no vocals and just piano and no synths is very interesting. ‘Blackout’ had me upright and not sure whether to laugh out loud or to appreciate the majesty of the melody or scratch my head at the blasphemy of hearing it like this. Sure, the breakdown sounds wonderful, but whatever gets you through, I guess.

Monty often has me scratching my head as he dances on the side of the stage or leaps up and down, but when the band do the huge songs like ‘Absinth’ I see his worth and like what I hear. There are some safe tunes like ‘History Of The World’ where it works, and others like ‘Smash It Up’ that sound like it belongs on Blackpool sea front, amusing old punks in their kiss me quick hats.

‘Life Goes On’ sounds fantastic, and is it rude of me to prefer Captain’s performance of ‘Just Can’t Be Happy’? ‘Shadow Of Love’ works as does ‘Limit Club’, a song the band should get back in the set and leave it there in place of ‘Eloise’ if anyone’s asking. ‘The Dog’, ‘Disco Man’, ‘Generals’, ‘Natures Dark Passion’ and the beautiful ‘Under The Floor’ make this all worthwhile.

Saying that the tribute pieces to end this album, dedicated to Cap, Dave, Paul, Stu, and Pinch, are lovely, but not something I will be returning to, (Jazz just goes over my head or on this case right through it) even if the one for Paul sounds like the same amount of notes Paul hits every song hes ever played on. For Damned completists, no doubt a lovely piece of curio from a maverick figure in the most glorious and wonderful punk rock band that ever made a note of music. Long live The Damned and everything they do, even the bat shit crazy piano lounge albums with no words just piano. Respect to Monty and whoever commissioned this crazy album. I await the tour dates as Monty heads out on a solo tour with this bad boy.

Buy Here

Author: Dom Daley

Poison Heart – ‘Love Lies And Hard Times’ (Heavy Medication Records)

Poison Heart – ‘Love Lies And Hard Times’ (Heavy Medication Records)

Warsaw’s own punk’n’roll powerhouse Poison Heart are back and louder than ever with their new album, ‘Love, Lies and Hard Times’, Now I have to admit I’m not up to speed with the punk’n’roll scene in Poland, but if this is the quality on offe,r then maybe I should remedy that asap.

In 2018, Poison Heart released their Scandi-styled, high-energy punk & roll, maybe polski styled should be the way forward. It’s taken them a while to follow it up, but on the evidence I have before me it was time well spent.

Equal parts punk and hard rock they were obviously paying attention to the likes of Turbonegro, The Hellacopters, Gluecifer, and MC5, delivered with a twin-guitar, street punk vocals,

‘Love, Lies and Hard Times’, the band’s 4th long-player, features 10 brand-new tracks that balance fierce melodies with unflinching honesty. The themes might be well well-trodden paths of broken relationships, sleepless nights, and inner battles. The album has universal appeal for sure, but I admire the bravery of featuring three songs sung in Polish, which sound really good to be fair, and doesn’t take anything away from the flow of the record, even though I haven’t got a clue what they are about. All power to them for doing it.

I’d imagine what you hear is exactly what you get live from the band: a ton of energy and a passion for the style they deliver. Fans of The Almighty and The Cult and such like will find a lot to enjoy here from the opening brooding ‘Precedens’ and the Thin Lizzy delivery of the twin guitars a theme they lean on for sure.

‘Warsaw Blues’ is convincing and has a great driving rhythm, especially when the volume is up. The songs are kept lean with nothing overstaying its welcome, and some great tub thumping on ‘Saturday Night’ before ‘Mirror’ offers a change of pace as its brooding intro builds into an 80s feel of alt rock. Check ’em out if greasy rock n roll is your thing, you might just love some ‘Love Lies And Hard Times’.

Buy Here

Author: Dom Daley

The Good The Bad And The Zugly – ‘November Boys’ (Indie Recordings)

The Good The Bad And The Zugly – ‘November Boys’ (Indie Recordings)

Holy fuck, I have to start by saying that my first spin was on ear-bleeding volumes, and as the title track burst through the ether, I felt quite emotional. The melody is exquisite and those gang vocals haven’t been heard since Turbonegro hit their zenith. Throughout the album trilogy ’Misanthropical House’, ’Algorithm and Blues’, and ’Research and Destroy’, were well above average, in fact, over ti.m,e I’d go so far as to say at times exceptional but his ‘November Boys’ is shaping up to be something else that blasts off into the red hot sun. The Good The Bad and The Zugly have limped their way through midlife crises and pubescent antics to release one mother fucker of a record from the opening pop sensible melodic bastards that ore the first two to ‘Norweigans Abroad’ which is a thrashing mother fucker of a track that is tight and raging and turning into everythinng you want it to sound like – turn it up please.

They might well be mediocre underachievers on the unglamorous Scandirock path to valhalla but fair play this eclipses everything they’ve done until here and maybe now people will take these slackers seriously and they will be championed for saving gumbo punk rock n roll single-handedly.

‘Dig A Ditch’ sounds like a heavy diet of UFO records and bad drugs for the length of the intro alone but man this record is making bad life choices seem like good ideas that have brought us to this point in life otherwise we’d have passed these nut jobs by and given them a wide birth, thankfully I’m not that sensible.

The bands press release is like it was lifted from a twin peaks script after some bad acid and too much vodka but the tunes will always be their saving grace when they’re this good. ‘Dig A Ditch’ could and should be a crossover radio hit anywhere and everywhere.

A snippet from the press kit reads as follows: “The fact remains: we have always been left behind ever since kindergarten (for those of us lucky enough to experience such a well-regulated institution). In sports, we were always picked last. Our finest effort was put into keeping the bench warm for all the tough and slick January boys whenever they got tired of scoring goals—and chicks. Our academic performances measured at impressively low standards. Lacking any ability to concentrate, our educational path was a fast track to the headmaster’s office and, eventually, special ed classes. Today, they would have stuffed us full of pills in no time.” Confused? Don’t be, join us and rejoice that we’ve got the best tunes just take the melody on ‘A Blazer In The Northern Sky’ and dance like nobody is watching and sing like nobody can hear you. It’s blissful, trust me.

‘Scandinavian CRISPR Brat’ is like their irresponsible hate anthem, but with a sweet melody and a riff to die for GBZ are on FIRE! The fact that there are only ten songs here fills me with sadness. I wish it were a double album with twenty tracks, such is the quality on offer, but he,y ten is fine and dandy. ‘FOMO’ is bone-crushing riff-a-rama as we’re almost at the finish line, it’s a burst on as we dash for the finish through a thrashingly good ‘Hadeland Hardcore’. The Stooges one-finger piano tonk on ‘All My Friends Are Dead Inside’ rings around my head before we sign off with the wonderful ‘New Kids on the Blockchain’ and we’re done. I’m going back in for more and might just play it on my headphones and see if I can just run as fast as I can for as long as I can to see if this album makes me go mental. What a fuckin monster of a record. Congrats GBZ, you have achieved a goal of writing and recording one hell of a record that is as good from the opening track to the closing track, and everything in between is pure fuckin fire (as the kids would say). Melodies to die for, riffs that are on point and life-affirming. The November Boys are here, and the summer isn’t even done yet. Buy this album; it might just be the best thing you hear all year.

Buy Here / Plastic Head in the UK: Here

Author: Dom Daley

No Tears – ‘Heart Shaped Eyes’ (Beluga Records)

No Tears – ‘Heart Shaped Eyes’ (Beluga Records)

We all have styles and bands that keep returning to our turntables, tablets, digital streaming or however we consume these days, and you can add to that labels that just get it and churn out reliably above-average music and new finds to add to our playlists and favourite new albums of the year list. One such label is the Scandi power poppin’ legends at Beluga who’ve done it again. If you are ever in doubt about your choices of music and bands to play, then I suggest you jump on board because the latest record off the quality-assured conveyor belt is the quirky named No Tears.

Now stay with me, it might have been originally released back in 2023 on  Luftslott Records. No Tears peddle pure Costello-infused Power Pop with added snot guitar pop. The whole shooting match is performed by the clever so-and-so called Christoffer Karlsson. The astute and top power poppers will know his day job is performing with the horror punkin power poppers The Dahmers as their lead vocalist, so the guy has pedigree.

Now you can check them another day because today it’s all about reengaging with No Tears and passing on the love and hopefully expanding the ownership of this fantastic record. The album kicks off with the rampant horn honkin’ blast that is ‘Dreamin’, and that’s it I’m all in. Energy, excellent playing and those honkin’ saxophone breaks laid over a wicked riff and thumping beat, it’s a freakin winner every day of the week. From the drum fills, the bass solo and then the rasping guitar break, this is kitchen sink rock n roll and some. Oh and handclaps

Once upon a time, this record would have been huge and hits galore all over the globe. There is a familiarity with the melodies in some of the songs, and the riffs are all borrowed from the good and great of history. Had Chris Stein penned some of the licks and arrangements around the time of ‘Eat To The Beat’, like ‘Get Away’. The sugar-sweet melodies are wrapped in raw guitars but smoothed over with some well-placed keys.

‘Same Old Story’ is banging and giving The Hives a good run for their money, and they’re playing arenas. The variety is excellent, pitching ‘Broken Mirror’ with its backbeat and dreamy breakdown alongside a good boogie ‘On 45’, then a curveball in the spaced out dreamy of the ‘Silence Is Speaking’ before signing off with the acoustic slide marching beat of ‘Without Your Love’ that features vocals from Beatrice Rosdahl adding some ye haw! to proceedings. What a fantastic breath of fresh air this record is, featuring eleven diverse songs making up a complete album that you should be checking out.

Get over to Beluga and tell em RPM sent you or else…

Buy Here

Author: Dom Daley

Redd Kross – The Crescent, York – 21st August 2025

Redd Kross – The Crescent, York – 21st August 2025

Coming on like The Monkees for the 90’s, Californian Power Pop legends Redd Kross brought colour, quirkiness and most of all, FUN to a Grunge-filled music world. There was a period when all I listened to was ‘Third Eye’, ‘Phaseshifter’ and the two Jellyfish albums.

Their performance of ‘Visionary’ on The Word could be the best live performance of any band in a TV studio, and it was then I realised I had to see them live…yet it never happened. For one reason or another, the stars never aligned for me and Redd Kross…until now.

Following the release of last year’s excellent self-titled double album, the band are over here with The Melvins and they have a few shows of their own. One happens to be a 25-minute walk from my house; there is no way I am missing this!

Dressed in matching paint-splattered white outfits, like a walking & talking (well, singing) art piece on their way to an Indian wedding, Redd Kross walk on and fire straight into ‘Huge Wonder’. I never realised how tall Jeff McDonald is; the singer towers over guitarist Jason Shapiro. To his left, bassist and brother Steven gyrates his body like he’s being electrocuted. The man with the straightest hair in rock knows how to work a crowd, and his between-song Paul Stanley-esque raps are comedy gold that keeps the crowd up for a rock n’ roll party.

‘Stay Away From Downtown’ is up next, a killer garage rock riff from Jeff’s guitar and a sublime hook makes it an early highlight, damn I forgot how good that tune is. ‘Stunt Queen’ is the first of 5 tracks from the latest album. What a tune live, it has the attitude and the punk energy of classic Redd Kross, and I love it.

Just watching the brothers trade vocals, constantly smiling and moving, giving their all in the moment, it’s just magical to me. ‘Lady In The Front Row’ is the first sublime moment that gets the crowd singing every word. How could you not? It’s ridiculously catchy. A red album double dose follows: the singles ‘Candy Coloured Catastrophe’ and the Steven-led ‘I’ll Take Your Word For It’ fit the bill nicely. There’s only one track from the ‘Third Eye’ album on this tour, which might seem criminal to a die hard, but if you play one song from arguably your best album, then it must be ‘Annie’s Gone’, right? I’m mesmerised as the frontman ditches his guitar, covers his face with a scarf and sings through it for the entire song. An ethereal, bizarre and truly emotive 3 and a half minutes of Power Pop perfection.

Elsewhere, we get a high-energy one-two of ‘Switchblade Sister’ and Jimmy’s Fantasy’, with catchy riffs and hooks aplenty, plus a killer cover of The Beatles ‘It Won’t Be Long’ with Jeff shakin’ that tambourine like it’s the last thing he’s ever going to do. A song they truly make their own.

They return to jam out some oldies before bringing the whole room to a rock n’ roll party climax with a killer ‘Deuce’, complete with Paul & Gene classic 70’s stage moves thrown in for good measure.

Ok, so it’s been a long time coming, and I may be biased here, but Redd Kross truly blew me away tonight. I’ve seen a lot of great gigs already this year but tonight was truly special. Redd Kross are a band who are at the top of their game both live and creatively.

Someone was shouting for then to play ‘Zira (Call Out My Name)’ tonight, and after a few bars that ended in Jeff laughing and saying he doesn’t remember it, Steven says they’ll come back next year and play the whole gaddamn album! Now that would be truly something.

Author: Ben Hughes

Joe And The Shitboys – ‘Greatest Shits’ (Alcopop Records)

Joe And The Shitboys – ‘Greatest Shits’ (Alcopop Records)

From the windswept, sheep-dotted cliffs of the Faroe Islands comes a band that are anything but pastoral. Joe & The Shitboys, self-described “queer vegan shitpunks”, have been raising hell, ruffling feathers, and flipping the script since their chaotic inception, and now they’re ready to unleash their debut LP, Greatest Shits, via Alcopop! Records.

A compilation of the band’s first three releases—each originally pressed on 7” vinyl due to their rapid-fire 10-minute lengths— ‘Greatest Shits’ also features a bunch of brand new tracks recorded straight to analogue tape. It’s a vital, venomous, and vibrantly unfiltered collection from one of punk’s most exhilarating and unique new voices, giving anything from down under a run for their bad hair cut money and (probably shit fashion sense).

Once you get balls deep into this a mix of ragged punk mixed with the more artsy side like PAvement or DKs mixed in with early Lemonheads and a vibrant wreckless abandonment like ‘Wonderwall’ which sounds like the instruments tied to the back of a tractor and dragged around a field would sound like before the excellent tribute to wrestling legend ‘Macho Man Randy Savage’ kicks in.

So there might be thirty seven tracks here but you don’t need to dig deep to hear the three second blast of ‘Fuck’ or the eleven seconds of ‘Eat Ass You Fucking Coward’ you know the drill it might be nothing new but its a lot of fun and highly addictive.

With Joe taking the mic and a rotating cast of Shitboys behind him (currently Ziggy Shit, Johnny Shit, and Ollie Shit), the band became a lightning rod for resistance against the backwards, macho values that persist in their homeland’s music scene. Their goal? Skewer toxic culture with speed, wit, and the occasional ass joke. Job done and an album to be proud of, no matter what.

The band might not be on the tip of everyone’s tongue, but Iggy had them on board for Alley Pally recently, so the right people are getting involved, and on this evidence, it’s not hard to see why. Potty-mouthed and kicking out the jams, Beastie Boys meet a whole goofball bag full of original punks. Joe has the world at his feet, and songs like Mr Nobody sound effortless as well as timeless. Then to follow it up with a groovy ‘Fuck Everybody’ is a band dancing to their own beat, and that only like it or lump it I doubt they give a single shiney shit.

Who knows what Jooe and the gang will do next, but I’m all ears, but let’s live with this bad boy for a while yet.

Joe & The Shitboys are just getting started, they declare, so jump in and join us. Joe and the shitboys are de bomb as the cool kids say.

Buy Here

Author: Dom Daley

Ash – INSTORES & OUTSTORES

Ash – INSTORES & OUTSTORES

New LP AD ASTRA LP // 3 OCTOBER [featuring Graham Coxon]

UK & IRELAND TOUR DATES // ON SALE NOW

To coincide with the release of their forthcoming ninth studio album Ad Astra via Fierce Panda Records on 3 October, ASH have unveiled details of seven intimate Instore and Outstore shows. Tickets available here: https://ash-official.com/pages/shows

Containing eleven brand new tracks, including their raucous take on surprise single and Beetlejuice staple Jump In The Line and the most recent single Give Me Back My World, the Ad Astra album sees Graham Coxon appear on two particularly sassy songs and catches the perennial power pop kings in typically rocket-fueled form.

INSTORES & OUTSTORES // OCTOBER

Fri 03 BRIGHTON Resident Records (Instore)

Sat 04 LONDON Rough Trade East Records (Instore)

Sun 05 LEICESTER 2 Funky Café (Truck Records Outstore)

Tue 07 NOTTINGHAM Rough Trade Records (Instore)

Wed 08 KINGSTON Circuit (Banquet Records Outstore)

Thu 09 LIVERPOOL Baltic Jacaranda Records (Instore)

Fri 10 EDINBURGH Liquid Rooms (Assai Records Outstore)

Ad Astra follows hot on the heels of Race The Night – the band’s highest charting album for 20 years – and is being released two years and one month later, which is no coincidence. Always a band that lives for live music, Ash vowed that the fierce pandemic-induced five-year chasm between 2018’s Islands and 2023’s Race The Night would never happen again.

Pre-order Ad Astra HERE

By focusing on the endless horizon of galaxies far, far away and staring into an endless black hole Ash have somehow ended up creating a cohesive whole. There is classic Ash power-pop rocking action with the blistering purity of Hallion, the crunchy chuggings of Keep Dreaming and the furious sonic lunges of Dehumanised. But equally you can’t fail to succumb to the glorious swooping jangles on Which One Do You Want? – a whirl from Marr’s canon for sure; My Favourite Ghost and its acoustic elegance, floating on strings of desire; and Fun People (feat Graham Coxon) is quite simply one of the maddest, punchiest songs they have ever recorded.

As if creating this lovingly optimistic opus wasn’t enough to be getting on with, they’ve kept themselves busy elsewhere. Since Race The Night came out, they’ve run riot at SXSW in Austin, played Belfast for Steve Lamacq during Independent Venue Week, headlined the 100 Club in London for BRITS week and toured Australia. Already this year, they’ve amassed the masses at Glastonbury for the eighth time – equaling the multi performance record of Van Morrison – and toured the UK with The Darkness.

In short, three decades into a career peppered with timeless indie-punk nuggets and wildly inventive gigging and releasing concepts, the trio shows no sign of slowing down. To infinity and beyond indeed. Or as Rick McMurray gently muses …

“The title Ad Astra, the worst kept secret of the last month, points to ideas that became a big identifier back in 1995, but they’re updated with 30 years life experience. I’ll leave you to compare the differences, and with the thought that while the optimistic innocence of 1995 might have been tempered by those 30 years, if you look to the stars, you might still feel a glimmer. Of hope.”

And for those of you wondering, Ad Astra is Latin for “to the stars”, the words that came out of a teenaged Tim Wheeler’s mouth in the summer of 1995, setting up the classic chorus to the band’s first Top 20 hit Girl From Mars.

To celebrate the album release of Ad Astra, Ash embark on a huge touring schedule from this autumn into the early part of next year as follows:

SEPTEMBER

Tue 09 LONDON Scala

Wed 10 LONDON Scala

Fri 26 VALENCIA, SPAIN Visor Festival

OCTOBER

Tue 14 FUKUOKA, JAPAN Zepp

Thu 16 OSAKA, JAPAN Zepp

Fri 17 NAGOYA, JAPAN Zepp

Mon 20 SENDAI, JAPAN Gigs

Tue 21 YOKOHAMA. JAPAN KT Zepp

NOVEMBER

Fri 14 MINEHEAD Shiiine On Weekender Festival

Sun 16 SWANSEA Sin City

Tue 18 NEWCASTLE Boiler Shop

Wed 19 MANCHESTER New Century Hall

Thu 20 GLASGOW SWG3 Galvanizers

Sat 22 BLACKPOOL Bootleg Social

Sun 23 SHEFFIELD The Foundry

Tue 25 OXFORD O2 Academy

DECEMBER

Fri 05 LISTOWELL Mike The Pies

Sat 06 DUNDALK Spirit Store

Sun 07 GALWAY Roisin Dubh

Tue 09 CORK Cyprus Avenue

Wed 10 LIMERICK Dolans Warehouse

Thu 11 DUBLIN The Academy

Sat 13 BELFAST Ulster Hall

FEBRUARY

Fri 06 TUNBRIDGE WELLS Forum

Sat 07 CAMBRIDGE Junction

Sun 08 MILTON KEYNES Craufurd Arms

Tue 10 EXETER Phoenix

Wed 11 BRISTOL The Trinity Centre

Fri 13 LIVERPOOL Grand Central Dome

Sat 14 STOKE ON TRENT Sugarmill

Sun 15 HULL The Welly

Tue 17 NORWICH Epic Studios

Thu 19 BIRMINGHAM O2 Academy

Tickets: https://ash-official.com/pages/shows

WEBSITE:               https://ash-official.com

FACEBOOK:           https://www.facebook.com/ash

INSTAGRAM:        https://www.instagram.com/ash_1977/    

TIKTOK:                  https://www.tiktok.com/@AshOfficial1977

X:                            https://x.com/ashofficial

YOU TUBE:            https://www.youtube.com/@AshOfficial

Michael Schenker announces new album

Michael Schenker announces new album

MICHAEL SCHENKER 

SURPRISE AT WACKEN OPEN AIR

NEW MSG ALBUM DON’T SELL YOUR SOUL ANNOUNCED!

Exclusive world premiere of the title track – Album out October 3rd

What was already a standout moment of this year’s Wacken Open Air, the world’s largest metal festival, turned into something even bigger when Michael Schenker pulled a surprise no one saw coming. After delivering a fierce My Years With UFO set to tens of thousands of attendees on Thursday night, the architect of hard rock used the world’s loudest stage to announce a brand-new Michael Schenker Group studio album: Don’t Sell Your Soul will be released on October 3rd via earMUSIC.To mark the occasion, Schenker and his band closed the show with a world-exclusive live premiere of the new album’s title track – a powerful encore that took the Wacken crowd by surprise and was met with instant enthusiasm on the muddy festival fields.PRE-SAVE THE SINGLE HERE!

Earlier in the set, the Wacken faithful had already been treated to a once-in-a-lifetime moment: Slash walked on stage as a surprise guest, joining Schenker on the UFO classic “Mother Mary”. Two of rock’s most iconic guitarists side by side – a scene few will forget.Don’t Sell Your Soul is the latest studio album by the Michael Schenker Group and the second part of an album trilogy that began with 2024’s My Years With UFO.The album was produced by Michael Schenker and Michael Voss, and recorded with Schenker’s longtime allies: Bodo Schopf (drums), Barend Courbois (bass), and Steve Mann (guitar, keys). On vocals: the impeccable Erik Grönwall – undoubtedly one of the finest rock voices of his generation. Guest appearances on vocals by Robin McAuley, Dimitri “Lia” Liapakis, and Michael Voss round out the cast.Don’t Sell Your Soul will be available on CD, LP, and limited transparent red vinyl.

Pre-orders start Friday, August 1st.PRE-ORDER THE ALBUM HERE!

Märvel are back with some Rock n Roll

Märvel are back with some Rock n Roll

The masked kings of Swedish rock ’n’ roll are back. After 23 years, nine acclaimed albums, and countless high-energy shows across Europe, Märvel return fired-up and ready to unleash their tenth studio album – a new chapter of thunderous riffs, massive hooks, and unapologetic rock glory.

Formed in 2002 when three Swedish exchange students – The King, The Vicar and Speedo – swapped classrooms for garages, beer, and rock ’n’ roll in Colorado, Märvel’s debut EP Marvellous lit up US college radio and set the stage for a career of high-octane riffs, larger-than-life personas, and unrelenting energy.

Over nine acclaimed studio albums, Märvel has built a loyal European fanbase through relentless touring and collaborations with rock icons like Dregen, Strings, and Michael Monroe. With evolving line-ups featuring The Burgher, The Aviator, and Marshall Lawman, Märvel has grown into a masked rock powerhouse, celebrated for both their infectious hooks and striking visual presence.

From the glam-charged Thunderblood Heart and bombastic Warhawks of War to the guilty-pleasure gems of Guilty Pleasures and their latest praised release Graces Came With Malice (2022), Märvel continues to deliver big riffs, massive choruses, and an irresistible groove.

In 2022, Märvel marked 20 years with the double album Double Decade and their own festival, MÄRVELFEST, uniting past and present members on stage and cementing their status as one of Sweden’s most distinctive rock bands.

Now, The King, The Vicar, and The Burgher are gearing up for the next chapter – their tenth album.

First up is the track “Look! It’s Rock’n’Roll”. Märvel describes the song:

On the surface, this track tips its hat to Ace Frehley’s iconic 1980 quote — “Look! It’s Rock ’n’ Roll!” But dig a little deeper and it’s a tongue-in-cheek jab at those who overanalyze music and take themselves way too seriously. At its core, this is a reminder: hey, relax — it’s just rock ’n’ roll!

The song was one of the first ones written for the new upcoming Märvel album, and it lit the fuse. It jump-started the entire creative process and set the tone for what was to come.

Look! It’s Rock’n’Roll is released through the band’s newly established own label- Leather Lake, and is available on most streaming platforms. Here

The Courettes/Los Pepes – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds – 9th August 2025

The Courettes/Los Pepes – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds – 9th August 2025

With a love of the Spector wall of sound, garage rock and Motown, Brazilian-Danish husband and wife team The Courettes have been wowing audiences for nigh on 10 years now. Renowned for their explosive live shows and their relentless touring, Martin & Flavia Couri are promoting their excellent fourth album, ‘The Soul Of…The Fabulous Courettes’, with a UK tour that sees them return to my favourite venue in Leeds, The Brudenell Social Club. I was blown away the last time they played here. Can they possibly do it again?

First up tonight, though, we have another surprise. “Come a little closer, we don’t bite!” teases Ben Perrier, frontman of London-based punk n’ rollers Los Pepes. It’s midway through a set of the finest power pop ditties you’ve never heard, played at breakneck speed, and a curious Leeds audience tentatively takes a step forward. But not too close, as the singer’s guitar wielding antics are getting closer to the edge of the stage with every song.

While my fellow RPM compadres recommend the Los Pepes boys, I must admit to not listening to them before tonight. My bad, as not only are these boys an energetic and exciting live band, but the tunes are top notch too. There’s a familiarity on first listen, which is always a good sign for me.

Ramones meets The Buzzcocks is a good reference point, I hear some early Manics in there too, and with more Thunders licks than you have fingers, scissor kicks aplenty and guitars pointing to the sky, there’s a lot of good stuff going on.

Los Pepes are right up my street and I have been playing catch up on Spotify ever since, I love it when a support band surprises the shit outta me.

‘The Fabulous Courettes’ is what the logo states on the backdrop covering the iconic Brudenell stage sign tonight, and the well-dressed duo are nothing short of that for the one hour and ten minutes they light up the room tonight. Stage right is the suited & booted Martin Couri, pounding his minimalistic kit like the bastard son of Keith Moon and Ringo. Stage left, dressed 60’s go-go chic in black & white is Falvia Couri, a woman who could give Jack White a run for his money in the guitar department, and commands the stage like her life depends on the ability to entertain.

From the opening ‘You Woo Me’ to the closing ‘Hop The Twig’, the duo are tight, exciting and mesmerizing to watch. Mixing up a greatest hits of their impressive back catalogue, it just goes to show how many great songs they have under their leather belts. They play off each other and deliver a high-energy set that puts them up there with their contemporaries.

Newbies such as ‘California’ and ‘Boom Boom Boom’ are commercial and full of summery hooks, they fit the set well, along with the garage rock goodness of ‘Boom Dynamite’ and ‘Want You Like A Cigarette’. A Courettes show is all about maximum entertainment, and they sure give value for money. Both engage fully with their audience, “Go wild, Leeds, it’s a Saturday night!” shouts Martin mid-beat. A Leeds crowd can be a tough nut to crack, but there is a minority brave enough to lose their inhibitions and dance like no one is watching. Highlights are plentiful in this fun-packed set, but a killer ‘Misfits & Freaks’ is up there with the awesome Cramps-sounding main set closer ‘Hop The Twig’. Falvia even gets some crowd surfing in while playing her guitar!

How The Courettes are still playing venues of this size when the likes of Amyl & The Sniffers play megadomes is beyond me. But I’m glad they are, as I can’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday evening than up close and personal, in a sweaty room with one of the best live bands around. They’ll be back next year, miss them at your peril.