Needles/Pins – ‘Needles/Pins’ (Dirt Cult Records)

Needles/Pins – ‘Needles/Pins’ (Dirt Cult Records)

Somewhere between The Hold Steady and The Replacements or Soul Asylum and Husker Du with just enough rough assed Buffalo Tom slung in for good measure.  Vancouver’s Needles/Pins dish up a tasty din. With some sumptuous melodies wrapped in barbed wire overdrive and last orders vocals, this album just keeps giving, play after play.  Subtle yet thoroughly addictive.  Released via Dirt Cult Records . Ahead of the release Needles//Pins revealed the lead single ‘A Rather Strained Apologetic‘ and already I was sold but it was merely a glimpse into what was to come.  Sometimes you just want a record to not be clever or sing songs about everybody’s pandemic or chuck in a token ballad Needles//Pins are that band from top to bottom they just wanna cut some rug and just turn the amps up and rock out.

 

This isn’t Needles//Pins’ first time out mind it’s their fourth album. From the surging rush of opener ‘Woe Is Us’ this record just oozes class.  ‘Of Things Best Left To Chance’ is like a Nirvana melody on top of a steady beat whilst the guitars go all Bob Stinson and Westerberg at their best.  It’s a really unapologetic album that’s just kicking back and dishing out top tunes aplenty and if you’re in then cool, jump on board. If it’s not polished enough then just move on.  ‘Winnipeg ‘03’ has a cool organ honking away in the background just enough to layer a rather splendid melody on the vocals that screams warm beer on a hot afternoon.

 

‘Gleamer’ is a smouldering monster that builds over its short existence and those backing vocals are caveman-like and primal as the song just fades away into the distance. Splendid stuff.  the songs are all pretty much under three minutes and a lot of them are sub-two minutes which is just long enough ‘I Was Just Underjoted If That’s A Word’ is a great example as the song build to a cacophony of primal screams on top of swirling organs and a steady pounding beat that falls away to make room for the uptempo ‘Baleful’ and ‘Grow’ before signing off with the anthemic closer ‘The Tyranny Of Comforts’, then were done.  dust yourself down take a throat sweet catch forty winks then go back in for another swing but this time turn it up some more.

The raw vocal delivery is the perfect ying for the power-pop yang and it’s all tied together beautifully by the rough you up guitar tones.  This is something of an onion album (no it doesn’t make you weep) its got layers and layers going on and the next is more interesting as the last.  Top tunes thats a given, Top Bloody Tunes!

 

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Author: Dom Daley

RMBLR – ‘RMBLR’ (Spaghetty Town Records/Wanda Records)

RMBLR – ‘RMBLR’ (Spaghetty Town Records/Wanda Records)

This one has been hotly anticipated for quite some time.  Up there with fellow Baltimore rockers Ravagers, (former bandmate) Tuk Smith and several other exponents of dirty punk rock. With attitude soaked dangerous Rock and Fuckin Roll! RMBLR is the real deal.  With this EP they’ve stepped up to the plate and delivered the goods.  Sorry for the spoiler but this is one hell of an EP and the only complaint I’ve got is the fact it’s just an EP and not a double album because I just can’t get enough of it.

From the mean streets of Baltimore, RMBLR have been around the blocks and eagle-eyed music fans will need no introduction to bands that paved the way for RMBLR like The Heart Attacks well RMBLR has rock and roll in their DNA and coursing through their veins is the responsibility to turn it up and rock the fuck out and boy do these cats bring the tunes to the party.  Kicking off with the epic ‘Machine Gun’. Rat tat-tat goes the lyrics being spat out on top of some loose rock and roll as the band kicks out the jams.  It’s a fantastic introduction as to what’s coming over the next twenty or so minutes. Snotty, Hell yeah! of course it is.

Rushing in on the back of that is ‘Hurricane Kiss’ again its uptempo, gang vocals snarled out with a whirling rhythm and sweet guitar lick.  Certainly one to chant along to but please be careful not to spill your beer as you windmill franticly.

 

The record is sent into overdrive with the piano tonking ‘Main Muscle’.  Don’t believe me check out the track in the video below and then tell me that the band don’t hit the bullseye. From the rapid 12 bar riff to that one-fingered piano thump to the earworm vocal melody right through to the classic Faces like solo.  It’s absolutely all killer no filler.  With only six tracks there’s no time to slow things down or take a breather or chuck in an album track its literally one after the other rap round the head send you dizzy Rockers of the very highest standard.  There’s some cool as slide guitar work happening on the excellent  ‘Tal’m Bout’.

With time to throw in a bit of boogie in the shape of ‘Move Over’ there’s just time for vinyl only track ‘Get Ghost’ and these half dozen shots of Rock and Roll will leave you begging for more. RMBLR have finally entered the game and can’t keep their poker face on any longer its shit or bust time and for an opening offering, they’ve only gone and hit the jackpot and set the bar exceptionally high.  Now, all we need is for venues to open up and get these gents over to Europe to share the noise and kick some ass.

If you’re looking to spend some dosh on a new band you might not have heard of then I’m suggesting you hit the links and take the plunge, you will not regret one second of owning this EP.  It’s got attitude, it’s got confidence, it’s got tunes (boy has it got tunes), power pop, old school hard rock, punk rock spit n pogo, handclaps, iggy and the stooges one finger barroom piano, some Faces swagger what more do you want?  – it’s a must-have record if you have any sort of taste but be quick this will sell out fast! snooze you lose!

 

Buy it Here (Wanda Europe) or Here (Spaghetty Town Records USA)

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Author: Dom Daley

Sonny Vincent releases video taken from new album

Sonny Vincent releases video taken from new album

Brand new album from living legend Sonny Vincent (Testors/The Limit). Vincent’s new album “Snake Pit Therapy” is raw, real-deal blazing Protopunk with lashings of Psychedelia and Hard Rock, all taken to the edge with Sonny’s Vincent’s secret weapons, the naked aggression in his passionate voice and his trademark caustic guitar. 15 tracks of electrifying shock-treatment, with catchy, primal screams and searing melody, “Snake Pit Therapy” is just what the doctor ordered. Songs like “The End of Light” and “Never Tired” with their heart-ripped open choruses are visceral, vital and urgent.

Pre Order Here

Vincent’s new album “Snake Pit Therapy” is raw, real-deal blazing Protopunk with lashings of Psychedelia and Hard Rock, all taken to the edge with Sonny’s Vincent’s secret weapons, the naked aggression in his passionate voice and his trademark caustic guitar. If there is an honesty which runs through the bones in “Snake Pit Therapy” it’s because Sonny Vincent’s life and antics are more than legend, they are real, as documented in his recent book bearing the same title as this very album. In and out of homes for bad kids, committed to the Psych Ward for observation and forcibly conscripted into a tour of duty in Vietnam courtesy of the U.S. Marine Corp, Sonny Vincent’s experience of wild and tough living has awarded his songs hardness with humanity. Sincerity without mawkishness, “Snake Pit Therapy” is a glorious testament to real Rock ‘n’ Roll.

15 tracks of electrifying shock-treatment, with catchy, primal screams and searing melody, “Snake Pit Therapy” is just what the doctor ordered. Songs like “The End of Light” and “Never Tired” with their heart-ripped open choruses are visceral, vital and urgent. Sonny Vincent has venom in his fangs, and his song-writing is razor sharp.

Burning with underground spirit, never standing still, Sonny Vincent is the ultimate undestroyable outsider, most recently exploding the airwaves with his new heavy Punk Metal band The Limit, featuring Bobby Liebling of Pentagram, and garnering glowing reviews worldwide. While playing with some of the genre’s most influential names during a career which has spanned over 3 decades and 28 albums without compromise, Vincent’s music remains die hard, high octane, high voltage and high class.

“Snake Pit Therapy” rocks with a heart-heavy passion, savage smarts, and tunes that can reunite you with your own bastard youth. Are you ready to get your head rearranged by a man whose music mixes irresistible melody with a powerful and raw sound that’s more potent than a cornered king cobra? If so, you’re in urgent need of “Snake Pit Therapy”!

Bob Mould – ‘Wishing Well’ video and live ‘Distortion’

Bob Mould – ‘Wishing Well’ video and live ‘Distortion’

10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF MOULDS MEMOIR ‘SEE A LITTLE LIGHT: THE TRAIL OF RAGE & MELODY’ WITH A READING AND SOLO PERFORMANCE OF ‘WISHING WELL’

On top of that Mould has shared a trailer for his fourth and final vinyl box Distortion: Live an 8LP set that includes live recordings from both his solo career and his band Sugar. This set will be released on July 16, 2021, through Demon Music Group.

“After three years of writing my 2011 autobiography, See A Little Light, I was ‘full speed ahead’ — no more looking back. But over the past few years, during the production of the Distortion reissue series, many of the people, places, and circumstances that fuelled those albums came back to life. Oddly, I didn’t see that coming!

“As for today: the book is ten years old, I’m thrilled that 30 years of my work has been re-released in so many configurations, and I’m very grateful to be able to take these songs and stories to the stage later this year — and hopefully many years to come. As time marches on, I’m learning to embrace my past, enjoy the moment, and still have hopes and dreams for the future.”

As on the previously released box sets in the Distortion collection, the fourth volume sees each album being mastered by Jeff Lipton and Maria Rice at Peerless Mastering in Boston and is presented with brand new artwork designed by illustrator Simon Marchner and pressed on 140g clear vinyl with unique splatter effects. This box set includes 4 live albums: Live At The Cabaret Metro, 1989 (first time on vinyl); the Sugar album The Joke Is Always On Us, Sometimes; LiveDog98 (first time on vinyl), and Live at ATP 2008 (first time on vinyl). In addition, the set includes a 28-page companion booklet featuring liner notes by journalist Keith Cameron; contributions from Bully’s Alicia Bognanno; rare photographs and memorabilia, and a bonus LP Distortion Plus: Live, which features live rarities including B-Sides and stand-out tracks from the Circle of Friends concert film.

Mould has also announced that Jason Narducy will open the solo portion of his Distortion and Blue Hearts! tour starting October 15th, 2021, in Bloomington, IL at Castle Theater. These solo dates are the second part of a tour that begins with his band — Narducy on bass and drummer Jon Wurster on September 16th at Paradise Rock Club in Boston.

Narducy has been the bass player in Bob Mould’s band since 2005. The Evanston, IL-based musician first gained renown in 1982, when at 11 years old, he formed the seminal punk rock band Verböten with his childhood friends in an Evanston basement. Narducy would later go on to front Verbow, releasing three albums with the band (one in its earliest incarnation as Jason & Alison). Since his days in Verbow, Narducy has gone on to tour with such acts as Robert Pollard and Telekinesis. Today, along with playing bass for Mould he performs the same role in Superchunk, and fronts Split Single, with whom he’s recorded three albums with a rotating cast of stellar musicians, including Jon Wurster, Spoon’s Britt Daniel, R.E.M.’s Mike Mills, and Wilco’s John Stirratt. Split Single’s new album, Amplificado, is out June 25th.

Discover more about the boxsets including full tracklistings and FAQs Here

The 8LP Distortion: Live boxset is released July 16th, 2021, via Demon Music Group. The 24CD Distortion: 1989-2019, 8LP Distortion: 1989-1995, 9LP Distortion: 1996-2007, 7LP Distortion 2008-2019 boxsets and Distortion: The Best of 1989-2019 2LP, 2CD and 4CD compilations are all available now. 

 

Pre-order Distortion: Live Here

Muscle Vest – ‘Live Laugh Loathe’ (Bandcamp)

Muscle Vest – ‘Live Laugh Loathe’ (Bandcamp)

Exploring oppressive elements of modern society from morals-free corporatism to toxic masculinity, cults of personality, and a dash of Lovecraftian horror. All through the medium of noisy hardcore.  What’s not to like eh?

 

Formed in 2018 over a mutual appreciation for ugly rock music, MUSCLE VEST has been making waves across the London alt-rock scene with their brand of abrasive sardonic noise rock.  Made up of veterans of London’s music scene (Massacres, Lull, Thunder On The Left, Bourgeois & Maurice, etc.) and taking influence from bands such as Pissed Jeans, Melvins, Mclusky, The Jesus Lizard and Whores, MUSCLE VEST aim to reflect the struggle of the average person against an exploitative system within a crumbling state. Righto,   A follow-up to 2020’s debut EP ‘Human Resources’  the collective has gone for another lockdown EP.  Kicking off with the energetic hardcore banger that is ‘Creepy Crawlie’ built on a whirling repetitive riff and full force rhythm section it’s capped off with some strained vocals.  Perfect alt hardcore UK style.  Set to raise some summer lockdown temperatures the song is a soaring beast of an opener from start to finish and a very decent opener.

 

A decent opener is only lifted by the second track ‘Stray’ being better with a more brutal riff and a fierce rhythm section elevated higher by a proper shouty vocal not a million miles from Idles in its delivery and off the wall lyrics.  Top tune.

‘A Slow Death’ is more of the same thanks and why the fuck not! Crash, Bang, Wallop boys and girls.  Quite exhausting and intense.  To sign off they turn the burners up a tad and let fucking fly with a one-minute and forty-five-second blast of sonic hardcore that would be a fantastic scene of limbs in a sweaty heaving pit.  You don’t need any more than four tracks when they are as intense as this and quality counts and the old adage is served well here.  Leave them wanting more.  Until next time put on your shit kickers and kick some shit – Muscle Vest is in da house and they’re not taking any prisoners – top turn playing top tunes. HArdcore as fuck! ave it!

Buy Here

Author: Dom Daley

Sabbath – ‘SABOTAGE ESCAPE ROOM’

Sabbath – ‘SABOTAGE ESCAPE ROOM’

BLACK SABBATH CHALLENGE FANS WITH NEWLY CREATED ONLINE ‘SABOTAGE ESCAPE ROOM’

 

SABOTAGE: SUPER DELUXE EDITION

4-CD, 4-LP + 7-INCH  AVAILABLE NOW VIA BMG 

BMG pay tribute to Black Sabbath – with the release  of a collection that includes a newly remastered version of the band’s sixth studio album ‘Sabotage’ along with a complete live show recorded during the band’s 1975 tour.

SABOTAGE: SUPER DELUXE EDITION is available as a 4-CD set and a 4-LP set that includes the same music on 180-gram vinyl plus a bonus 7-inch with the single edit for “Am I Going Insane (Radio)” and “Hole In The Sky” on the flipside, with artwork replicating the very rare Japanese release of the single. Both the 4-CD and 4-LP versions are available now: Here

The newly remastered version of the original album is also available via digital download and streaming services. Click Here to listen to the newly remastered version of Am I Going Insane (Radio).

To commemorate this incredible release, BMG has partnered with Bewilder Box Ltd., creators of award-winning physical and digital escape room adventures and specialists in IP based puzzle gaming, to create an interactive online environment every Sabbath fan will love, the Sabotage: Escape Room

 

Enter the mysterious mirror world of Black Sabbath’s ‘Sabotage’ in this this mini online escape room game where your mission is to recover a copy of the coveted Sabotage: Super Deluxe Edition! Travel back in time to the 1970s and make your way through 15 minutes of mind-boggling Sabbath-themed puzzles, where only those with sharpest of wits and heaviest riffs will succeed.
Plug in your Gibson SG, turn your brain up to 11 and see if you’ve got what it takes to be The Prince of Smartness in the Sabotage: Deluxe Edition Escape Room.

Details to note :

·                It’s a single player browser game

·                Takes approx. 15 minutes to play

·                Filled with Sabbath themed challenges

·                Fans can preview album tracks and find secrets in the artwork

·                Mobile/tablet compatible but full computer/laptop recommended for best experience

·                Share your time on social channels using #SabbotageEscapeRoom

PLAY FOR FREE Here

 

 

Velvet Insane – second single and music video ‘Sound of Sirens’

Velvet Insane – second single and music video ‘Sound of Sirens’

Velvet Insane delivers their second single and music video “Sound of Sirens” from their upcoming album “Rock ‘n’ Roll Glitter Suit”. A 60’s pop gem made for the modern day.

 

The band comments:
“We feel very proud about this catchy singalong pop gem and that it shows a slightly different side of Velvet Insane. Strongly influenced by The Beatles and 60’s pop music it gives you shivers and shows our passion and love for all kinds of music. A song we really looking forward to playing live and feel the energy from the audience in the future. With the video, we want to celebrate where we come from: the 70’s. Kiss, ABBA, Slade and glam rock/pop in general have meant so much to us in our musical upbringing. 1970’s influences in pictures and music but with the sound of today.”

The track is written by the legendary Sulo Karlsson of the Diamond Dogs who also has produced and wrote the tracks together with the band on the upcoming album “Rock ‘n’ Roll Glitter Suit”.

The eleven-track long album manifests Velvet Insane as a rock act to count on for years to come. “Rock ‘n’ Roll Glitter Suit” is released via Wild Kingdom on July 16.

Hear the single and pre-order the album: Here

Jonesy release RSD tune

Jonesy release RSD tune

We’re so hip we decided to wait until after RSD to showcase this banger from Jonesy.

 

Here’s their statement: 

“ We only have despise for that ludicrous hypocritical farce that is record store day. Very few record stores don’t play that sell-out game, and most of them survived the 90’s and early 00’s because of people who don’t even shop on that day. We wouldn’t care if it wasn’t for the consequences of the thing: big delays for music that actually matters in pressing plants (nope, your expensive U2 repress doesn’t matter), and ridiculous prices on both records and press orders. Not to mention all the idiots who are after pricey collectables instead of music. In other words, Record Store Day is for losers.”

The song is from the forthcoming Jonesy 2nd LP, to be released later this year on Dead Beat Records.

Stalk Jonesy  Here

Hate Jonesy there: There

 

Golem Dance Cult – ‘Grotesque Radio’ (Self Release)

Golem Dance Cult – ‘Grotesque Radio’ (Self Release)

Intrigued to investigate further this EP from two (old) friends Charles Why (Losta Noise/Nexus/L-DOPA…) and Laur (Sparkling Bombs/Kevin K Band/Vague Scare/Other-ed…)  Its a great earworm as it crawls into your ear and enters your brain and takes up residence offering little snippets of bands you know you like and ones you know you don’t but the influences draw you in closer and you’ll definitely like what you hear.

Great name for a band as well and the album title is cool (pretty much every time I switch on the radio it’s pumping out Grotesque music) Anyway, the tunes. Apart from the opener being something of an introduction with native American chanting (which always give me the chills, I could listen to it all day) its ‘Capitol Blues’ that starts off the noise mashing up samples and a cool Jon Spenser Blues Explosion style riff over a drum loop its certainly very listenable and the louder the better the experience.   Pitched somewhere between Beck and Gary Numan and throwing in a whole heap of other influences this mashup is all over the place in a good way mixing some Urban Dance Squad with some horns and distorted guitars and some dance beats its certainly stretching your palet but succeeding in making you nod your head all in a good way.

‘Nosferatu Waltz’ is also out there pushing the boundaries of Gothic undertones as implied by the title it’s Daniel Ash and his old sparring partner Mr. Murphy dancing up some sisterhood.  Dark and mysterious but all very listenable for sure. On ‘Doppelganger’ there’s a big rolling riff on top of some sample coming on like some of Bowie’s work which must have been a bit of an inspiration here whilst the sound is heavy there is a lot going on but never too much.  It’s well constructed but has appeal and not too self-indulgent or unlistenable.  Again it’s a different texture to the other tracks with an air of spontaneity and a certain take it or leave it atmosphere.  Jump on board and get down with Golem Dance Cult it’s good stuff. LEaving only the video track we’ve included to close off the EP for your listening and viewing pleasures.  go to Bandcamp and check em out you really wont be dissapointed.

Buy it Here

Author: Dom Daley

Danko Jones – Saturday

Danko Jones – Saturday

Rock juggernauts DANKO JONES release their newest single “Saturday” along with a music video. The track is the second single off of the band’s highly anticipated album, Power Trio out August 27th via Mate in Germany.

“Saturday” follows the first single off of the album, “I Want Out” released in March which has since seen global success. It was #1 on the German Rock Radio Charts, Top 15 in Canada and has seen success with airplay around the globe.  In April the band also released a fan-only track “Flaunt It”. Album pre-orders are available HERE!

 

DANKO JONES ONLINE:
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