DeathTraps – Gotta Get Some (Self Released)

 DeathTraps – Gotta Get Some (Self Released)

Dom Daley.

Hot on the heels of ‘Justice For The Risca One’ Deathtraps are on a frantic runaway train of garage punk and it’s steaming out of control towards a stereo near you and not wanting the green green grass of home growing under their feet this prolific bunch of reprobates is killing it on album number two.
Its uncompromising and at times brutal as it pounds your ear canal with its twelve tunes of acidic melodies – overdriven garage rock goodness and above all quality tunage.  I can’t shake the quote that the debut cd is the soundtrack you’ll find in the glovebox of a serial killers truck or words to that effect –  imagine Lemmy sharing a lyric book with some people who should know better but choose not to. Hidden inside is a social conscience and an astute eye on what’s going on (and wrong with this (often)  fucked up world we spin round on) VJ might not have the pipes of Aled Jones and have more in common with the dearly departed Mr. Kilmister but these boys have a shit load of melody and have borrowed a riff and a melody from some pretty awesome bands and put them to good use.
By the time you get balls deep (otherwise known as) the fifth track and its Dead Boys like intro as it heads feet first into what is another decent chorus that’ll have you toe-tapping at the very least its not subtle but I don’t spose it’s meant to be sometimes its best to let people know whats coming.  but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.  The titles might not be original but they will give you a feel for where these are boys are hitching their wagon.  ‘Automatic Thrill’ throws itself headfirst into the first slam dance of the day and the next few tunes follow suit (check you’re pulse and practice breathing steadily).
Turning up the speed ‘Track Marks And Lullabies’ thrashes about kicking and screaming whilst ‘Get Loose’ delves into some splendid punk rock waters whilst taking the foot off the gas.
‘Fucked Up’ might not see them nominated for the award for literary finesse and heartwarming lyrics and surely having veins of piss and whiskey can’t be healthy? Saying that ‘Bored Of You’ has a wonderful Fast Eddie like lick that hides behind VJ’s barkin’ dog riffage that goes well with the lyrical tone.  Deathtraps might not be reinventing the wheel but they’re playing garage punk rock n roll and doing it very well. ‘Teenage Knife Crime’ is terrifying and the title track is creepy crawly like that deranged killer who had a tit full and is going loco regardless of the consequences a real slasher of a song and the albums high point.
As we head into the home straight the blues and twos are flashing in the rear view mirror  and the tempo is reaching cardiac arrest levels hearing VJ growl into my ears is a weirdly beautiful thing even considering the subject matter ‘Know Your Rights’ is a grade A bonafide Belter and worthy of five pounds of anyone’s money. (Really only five ponds? I get it; it must be like the kiddie catcher they lure in with lollipops then bosh the cage falls and you’re theirs that’s what Deathtraps are doing)  Excellent tune.
But it’s never over until Deathtraps say so (or the police have managed to riddle this ride with bullet holes) you can’t hear them still breathing because ‘Fan Clubbing’ is also top notch and very well – special.  Sarcastic? Much? To take this bad boy home is the death of rock and roll – no, quite literally Deathtraps try their best to kick the beating heart of Rock ‘n’ Roll to death and almost manage it with this final shit kicker.
If you’ve been paying attention for the last 50 years then you will love this record like one of your own.  They’ve borrowed and stolen off the good and the great and used it to pleasure themselves first and foremost. If Deathtraps have gotta get some then so have you.  No brainer this – Buy It!
I’m now off to check the windows are shut, doors locked and the phone lines working because there are lunatics out there and they might be watching and listening (unless they have a gig somewhere and therefore I know where they are – as you were kids tonight its safe…..I hope)

Scumbag Millionaire – Speed (Suburban Records)

Scumbag Millionaire – Speed (Suburban Records)

Fraser Munro.

 

What is it with Sweden, they must put something in the water because it pisses rock & roll………..and nobody rocks a tash like Gothenburg’s Scumbag Millionaire!

Scumbag are the real deal. A proper rock & roll band playing hard, fast and nasty. For the last couple of years they’ve been gigging like bastards and blasting out great single after great single but now finally, it’s time to stand up and counted. It’s debut album time !!!!

 

Kicking off with a one finger piano and wah wah attack, “ASAP”, sets out the Scumbag stall. You know how the next half an hour or so of your life is gonna to sound and you can be sure (unless you are a complete bellend) that you’re gonna love it. “Fast Action” (single number 7) drills your head into the wall, while “Go!Go!Go!” nails your balls to the floor.

Next up is the new single “Under The Spell, “which hammers along in fine style. Look for the video on YouTube; quality shit and giggles.

Do you want me to compare them to Hellacopters? I bet you do….. bollocks, Scumbag stand up loud and proud, dragging their high energy action punk, straight out of the gutter.

“Killing Time takes” it up to full tilt, while the previous single “Burn Baby Burn” round outside one in proper anthemic style.

Side two revs things up with “Rolling Heavy”; a tune that will leave any Motorhead fans pumping their iron fists hard and fast. You even get some Stonsey Woo Wooos thrown in for good measure.

You know what you’re gonna get with Scumbag, full on hooky as fuck tunes and “Got No Brain”, “Give Me A Break” and “White Flash” don’t disappoint. There are so many choices for single number ten lurking on this side of this red vinyl slab.

Opening with a thick and greasy bass riff, final track “Get In The Van” slows things down a touch but pounds along like a full-on rocker should with some more one-finger piano and Woo Wooos chucked in for good measure. Culminating in a skull-crushing brain crunching riff, you need to take a breath before flipping the record over and giving “Speed” another crack.

Contender for album of the year……. Full Stop, FACT!

Get in there quick to get hold of the red vinyl because you’ve already missed out on the pre-order only poster.

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The New face of Ska, Punk is!!!

The New face of Ska, Punk is!!!

Nev Brooks.

Picture the scene, I’m Sat watching BBC 4 (someone has to) and on comes out of the blue (not entirely) Roots, Reggae, Revolution, an absolute classic fronted by Akala, an in-depth analysis of the history of reggae and how Ska came forth from the Dancehall.

 

Sitting where it began as something that came out of necessity, through times of struggles, designed and delivered to help lift up the community sending forth a huge message both political and social.  Further down the line it drifted with real Roots reggae taking hold, sat simmering in the background until it leapt to prominence again in the late seventies/early eighties under the banner of Two Tone. Now if we look at music and cross genres, Rock and Roll always preached rebellion, looking down on an older generation, Punk spat not just Anarchy but a sense of Nihilism, whereas Two Tone (Ska) preached togetherness, Black and White united against a social structure where the far right were at their most active. The message cutting forward against a Thatcherite Britain, promoting togetherness, kicking against austerity measures and giving a clear message through infectious rhythms and well-voiced opinions.

 

Leaders of the movement The Specials, The Beat, The Selector all still going great guns now, or should I say all re-ignited given their voice back through those same issues coming full circle, the far right rising, Brexit looming and the need for the musical underground to find a voice. Taking the sound on mutating it and adding a hint of Anarchy was always going to be a good thing so it stood to reason that Ska was going to infiltrate the Punk underground for its next stage of development.

Now over the last four/five years I’ve really immersed myself in the sound and one band that look set to cross over into the mainstream has to be The Bar Stool Preachers, skanking out of Brighton I’ve ended up in conversation with vocalist TJ McFaul on a number of occasions raved about both their LP’s Blatant Propaganda and Grazie Governo both of which you can pick up here Bar Stool Preachers live they put on an amazing show and second LP Grazie Governo should be the one to launch them into the big time, if you can get bigger than playing to 15,000 across Europe supporting Die Totenhausen. You might not have heard of them? I suggest you rectify the matter, check it out

 

Next up if that really takes your fancy bounce along to The Popes of Chillitown again a band simmering away tearing up venues nationwide whether you pick up the first LP A word to the wise (it was a pledge release) their sophomore LP To the Moon or the new LP Work hard, Play hard See you in the Graveyard you will not be disappointed All of which you can pick up here :-

 

Popes Of Chillitown these are a must-see live act, ripping through Reggae/Ska/Dub/Punk/Hip-Hop and Drum and Bass all done with an infectious smile, check it out

 

Now you might be starting to build one of those recommended playlists if your streaming this stuff, which granted most people do nowadays, but what you really should be doing is supporting the bands not the streaming platforms, get on the website or better still buy at a gig, you might even manage to get it signed!!!

 

Next up has to be Skaciety bouncing out of Kent they released an absolutely blinding LP Overstaying our welcome you can pick it up here

Bandcamp again yet another band tearing up stages across the UK, check them out

Sitting on the TNS roster of bands next up Faintest Idea released an LP that absolutely tears your face off called the Minimum Rage, followed up by the second LP The Voice of Treason politically in your face and with a real hardcore edge this attacks the genre from a different angle, still ska undoubtedly but leaning more towards a real punk/ political edge. You can pick both up here

 

By now your either bouncing around the room or wondering why the fuck haven’t I listened to these bands before, take a breath there are many more what about The Skints, Random Hand, Call me Malcolm, Complicated men of Leisure, Captain Accident and the Disasters to mention just a few more. Or if you want to look further afield what about the mighty Interrupters?

 

or the band I’m going to leave you with Jaya the Cat? Here come the Drums indeed!! Enjoy go ahead and discover your new favourite band. As with everything the biggest fun you’ll ever have in this musical world is discovering something new.

Jaya the Cat

 

BSP pic by Dod Morrison

The Virginmarys – ‘Northern Sun Sessions’ (self-released)

The Virginmarys – ‘Northern Sun Sessions’ (self-released)

Ben Hughes.

The Virginmarys ain’t had it easy the last few years. Following the release of their mighty sophomore album ‘Divides’ in 2016, the Macclesfield band found themselves at a crossroads. The end of their record contract and the shock departure of bassist Matt Rose left the duo of vocalist/guitarist Ally Dickaty and drummer Danny Dolan with an uncertain future.

Well, you can’t keep a good band down. They picked themselves up, wrote songs and set about doing things independently as a two-piece band. With a new lease of life and a sense of ultimate freedom, the band took things into their own hands, self-producing and self-releasing last year’s critically acclaimed ‘Sitting Ducks’ EP. Now, they release their third and possibly most important album of their career.

Produced and engineered by Ally, during the hottest summer for years ‘Northern Sun Sessions’ is a massive sounding rock album. With its anthemic vocal hook, opener ‘Look Out For My Brother’ immediately sets the tone with pounding, indie beats, big guitars and cool dynamics. It’s clear from the off the band have lost none of their irresistible Northern charm as Ally preaches a message of unity to all who will listen.

The following ‘SOS4UNI’ continues that epic, cinematic feel the band managed to capture on their previous albums. Ringing chords and tribal beats make way for haunting, atmospheric backing vocals. With passion and fire in their bellies, the duo bash out the chorus as Ally spits the lyrics with Northern-tinged venom.

I find it hard to define The Virginmarys sound, which is always a good thing in a band. But, maybe they truly have morphed into Motorhead meets New Model Army. They definitely are a rock band, now more than ever.  I mean, there’s a rhythmic QOTSA meets Royal Blood vibe on the likes of ‘Eye For An Eye’ and ‘Wanna Be Free’, a killer intensity in the rousing chorus of the former with immense regimental drums.

Yet, there are several elements that set them apart from most modern rock bands. They have a knack of creating visuals with the lyrics and the music in a way that not many bands can achieve. Ally has a way with words that draws you in like you’re sharing the ride with him as you take in every bend of a guitar string and every vocal nuance. Whether he’s commenting socially or politically you connect spiritually with what he has to say and what he is feeling.

It might be the guttural vocal delivery of ‘Blind Leads The Blind’ that gets you or the pogo-inducing chorus of ‘Step Up’ that hits the spot, but believe me…something will hit the spot. Maybe it’s when Ally lays himself bare for all to see on the emotive title track, as he swears he’ll never drink again over picked chords with his eyes closed. Or again on ‘Flags’ as he states “six years sober, I’m still hungover”. One thing’s for sure, clever wordplay and a knack of building a song to an epic conclusion is never far away.

‘Get Me Back Home’ shows a slight departure for the band with its trashy blues feel and slide guitar goodness. But its album closer ‘All Fall Down’ that steals the show and reverberates long after the virtual needle has lifted. It’s a classic, signature Virginmarys dark brooder that builds, then drops, creating atmosphere. Ally hits you in the feels with his words as Danny surrounds his verse with wave after wave of percussion.” Waiting like a ticking bomb… like a loaded gun”, you wait on his every word as the song reaches an intense crescendo, Ally screaming his lungs out like his life depends on it. Holy shit, what a killer way to end an album!

In an uncertain musical climate, many bands have taken their careers into their own hands in one way or another. We all love an underdog, right? Well, The Virginmarys are the underdogs, not only have they taken the bull by the horns, but they’ve sunk their teeth in and refuse to let go. ‘The Northern Sun Sessions’ is an album filled with passion and fire, and most certainly a career-defining album for this Macclesfield duo.

Buy Virginmarys Here.

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Swingin Utters – Peace And Love (Fat Wreck Chords)

Swingin Utters – Peace And Love (Fat Wreck Chords)

Dom Daley.

These Bay area punks have been doing this now for over twenty-five years and show no sign of letting up as they release their new album for Fat Wreck Chords they’ve toured relentlessly and consistently made records on their own terms and done so with class and a style that has delighted thousands of fans around this globe and on this evidence shows no sign of slowing down.

‘Undertaker, Undertake’ begins with a huge fat bass line that isn’t so much rumbling but thundering through the speakers at a fierce pace with a great hook its a hell of an opening salvo – the Swingin’ Utters are coming out swinging haymakers and this sounds fantastic!

The Thunder might have passed momentarily but ‘Sirens’ is a smooth rolling melodic song that breaks out for the chorus and is like a rainbow pouring out of the speakers filling all available space with its happy go lucky sounds. ‘Louise And Her Spider’ is only the third song in and its another string on the bow and an altogether piece to the opening two tracks. As the rhythm stutters behind the hypnotic riff. With a new drummer and bass player seemingly working some magic in these tracks, a new dawn for The band is given a real shot in the arm and a vibrancy that is noticeable.

I love ‘Constant Companion’ and then to follow it up with the laid-back opening of ’Deranged’ before that rhythm section takes ownership of another belter. Jonny Bonnel stated that this would be a political affair and when sexism, racism, and fascism were on the agenda it was time to speak up and boy do they speak up. All power to the Utters I say.

‘Human Potential’ is the first single off the album and a fair indicator for fans as to how this record generally pans out. It’s a touch of class and has all the hallmarks you’d want in a new record by the band. ‘Yes, I Hope He Dies’ is as to the point as punk rock has ever been and another reason to pick up a copy of this new record. It’s no surprise that this is full of surprises and contains plenty of great songs ‘Imitation Of Silence’ sounds vital and that rhythm section is fuckin’ thunderous as it pummels through the final throws of this great twisting and turning song.

To throw a final curveball ‘H.L.S’ is acoustic guitar and voice of Jack Dalrymple as he pays tribute to Heiko Schrepel who he played with him in One Man Army who sadly passed away in 2015 and its a fitting and warm tribute even when the band joins him to take this record home. Swingin’ Utters hit the spot with ‘Peace And Love’ and deliver one of the years finest punk rock records right up there with The Adolescents proving that class will always stay and when you’ve got it man you’ve fuckin’ got it. Still killing it in 2018 pace and love indeed.

Buy Here

Handsome Jack – Out Today. ‘Baby Be Cool’ taken from New Album available on Alive

Handsome Jack – Out Today. ‘Baby Be Cool’ taken from New Album available on Alive

Hailing from Lockport NY, Handsome Jack plays a powerful and emotional fusion of boogie soul rock n roll that has earned the admiration of fellow rock travelers such as Chris Robinson (CRB, Black Crowes), Zachary Gabbard (Buffalo Killers), and Ben McLeod of All Them Witches, who produced their new record.

On “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” the trio digs deeper into its soulful influences, brilliantly bringing back to life the classic sounds of Chicago, Memphis and Muscle Shoals, all rolled into one timeless record of American rock music for a new generation.

Handsome Jack is Jamison Passuite (guitar/vocals), Joey Verdonselli (bass/vocals), and Bennie Hayes (drums/vocals).

Buy Vinyl Here.

UPCOMING TOUR DATES
Oct 20 Buffalo Ironworks Buffalo, NY
Oct 26 Bug Jar Rochester, NY
Oct 30 Northside Tavern Cincinnati, OH

DATES W/ ALL THEM WITCHES:
Oct 31 Saturn Birmingham, AL
Nov 1 One Eyed Jacks New Orleans, LA
Nov 2 White Oak Music Hall: Upstairs Houston, TX
Nov 3 Antone’s Austin, TX
Nov 4 Club Dada Dallas, TX
Nov 7 The Rebel Lounge Phoenix, AZ
Nov 8 Beauty Bar Las Vegas, NV
Nov 9 Echoplex Los Angeles, CA
Nov 10 The Casbah San Diego, CA
Nov 13 The Independent San Francisco, CA
Nov 15 Wonder Ballroom Portland, OR
Nov 16 Freakout Festival Seattle, WA
Nov 17 Rickshaw Theatre Vancouver, Canada
Nov 19 Neurolux. Boise, ID
Nov 20 The State Room Salt Lake City, UT
Nov 21 Bluebird Theater Denver, CO
Nov 23 The Riot Room Kansas City, MO
Nov 24 Blueberry Hill Duck Room St. Louis, MO

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The Peawees ‘Moving Target’ (Wild Honey and Rum Bar Records)

The Peawees ‘Moving Target’ (Wild Honey and Rum Bar Records)

Gerald Stansbury

 

What if you took some great garage rock and added some sprinkles of the Hellacopters to the mix? You get a really tasty album by The Peawees from Italy. A band that has been going strong for over two decades now. The band does not spend time trying to push boundaries or take huge musical risks. They focus their time on crafting songs that would be as at home in the 60’s as they are now. This is a fun, addictive album that you can listen to in less than 30 minutes, which gives a good excuse to just play it all over again.

‘Walking Through My Hell’ crashes in all at once with the vocal of Herve’ Peroncini making an immediate impact as he sings with an edge created with years of experience but also a lot of melody. This song is direct and wastes no time in its two and half minutes and sets the stage perfectly for what is coming for the remaining 9 songs. Put this thing on your local jukebox and watch the people start moving to the beat. Tommy Gonzalez (drums) and Fabio Clemente (bass) ring in ‘A Reason Why’ on nice MOD beat with Carlo Landini (guitar) and Peroncini (also guitar) providing crunch to the beat and a fun guitar solo that you could almost be lifted from early Hanoi Rocks in tone and approach. The chorus leaves a hook in the brain. ‘Stranger’ is super catchy and features some awesome rocking piano that takes the song to a whole other level. The band keep the party going with some Hellacopters style adrenaline on the fast tempo ‘Christine.’ The bass and drums on the chorus sound awesome as do the Chuck Berry inspired guitar riffs.

Reaching the end of side one, ‘Justify’ offers an easy going rhythm and blues soulful type ballad that is extremely catchy. It ends the first half of the album in fine style. Current blues rockers Vintage Trouble would really appreciate this one. Peroncini shows another great side to his voice within the context of the album. Flipping the album over MP3 style, the band rips into ‘Leave This Place’ with some punk energy and razor hooks. The groove by Gonzalez and Clemente is awesome. ‘Phil Spector’ offers some classic rock n roll with a sticky like fly paper chorus featuring some terrific ‘yeah, yeah, yeahs.’ If this was the soundtrack of his hell as he describes it, hell is sounding really good.

‘The Matter’ offers some great vocal work to build the sneaky good hook as well as great guitar riffs by Landini and Peroncini. This has become possibly my favorite song on the album with repeated listens. ‘As Long As You Can Sleep’ offers a huge chorus that has kept drawing me back to this one. The Peawees do an awesome job of inserting musical breaks in their songs to provide diversity and really maximize the effects of the beats and riffs. I also really like the cool use of repetition in the vocals at the end of the song. Bringing the album to a close ‘Til My Mojo Works’ introduces some nice harmonica work and is a solid song for my tastes, but it does not reach the level of the others. I might have swapped it with ‘As Long As You Can Sleep’ as I think it would have offered a stronger closer to the album.

The Peawees sound great here and have done things the old school way with ten songs mostly under three minutes in length. The CD age tended to find bands trying to fill all 80 minutes with music while the transition to this digital world where albums do not have any restrictions in terms of length has really found bands returning to the past and falling in line with what works best on vinyl.  I have no doubt that this album would sound even better blasting on my turntable with the way it is made. This is a really fun rock n roll album that is best enjoyed at a loud volume. Highly recommended.

‘Moving Target’ is available now.

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Miles Hunt continues ‘The Custodian’ tour this week

Miles Hunt continues ‘The Custodian’ tour this week
Shows are selling fast so remember to book in advance, all ticket links are over at www.thewonderstuff.co.uk

 

“I was in New York a few years back and was invited to guest at a Tom Robinson solo show. Tom has long been an inspiration to me and given the opportunity to perform with him… well, lets just say I couldn’t polish my boots quick enough. During our brief rehearsal together on the afternoon of the show Tom asked me who I felt now owned the songs that I have written over all these years. I answered that whoever the publishing company I signed with probably did, but ultimately, I did. Tom was quick to correct me pointing out that all of my songs now belonged to my audience. Going on to explain that the songs I have written have been part of the sound track to thousands of people’s live and it is those people that now truly own them. He said that my position was now of The Custodian, the person who’s job it is to see that the songs are treated and performed with the respect the audiences deserve. It was an incredibly important thing to have said to me and something I have not and will not ever forget.”

Bad Touch head off round the UK

Bad Touch head off round the UK

 

 

Bad Touch will play a UK Headline Tour in support of their new album ‘Shake A Leg’ tonight its Glasgows turn to get down with the beardy rockers. The 5-piece rock band from Norfolk recently released their third studio album via Marshall Records. The album went to #23 in the Independent Album Charts.

Get a taste of the band’s live energy and watch the official music video for ‘Lift Your Head Up’ 

Their third studio album, ‘Shake A Leg’ was recorded in Bad Touch’s home county of Norfolk at Orange Tree Studios. Engineered, produced and mixed by Andy Hodgson, the new album follows their critically acclaimed 2016 release ‘Truth Be Told’ which featured the rock radio hit ‘99%’. The new album was mastered at Abbey Road Studios. ‘Shake A Leg’ takes a more personal and ambitious approach in both song-writing and production due to the bands choice to write more spontaneously within the studio itself resulting in more emotional ‘in-the-moment’ performances. ‘Shake A Leg’ features 13 hand-picked songs that originate from a collective of all the members influences which they proudly wear on their sleeve.

“We wanted to the album to embody songs that not only sounded fresh and exciting, but also communicated lyrics that meant something to us on a personal level that our fans could identify with,” says guitarist Rob Glendinning.

Known by fans and critics alike for having a reputation as a busy and hard-working band, Bad Touch continue to tour far and wide and are looking forward to playing tracks from the new album when they tour the UK in October and November.

 

Bad Touch’s new album click here –

BAD TOUCH – ‘SHAKE A LEG’ OCTOBER 2018 UK TOUR 
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS AARON BUCHANAN & THE CULT CLASSICS AND DAXX & ROXANNE

TICKETS: www.planetrocktickets.co.uk

Voivod – Bio-Cancer, The Globe Cardiff (3rd October 2018)

Voivod – Bio-Cancer, The Globe Cardiff (3rd October 2018)

 

Johnny Hayward.

For any new band starting out and looking for a role model on which to base their fledgeling career, they won’t go far wrong by looking at Canadian extra-terrestrial metallers Voivod. Now into their 35th year together, and having just released their 14th studio album, the rather splendid ‘The Wake’, the band appear to be at yet another creative high on their rollercoaster ride of a back catalogue, and judging by the very respectable midweek turn out in The Globe tonight I’m not the only one thinking this way.

 

Greek thrashers Bio-Cancer are certainly one of those bands who could learn a thing or two from their European touring counterparts, largely because playing traditional thrash over which singer Lefteris Hatziandreou delivers screaming death metal vocals is not exactly an easy first listen. So, for the first few songs I honestly think this all might be something of an elaborate in-joke, and if my memory banks serve me correctly isn’t that exactly how tonight’s headliners were also described in their very early days? This small point aside certainly doesn’t detract from the fact that the five-piece immediately win over the crowd who absolutely lap up the tight as hell and in your face brand of ear-piercing thrash that these young lads from Athens take great pleasure in blitzing us with. It’s, unfortunately, all pretty one-dimensional stuff for the uninitiated however by the time the guys reach set closer ‘Spread The Cancer’ even I’m nodding along in appreciation.

 

Tonight, is actually my first time of seeing Voivod indoors, it’s also the first time the progressive thrash giants have ever played in Cardiff (Bristol being the nearest they’ve ever gotten to crossing the River Severn previously), and as would be expected for such a momentous occasion stage front of The Globe is totally buzzing with anticipation as the band’s atmospheric intro tape kicks in.  Taking to the stage with the explosive punk metal of ‘Post Society’ from the 2016 EP of the same name the band are immediately firing on all cylinders and the sound is loud enough to totally piss the venue’s neighbours off once and for all. Led by perma-grinning singer Denis (Snake) Bélanger the enthusiasm with which the guys deliver their material simply acts as a means of drawing you into their headspace, then once you’re on board, whoosh you’re off on a musical trip that celebrates a huge chunk of the three and a half decades the guys (in various guises) have been producing some of the most direct yet challenging music ever to be released under the banner of Heavy Metal.

Across the next ninety minutes, we are treated to a set chock full of classics from the band’s back catalogue along with three of the very best tracks (‘Obsolete Beings’, IConspiracy and ‘Always Moving’) from the recently released ‘The Wake’ album. Admittedly it’s the earlier ground-breaking thrash thunder of tracks like ‘Ravenous Medicine’ and ‘Technocratic Manipulators’ that really get the audience chomping at the bit. It’s when the band delve into the more genre-busting aural nuggets like ‘Into My Hypercube’ from 1989’s ‘Nothingface’, ‘The Prow’ from be hugely underrated ‘Angel Rat’ album, plus ‘The Lost Machine’ from ‘The Outer Limits’ that I start to wonder why Voivod have never really achieved the same crossover success that a band like Mastodon has, and if you do have the answer to that one, please make sure to mail it to the usual RPM address, because I’d love to know why.

 

 

With drummer Michel (Away) Langevin being the only constant member of the band since their formation in 1982 it’s certainly worth highlighting that he is also one of the most technically proficient drummers I’ve seen performing in this genre in recent times. At the festivals I’ve seen that band at previously that wasn’t always so obvious but, in a venue, where you are literally standing eyeball to eyeball with the musicians he is nothing short of astonishing, especially on jackhammer fast blasts like ‘Order Of The Blackguards’.  Let’s also not forget the newer guys Daniel ‘Chewy’ Mongrain on guitar and Dominique ‘Rocky’ Laroche on bass who more than hold their own, in particular, Chewy who has been in the band since 2008 and is the almost perfect replacement for the seemingly irreplaceable Denis (Piggy) D’Amour.

With the band also dedicating their signature tune ‘Voivod’ to their lost brother before leaving us, albeit very briefly, ahead of the thoroughly deserved encore of ‘Overreaction’ which sends every one of us home buzzing with excitement and my ears ringing like when I was a teenager. On leaving the venue it was also heartening to see the whole band almost immediately hanging out around the merch table happily chatting away signing shirts and records for fans without the need for the whole VIP bollocks that is being exploited elsewhere in the business right now.  Thirty-five years in the business and these guys are still more punk rock than some punk rock bands are in 2018.

 

Unique, influential and above all absolutely fucking essential in an age of beige. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Voivod.

Buy Voi Vod Here