Ginger Wildheart & The Sinners Announce debut album & Tour

Ginger Wildheart & The Sinners Announce debut album & Tour

Released October 7th on Wicked Cool Records & 10 date October UK Tour  

Ginger Wildheart & The Sinners are proud to announce the release of their debut album on October 7th  on Wicked CoolRecords.
Their self-titled album is an energetic album that celebrates rock’n’roll and as Ginger explains it is in “the spirit of the music that we all collectively love, from childhood to the present day. Little Feat, The Allman Brothers, Wilco, The Band, Creedence, The Jayhawks, Lone Justice, Jason & the Scorchers, Georgia Satellites, Status Quo, The Stones…from roots country to rock n roll and Americana.”
The uplifting new single Lately, Always is about a dream “Not necessarily one that will come true but enough to have something to look forward to, especially when times seem a little hopeless.”

Ginger Wildheart & The Sinners were formed in August 2019 when Ginger joined forces with Neil Ivison and Nick Lyndon from the band Stone Mountain Sinners. The lineup was completed with drummer Shane Dixon (Tri-City Fanfare) and as Ginger explains “Me and The Sinners met for the very first time in the studio, in preparation for recording an album together. We figured out that if we can’t get along with each other then the music would be ultimately worthless. So we went to the pub and got drunk together. The next morning the music started flowing with ease. This is the sound of friendship.”
Their self-titled album was recorded at Mwnci studios in Pembrokeshire, Wales, with Dave Draper producing.
The album kicks off with their first single Wasted Times, which sets the tone for an album of pure rock n roll, peppered with country touches.  The listener will find a further seven original songs, including Lately, Always plus two covers: Dirty Water by Status Quo and Six Years Gone by Georgia Satellites’, the first song Ginger wanted to play with the band back when this was just an idea. “I became a bit obsessed with the song while in LA for Lemmy’s funeral, and carried it around in my heart from then until we all congregated at the studio.” 
There is a refreshingly familiar sound to every one of the songs on the album and it is a masterclass in how to write melodies that pull the heartstrings.
Despite the turmoil in which we find ourselves, Ginger with his Sinners give us all hope. Get with it or get out.
Ginger Wildheart & The Sinners essential debut album will be available digitally, on CD, and limited edition “Seaside Swirl” 12” vinyl. To pre order / pre stream Here

To celebrate the release of the Ginger Wildheart & The Sinners album the band will be playing ten UK shows, starting at Bannermans in Edinburgh on 18th October and finishing on 30th October at The Hare & Hounds in Birmingham. Tickets available from Monday 1st August at https://www.facebook.com/gingersinners

Ginger Wildheart & The Sinners UK October 2022 tour 

18th Edinburgh, Bannermans

19th Newcastle, Riverside 

20th Huddersfield, The Parish 

22nd Cardiff,  The Globe 

23rd Plymouth, The Juntion 

25th London, Bush Hall 

26th Norwich, Brickmakers 

27th Portsmouth, Wedgewood Rooms 

29th Chester, Live Rooms

30th Birmingham, Hare & Hounds 

Tickets available from Monday 1st August at Here

‘JOE STRUMMER 002: THE MESCALEROS YEARS’ 

‘JOE STRUMMER 002: THE MESCALEROS YEARS’ 

DARK HORSE RECORDS CELEBRATES JOE STRUMMER WITH ‘JOE STRUMMER 002: THE MESCALEROS YEARS’ 

TO HONOUR WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THELEGENDARY ARTIST’S 70TH BIRTHDAY

FIRST-EVER COMPREHENSIVE COLLECTION OF STRUMMER’S WORK WITH THE MESCALEROS

NEW BOX SET INCLUDES PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED TRACKS, DEMOS & OUTTAKES, ALONGSIDE REMASTERED EDITIONS OF THE COMPLETE MESCALEROS CATALOGUE, EXCLUSIVE NEW INTERVIEWS, NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN IMAGES AND MUCH MORE

‘JOE STRUMMER 002: THE MESCALEROS YEARS’ ARRIVES VIA DARK HORSE RECORDS ON 16TH SEPTEMBER

PRE-ORDER HERE

Dark Horse Records is celebrating what would have been Joe Strummer’s 70th birthday on 21st August with ‘Joe Strummer 002: The Mescaleros Years’, the first-ever comprehensive collection highlighting his work with his post-Clash band, The Mescaleros. The collection includes remastered editions of all three of the band’s studio albums, plus 15 rare and unreleased tracks spanning the first demos Joe wrote for the Mescaleros, as well as ‘Ocean Of Dreams’, featuring Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols on guitar, and outtakes of several tracks of Joe’s final recordings with the band. This richly curated boxset was executive produced by Joe’s widow Lucinda Tait and produced by David Zonshine and features exclusive new interviews with Joe’s friends, collaborators and Mescaleros band mates, plus never-before-seen handwritten notes, lyrics, and drawings by Strummer taken from the Joe Strummer Archive. The release arrives on 16th September on 4 CD w/72-page book and 7 LP w/32-page book, special edition packaging and exclusive 12”x12” art print. The first track from the collection, the previously unreleased version of ‘The Road To Rock ‘N’ Roll (Demo)’ is available to stream NOW. The video for the song was created using Joe’s drawings and handwritten lyrics found in the Strummer archive.

While best known as the front man for The Clash, Strummer produced some of the most exciting work of his career with The Mescaleros. Strummer said during this period: “All that’s happening for me now is just a chancer’s bluff. I learned that fame is an illusion and everything about it is just a joke. I’m far more dangerous now, because I don’t care at all.” Joe Strummer 002: The Mescaleros Years highlights this intense period of creativity from 1999-2002, collecting for the first time such extraordinary albums as Rock Art and the X-Ray Style (1999), Global A Go-Go (2001), and the posthumous Streetcore (2003), along with Vibes Compass, a brand-new compilation of 15 B-sides and rarities, including early demos of some of the first tracks Joe wrote for the Mescaleros such as ‘The Road To Rock ‘N’ Roll’, ‘X-Ray Style’, ‘Techno D-Day’, as well as the previously unreleased ‘Secret Agent Man’ and the original recordings from Joe’s last ever sessions, including outtakes of ‘Get Down Moses’, ‘Coma Girl’ and the song ‘Fantastic’. All albums are remastered by three-time GRAMMY® Award-winning engineer Paul Hicks (The Beatles, John Lennon, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie) especially for the release and are packaged with extensive new liner notes, unreleased images, and four reproduction lyric sheets and chord charts from the Strummer archive.  

“There’s so much great music that Joe left us in his archive,” says Joe’s widow and the executive producer, Lucinda Tait. “We started this work with ‘001’, so to focus on Joe’s work with The Mescaleros was the natural second step on ‘002’ because those songs he made with them just seemed to resonate so strongly and reinvigorated his connection with his audience at a level he hadn’t experienced since his days with The Clash.  “He was so excited to work with the Mescaleros and the reception he got from the press and fans was incredible, it gave him a whirlwind of energy and confidence and he was creatively fulfilled and happy.


 “His words are so beautiful and honest and together with the Mescaleros some fantastic tunes were created and to listen to some of the tunes recorded as outtakes for me was really special.” 2022 marks twenty years since the passing of the legendary Joe Strummer. Punk poet, musician, composer, actor, and style icon, Strummer spent his life smashing musical and cultural boundaries both as the singer of The Clash and as a solo artist. His songs sound as urgent and vital today as when they were written. Calling out social injustices and giving a voice to the struggles of the working class, Strummer’s politically charged lyrics struck a chord with legions of fans and the press alike, with Rolling Stone calling The Clash “the greatest rock & roll band in the world.” He famously once said, “Without people, you’re nothing.” Through his art, Joe Strummer played his part in shaping the musical landscape of the world and with it left an unrivalled and timeless legacy.

FOLLOW JOE STRUMMER

JOESTRUMMER.COM | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBETHE JOE STRUMMER FOUNDATION | DARK HORSE RECORDS

GODFATHERS – Return with an almighty bang.

GODFATHERS – Return with an almighty bang.

Legendary British rock & roll band The Godfathers return with an almighty bang on their highly-anticipated new album Alpha Beta Gamma Delta. Featuring thirteen tracks of new material, the album is described by the band’s lead singer and founder Peter Coyne as “a sonic tour de force” and is their first full-length studio release since the critically acclaimed A Big Bad Beautiful Noise in 2017.

Written and recorded during the course of the Covid pandemic, the album was produced by The Godfathers’ bassist (and former Damned member) Jon Priestley. Following on from the double A-side single I’m Not Your Slave / Wild And Free released in 2020, ‘Alpha Beta Gamma Delta’ is the first Godfathers’ album to feature the new line-up of Coyne, Priestley, ex-Heavy Drapes’ members Billy Duncanson (drums) and Richie Simpson (guitar) and guitarist Wayne Vermaak from The Great St Louis.

“Alpha Beta Gamma Delta is definitely one of the very best albums The Godfathers have ever made – it’s exciting, dark, dangerous contemporary rock & roll!” states Coyne. 

Originally formed in 1985 out of the ashes of The Sid Presley Experience, The Godfathers quickly earned a serious reputation for their electrifying brand of primal rock & roll and their incendiary live shows, aided and abetted by a string of classic radio hits and chart-bothering albums.

With numerous sold-out international tours and festival appearances to their credit, The Godfathers remain a consistent and reliable draw on the world’s stages and Alpha Beta Gamma Delta marks a thrilling new chapter in The Godfathers’ saga.

The album will be preceded by a 4-track EP entitled Midnight Rider on Friday 26th August, featuring two album tracks (Midnight Rider and OCD) plus two brand new and exclusive non-album tracks When The Cowards Fall and Fade Away.

The Godfathers will be announcing a full Autumn tour to coincide with the album’s release.

Alpha Beta Gamma Delta track listing:

Alpha Beta Gamma Delta / Bring On The Sunshine / You Gotta Wait / I Hate The 21st Century / OCD / Midnight Rider / Straight Down The Line / Lay That Money Down / Tonight / I’m Not Your Slave / There’s No Time / Dead In Los Angeles / I Despair  

The ‘Alpha Beta Gamma Delta’ album & ‘Midnight Rider’ EP can be pre-ordered Here

MANIC STREET PREACHERS – ‘KNOW YOUR ENEMY’ REMIXED, RECONSTRUCTED AND RE-ISSUED AS TWO SEPARATE ALBUMS AS ORIGINALLY INTENDED:

MANIC STREET PREACHERS – ‘KNOW YOUR ENEMY’ REMIXED, RECONSTRUCTED AND RE-ISSUED AS TWO SEPARATE ALBUMS AS ORIGINALLY INTENDED:

SET FOR RELEASE 9TH SEPTEMBER 2022 VIA COLUMBIA RECORDS Here

Manic Street Preachers release a radically reimagined version of their 6th album ‘Know Your Enemy’ on 9th September 2022. The new version of the album has been entirely remixed and reconstructed to form two separate albums as originally planned. ‘Know Your Enemy’ will be available digitally and as a 3 CD bookset, double CD and double album.

This deluxe release includes two previously unheard ‘forgotten’ tracks: ‘Studies in Paralysis’ and ‘Rosebud’, which is available online today. Beginning all wiry and cracked, ‘Rosebud’ soon opens out into a stuttering Hammond organ riff, a pensive rhythm track and a lyric that regrets “most things I never finished”.

Following the success of 1998’s’ This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours’, Manic Street Preachers planned an ambitious follow-up to be released as two distinct albums: an aggressive, rapid fire return to their roots called ‘Solidarity’ and ‘Door To The River’, a more conciliatory, reflective collection. During the recording sessions, the trio got cold feet and settled on a single album that forced often conflicting ideas to sit side by side on the same record. ‘Know Your Enemy’ was launched in February 2001 with a show at Teatro Karl Marx in Havana in front of the Cuban leader and charted at No.2 in the UK the following week, going on to see over half a million copies worldwide. The singles taken from the album: ‘So Why So Sad’, ‘Found That Soul’, ‘Ocean Spray’ and ‘Let Robeson Sing’ all reached the Top 20.

Whilst going through the band’s archive to put together an anniversary version of ‘Know Your Enemy’, Nicky Wire found the original tapes of ‘Solidarity’ and ‘Door To The River’ that he’d made up in the studio during recording. When he put forward the idea of recreating those records, James Dean Bradfield agreed on the condition that he could remix the entire record with the band’s longtime studio partner Dave Eringa. The new mixes would bring a clarity to each record, losing extraneous studio effects and digital noise from the ‘Solidarity’ songs and stripping away unnecessary orchestration and embellishment from the tracks that made up ‘Door To The River’.

Author and long-term band collaborator Robin Turner explains in his expansive sleeve notes that this release is “the Director’s Cut of ‘Know Your Enemy’. The picture has been painstakingly restored, cleaned up, brightened. Although it doesn’t aim to replace the original, it most certainly enhances it.”

The vinyl edition ‘Know Your Enemy’ presents ‘Solidarity’ and ‘Door To The River’ in the same order as originally planned in 2000. Each of the CD packages features those records in full plus outtakes, unused mixes by Tom Lord-Alge and tracks featured on the original ‘Know Your Enemy’ that aren’t on the two restructured albums. All formats feature previously unseen photos from the recording sessions taken by regular collaborator Mitch Ikeda.

Manic Street Preachers’ last studio album ‘The Ultra Vivid Lament’ went to No.1 on release in September 2021. They followed its release with a headline tour of the UK. This year, they opened the BBC6 Music Festival in Cardiff and have headlined several UK festivals. Upcoming tour dates below. 

Know Your Enemy – September 9th – Columbia

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Two for Tuesday

Two for Tuesday

From the album “Jukebox Junkies” Andy was never shy about wearing his influences on his sleeves. When playing with Hanoi Rocks the group frequently included surprising cover versions among their killer original songs. Now, McCoy taps into the rich musical history that inspired him on his own full-length album of highly addictive covers entitled Jukebox Junkie! Check out the album’s first single and video for a deep cut by ‘80s hitmakers Squeeze, “Take Me I’m Yours!”

Your second offering is from Harlow punk legends Newtown Neurotics who have announced a new album called ‘Cognitive Dissidents’ that will be released through Cadiz Music on October 21. Before that, they have a new single ‘Climate Emergency’, which sees the band focused on one of the most important issues of current times.

The pre-order link for the album is here

The band have the following gigs confirmed:

Friday 27 July – Triangle, London  

Friday 5 August – Rebellion, Blackpool (band show on Empress Ballroom + interview w/ Steve Drewett on Literary stage) 

Saturday 6 August – Rebellion, Blackpool (Steve Drewett almost acoustic show) 

Mala Vista – ‘Ruthless & Toothless’ (No Front Teeth Records)

Mala Vista – ‘Ruthless & Toothless’ (No Front Teeth Records)

Noo Yawk City mutherfuckers! via Old London Town. Mala Vista has released their debut long-playing platter that matters and it’s a slab of Lo-Fi Punk Rock n Roll that’s as much The Boys as it is The HEartbreakers and a whole lotta snot besides. IT’s thirteen grizzly slices of all the meats pizza the action and they’ve nailed that attitude-soaked punk n roll from the lo-fi production that is every bit their identity as the melodies that cut through the airwaves when the needle drops.

From the opening speaker cone splitting treble of ‘Baby So Wasted’ the chaos begins with the cool as fuck guitar breaks that pierce the sound levels and punctuate a rapid slice of Punk n Roll to the Buzzcocks inspired ‘Nowhere To Go’ this album is crammed full of top tunes that ebb and flow very nicely spitting out sweaty salty Punk Rock.

The chest-beating riff-a-rama of ‘Nuclear’ that swiftly goes pogo tastic or the infectious ‘NY Groove’ Mala Vista has got the chops and it’s no wonder they captured the interest of No Front Teeth Records because it’s a perfect collision of like-minded souls.

‘Relegated Lover’ started off like the bastard son of Rebel Rebel with the needle in the red before breaking out into a stonking thumping chest beater. ‘Ole Blue Eyes’ is like one of those magic tunes that drops when you hit the random button on a Wurlitzer in some dive bar far from home, It’ll put a smile on your face and have you raising a glass to the magic of a great tune. ‘Western Beef’ is like the runaway speed train with Chuck Berry at the steering wheel. The album is relentless as ‘Echo’ kicks into ‘Mouth Breeder’ which then spills into ‘Criminal’ with all its wonderful snotty melody it could be a kissing cousin of Los Pepe.

‘Summer Weekend’ is a banger that sounds familiar because it’s got the hallmarks of what’s gone before it from the melody to the chorus – great stuff. ITs a rapid over with in the blink of an eye, punk rock that fuses a whole bunch of top-notch influences together in a bunch of perfectly formed songs from the Ramones to the Boys to Buzzcocks to The HEartbreaers and a whole bunch in between Mala Vista has delivered a banger of a debut album and I suggest you check it out – Pronto!

Buy Here

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Author: Dom Daley

Beach Rats – ‘Rat Beat’ (Epitaph Records)

Beach Rats – ‘Rat Beat’ (Epitaph Records)

There’s been more than the odd occasion recently where I’ve found myself “getting something in my eye” as I’ve been whisked away on some kind of H.G. Wells inspired time travel moment back to my teenage years, all thanks to the power of rock ‘n’ roll. Midnight most certainly had me laying down my soul to the god’s rock ‘n’ roll when I saw them live a few weeks back, and only last week the new album by Then Comes Silence had me up on a mate’s shoulders chicken dancing like an idiot (well, in my head at least). Step forward then the latest mob to have this effect on me, and have me two-stepping all over the living room, namely US hardcore punk (super)group Beach Rats.

Initially the brainchild of Pete Steinkopf and Bryan Kienlen from the Bouncing Souls, following a memorial concert for Vision frontman Dave Franklin where the duo teamed up with Ari Katz from Lifetime, and had one of those magic lightbulb moments in process. The whole thing finally came together when Brian Baker of Minor Threat, Dag Nasty, Bad Religion, and Junkyard fame relocated to Asbury Park, New Jersey, looking, as he always seems to be, for yet another band to play with, and then by adding in Danny Windas, AKA ‘Dubs’ on drums, the Beach Rats were finally born.

Having subsequently signed with Epitaph Records, (I wonder how that happened eh?) Beach Rats are perhaps the band Baker’s other Epitaph side project Fake Names should have been, as I must admit that (given the musicians involved) I was fully expecting to love that record, yet it all kind of left me cold. Thankfully then, ‘Rat Beat’ is hotter than the UK’s annual couple of days of sunshine that we like to call summer. With just two of the album’s dozen tracks passing the two-minute mark, this is fast and furious punk rock, very much honed in the style of the early eighties’ crossover scene BUT (and this is a huge but) the songs also possess a much more contemporary edge (largely thanks to the vocals of Katz) which means there’s also the odd insanely catchy number in here too.

So, whist ‘Dress For Sick Sesh’ and album closer ‘Fuck You Dad’ might have me thinking of reaching for my copies of Cryptic Slaughter’s ‘Convicted’ or Crumbsuckers’ ‘Life Of Dreams’ for a long overdue spin, it’s the groovy as hell ‘Summers End’, the anthemic ‘Words’ and the more introspective ‘Clorox Boys’ where the melodies really cut through, and Beach Rats sound absolutely essential.

Look, if you’re a fan of any of Beach Rats’ associated bands then it goes without saying that you need a copy of ‘Rat Beat’ in your collection, but in saying this, if you are also a fan of the likes of Aerial Salad, Incisions, or Pizzatramp, you do also really do need to start saving your beer tokens and snap up a copy of this record when its released (on LP. CD and download) on July 29th.

The ‘Rat Beat’ is groovy as fuck. Now, go flip your baseball cap peak up and get ready to (slam) dance like a teenager all over again.

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Author: Johnny Hayward

Chained Bliss – ‘Chained Bliss’ (Drunken Sailor Records)

Chained Bliss – ‘Chained Bliss’ (Drunken Sailor Records)

Phillidelphias Chained Bliss first came to our attention back in 2019 with their ‘Stained Red’ cassette EP. This full length album sees the band back on the radar sounding ready for action and up for the fight.

Punk Rock with Melodic guitar lines jaring power chords, while frantic choruses. ITs got plenty of bite and roar as well and is set to get your pulse rate up.

Chained Bliss come from a base of garage rock, skateboards, and a scene we relate to the likes of a lot of So Cal punks. There is clearly a love of thrashing around making noise and living for the moment. From the thump of the bass line on opener ‘Nonfiction’ there’s confidence happening here and I like it! ‘Devils Laughter’ is more of the same with a great tempo that helps ramp up the vibes. It also contains a smart breakdown in tempo that is welcome.

It’s not all banger after banger mind, however, the cool opening on ‘Creative Seizure’ reminds me of prime-time Fugazi and if they’re channeling that kind of smarts then the future is bright, very bright. ‘Pillars of Abuse’ starts with a cool groove that helps catch your breath but you can feel the tempo rising as the drums get louder we’re barely a minute in when the circle pit opens up and you can’t wait to throw your carcass in for more brain banging punk rock but it does ebb and flow like the best of the Banshees used to.

‘Inner Citadel’ bumps into the excellent ‘Ominous Life’ and the party continues. hit after hit of energy washes over you. It’s basically ten tracks of the very highest standard punk rock you could wish for. Some great melodies and breakdowns all add to the thrill of what an LP should sound like.

This is a band and an album that should be taken into the hearts of punk rock kids everywhere it’s a great LP and one that deserves to be cherished long and hard everywhere. they’re probably too modest to say it but I’m not – this record is all killer and no filler and banger after banger in the youfs language get out there and check em out! before they blow up and you’ll be too cool to listen. They saved the best til last as well with the final three offerings being the best tracks on this album ‘Drifter’, ‘Mirrors’ and ‘Stained Red’ – bloody great stuff!

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Author: Dom Daley

The Boys – Video Exclusive ‘She’s The Reason’

The Boys – Video Exclusive ‘She’s The Reason’

Following on from the success of last year’s “I’m A Believer” CD single, which reached the Top 10 of the UK Heritage Chart, Finnish label Woimasointu will release a new double “A” side 7-inch vinyl single from The Boys. The single will come in three different versions including two Special Limited Editions.
 

Version One: “SHE’S THE REASON” c/w “(There Ain’t No) Just One Beer” & “I’m A Believer”.
Green vinyl with free Boys sew-on patch and new picture sleeve individually numbered 1-100.

 

Version Two: “I’M A BELIEVER” c/w “She’s The Reason” & “(There Ain’t No) Just One Beer”.

Blue vinyl individually numbered 1-100.
 

Version Three: “I’M A BELIEVER” c/w “She’s The Reason” & “(There Ain’t No) Just One Beer”.

Regular black vinyl issue.
   

Black vinyl copies are available from The Boys. BUY HERE

Please VOTE for “SHE’S THE REASON” at No. 45 in the UK Heritage Chart: VOTE HERE

You can also stream the single Here

Horned Wolf – ‘Become Like They Are’ (Self Release)

Horned Wolf – ‘Become Like They Are’ (Self Release)

Become Like They Are is the latest offering from Horned Wolf. Hailing from the US, they have been described as ‘progressive sludge metal’. I’m not sure what that is, they just sound like ‘metal’ to me…. The band have been around since 2015 and this is their first release with vocalist Sav.

If you like shouty, growly vocals, down tuned guitars, Sabbath and Alice in Chains style riffing, as well as some powerhouse drumming, Horned Wolf will be right up your street. I have to say that I’m not a huge fan of Sav’s vocal style, but I can certainly appreciate the talent it takes to be able to sustain that kind of delivery.

Opening track ‘You’re Boring’ kicks off with a mid-paced chug along, some tasty drumming from David Zey really helps to elevate the track. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you interested at this stage.  ‘Bloodlines’ has a Kyuss kind of sludgy feel to it, nice and doomy. ‘Charnel House’ highlights some clean vocals from Sav, I much prefer this to the Evil Dead-style shouting that goes on for most of the time.

‘Drag the Bayou’ is another mid paced number with some cool riffing and twin lead work from guitarists Don Bailey and Justin Mullin. It is all a little on the generic side though and the tracks do tend to blend into each other. The title track gives us more of the same, by the time I’ve got to this stage of the album, I’m bored and don’t really want to listen to anymore. Not that Horned Wolf aren’t good at what they do, they are. It just doesn’t resonate with me, not enough melody, no real earworms to speak of and it just becomes background noise.

As I previously stated, Horned Wolf are good at what they do, it’s just not my bag. Best of luck to them, I’m sure in their genre they will be appreciated. The album artwork is pretty cool too.

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Author: Kenny Kendrick