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VINYL DEALS
BOX Sets
Buy an Oil City Confidential Tin and a Classic Dr Feelgood collectors Vinyl and get a Double Wilko Best of CD FREE
A good old fashioned live EP dust up. Get your elbow pads on and find your spot in the pit because the fearsome foursome are taking the stage for a shit or bust romp through their five track special delivery. No fucking about these roughhouse hooligans are ‘Guilty Of Nuthin’ and as they strap on those guitars its four to the floor and lets kick up some dust. No nonsense powerpoppin hard rockin tunes. Its a buzz and a pocket full of catchy tunes is exactly what the doctor ordered the only gutter here is its restricted to five numbers when a whole live album would have satisfied my dancin shoes.
‘Doghouse’ is addictive and catchy as an STI and I’ve heard a rumour that this is just to wet the whistle before 2020 and that long-awaited long-player hits the death decks. ‘Better At Your Age’ has got a lovely thick bass thump and a melody that once upon a time a young Wellar might have penned. If you happened to walk in early to a venue and these guys were on stage dishing up this racket you’d be delighted. and as the beer flowed and the likes of the boogie-woogie, good-time rocker ‘Misanthropic Boogie’ kicked in you’d get a second wind and sail into the thick of it. It might only be Rock and Roll but boy do I like it. Loud and a lot of fun its what a good time should be. Nothing too serious except the rock n roll. It sounds like they’re channelling the spirit of Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds and a bit of Motorhead for good measure especially on the final fling of ‘Intercontinental’ again plenty of Rock but with just enough Roll squeezed in for good measure. A great bit of good time Rock and Roll so what are you waiting for? Get on it ya fools and it’ll give the band enough of a kick up the rear to get that long-player out but until then this will do very nicely the Rock and Roll bastards Be loud be Proud! Lets Rock!
Author: Dom Daley
Tensheds is the brainchild of keyboard wizard Matt Millership, a multi-instrumentalist who tinkles the ivories full time for Jim Jones & The Righteous Mind and Beans On Toast. While in these bands Matt is more of a hired hand, Tensheds is completely his baby, and with long time drummer Ed Wells, he has been exploring unique ways to bring piano music crashing into the 21st Century for well on 10 years now.
The pair recently retreated to Free House Studios in Wales and tracked their 4th album ‘Deathrow Disco’ in 3 days. Taking a minimalistic approach, it was recorded completely with a Rhodes organ and drums, with just the occasional tinkle from his beloved 1835 Collard & Collard grand piano. No guitars, bass, synths or ulterior motives were used in the making of this album.
‘Deathrow Disco’ is not your average piano based record, that’s for sure. This is a hard hitting, gritty alternative beast full of heavy beats and gravelly vocals. If you dig a bit of James Leg (which we certainly do at RPM) then you will most likely enjoy ‘Deathrow Disco’. There are many parallels; the pair both follow the same 2 piece band format of Rhodes organ and drums. But while James Leg has a more swampy blues approach, Tensheds are more, dare I say…gothic noir. Imagine Tom Waits on crack, downing whiskey and jamming out Donna Summer records all night long and you might get some idea where Tensheds are coming from with ‘Deathrow Disco’.
Thumping beats pump through the stereo on opener ‘Youngbloods’ before Matt’s gritty vocals take over, sounding like a man on 40 a day. ‘Gold Tooth’ has a signature Rhodes refrain and musically goes off on a tangent to itself. It’s fast, fuzzy and its dare I say…dancy!
Tensheds create dark imagery as Matt weaves sonically seductive effect-ridden Rhodes runs all over gothic, Tim Burton-esque soundscapes. But this isn’t a Danny Elfman style soundtrack, oh no. Well, maybe if you kidnapped the songwriter, scrubbed his vocal chords with sandpaper, soaked the open wounds in cheap whiskey and packed him off to an Amsterdam whorehouse for a dirty weekend, it would be!
‘Slag’ takes the fuzz to another level as Matt growls about the rich and the poor, the music builds in intensity, as piano runs and stabbing chords fight for supremacy. A three and a half minute deathrock opera. ‘Black Blood’ is upbeat and funky, yet dark and foreboding, a schizophrenic musical delight, and ‘Secrets’ is a seductive murder ballad that will haunt your very soul.
Let’s get one thing straight ‘Deathrow Disco’ is not a party album, well not any party I have ever attended anyway! It’s a dark and emotional rollercoaster ride through the deep recesses of the songwriters mind, exploring the themes of incarceration, whether that be metaphorical or physical. He suggests there is no freedom from love, loss, politics or the destruction of our planet. The lyrics are topical and the music is simply fascinating.
Buy Deathrow Disco Here
Author: Ben Hughes
Gibby Haynes, fearless front man of Butthole Surfers, has been immortalized as a Throbblehead.
Limited To 100 Sets (US Customers Only)Gibby will be signing copies of his darkly humorous debut YA novel “Me and Mr. Cigar” and we’ll have 100 copies to include in these exclusive Throbblehead bundles!
The book, which centers on a lost Texas teen and his supernatural dog and the power of found family, will be available on January 14th from Soho Press.
Signature appears on endpapers boasting Gibby’s original artwork.
US CUSTOMERS ONLY
brokker, a Japanese company that specializes in crafting 85mm music figurines, is proud to present its latest collection… SEX PISTOLS!
These figures are faithful reproductions of the “God Save the Queen.” All details and accessories are independently molded and meticulously reconstructed.
Back in the late nineties, I had a cassette in my car with all the best songs from the cover-mounted CDs that Kerrang! Magazine gave away. The first song on side 1 of that TDK C90 was ‘Every Little Thing Counts’ by Janus Stark, possibly the most pedal to the metal, anthemic opener anyone driving a Vauxhall Nova could desire back in the day!
Formed by former English Dogs/UK Subs guitarist Gizz Butt, Janus Stark released their mighty fine album ‘Great Adventure Cigar’ in 1997 on Earache records, at that time Gizz was also playing guitar for The Prodigy while they were touring on the back of ‘Fat Of The Land’.
Of course, all good things must come to an end and even something as great as an adventure cigar is not made to last, and Janus Stark sadly split in 2002. Fast forward to 2018 and Gizz decided to reform the band, roping in Richard Gombault of 90’s pop-punk band Midget and friends Fozzy Dixon and Simon Martin. A recent tour with The Wildhearts and The Professionals followed and this leads nicely up to the highly anticipated release of their first album in way too many years entitled ‘Angel In The Flames’.
The thing that sets Janus Stark apart from their contemporaries is the fact that Gizz is a shredder. While ‘Angel In The Flames’ is littered with turn of the Century pop punk sensibilities, buzzsaw guitars and full band harmonies, there is a more technical and aggressive element in place thanks to Gizz’s guitar histrionics. Yet, while the lyrics are socially and politically aware, and the riffs crunchy, it’s the melodies that always shine through, they are pure sugar for the soul.
The topical opener ‘Crucify All The Leaders’ sets the scene nicely with harmonies and melodies straight out of the Eureka Machines songbook and sweet picking to match the likes of Vai and Satriani. ‘Last Exit To Change Your Mind’ builds nicely with a cool melody to a signature Gizz Butt chorus that embeds straight into the brain. A power punk chorus that reminds me of Brit Rock contenders Compulsion.
These comparisons continue through the album. Punchy, anthemic choruses abound in the likes of ‘Dead Dead’, and while the 80’s metal riffage that opens ‘Karmageddon’ could easily be mistaken for Quiet Riot or Ratt, that is where any Sunset Strip comparisons end. The melodic hardcore and post-punk roots of the songwriters here shine through and save the day.
‘Some Stars Never Fade’ has great songwriting and sentimentality that bring to mind another long lost nineties favourite of mine Mega City 4. There’s great song dynamics as the chilled verse builds beautifully over picked chords to a rousing, yet passionately delivered chorus that sends shivers down the spine. A killer solo is over in a flash and we return to the anthemic chorus hook. It’s beautifully delivered and a lasting album highlight.
2020 is shaping up nicely for the band with a return to live-action that will see Janus Stark travel the length and breadth of the UK through February, March and April for a headline tour of their own. They will surely come within spitting distance of your comfortable abode, so my advice to you is buy this album, dig its glorious sonic sounds then buy a gig ticket… you can thank me later.
Author: Ben Hughes
Two legends from the British punk era – TV Smith and the Bored Teenagers & GBH have been added to HRH Punk 2 Line-up – with only 80 pairs of tickets left – plus this year’s HRH Punk Anarchy in Sheffield video documentary is now on Amazon Worldwide TV!
Heading to Sheffield for 2020 are TV Smith and the Bored Teenagers, featuring the legendary frontman of British punk pioneers The Adverts. TV Smith has been lauded as one of the leading singer-songwriters to emerge from the punk era, and also fronted bands such as Cheap and TV Smith’s Explorers.
Also added to the already incredible line-up are the hugely influential GBH. Not only were they front-runners in the punk scene from their inception in 1978, but they have also led the way for metal bands too such as Bathory. The core of the band remains in-tact with both Colin Abrahall (vocals) and Colin ‘Jock’ Blyth (guitar) being ever-present right up to the current line-up.
Get your tickets Here
As if that wasn’t enough for the HRH Punk faithful – today sees the launch of the video documentary HRH Punk – Anarchy in Sheffield!
HRH are Europe’s leading residential festival promoter, when they were tasked with doing an HRH Punk event, anything and everything could happen – and it did. For lovers of ‘76 punk and beyond, this is the first punk documentary on Amazon – join some punk heroes llve and behind the scenes with nearly 4000 fans who had it all at Anarchy in Sheffield where we hear it, see it and feel it, straight from the horses mouth.
Available now : Here
I can’t remember where or when I first heard Red Arms it might well have been one late night when I vanished down a Bandcamp wormhole and just happened across ‘Better Than Nothing’ the second track on ‘Critical State’. Maybe the first thing I noticed was they were Canadian and to be fair they throw up more than their fair share of great records in recent years. Post punk, Power pop or alt rock whatever you want to call it Red Arms dish it up in spades and have made a most excellent long player.
I’ll level with you I don’t know anything about the band when I went looking for details and previous work I struggled to find anything so it was a real discovery for me .I hear some Husker Du and The Who as well as more modern alternative bands like some Buffalo Tom and Anti Flag as well for good measure so a real melting pot but the production is bright and the songs sound well constructed and worked on. The album kicks off with ‘Post Punk’ which has something of a Stooges riff and rhythm about it and to be fair its more No Means No or Fugazi than anything else. Its got energy for an opener and it’ll reel you in for sure. As the record unfolds the songs tend to settle down to mid paced efforts but with strong melodies and harmonies take ‘All This Noise’ as an example.
‘Midwinter’ builds around a bass rumble but a bit of an epic as the first minute takes its time to get going but by the second minute things get rockin’. To be fair the second half of the album only gets stronger for me and I love the groove they get in on ‘Pathetic Charms’. If you like a thumping bass rumble then ‘Huckster’ is for you before it starts thrashing around it ebbs and flows through some tempo changes.
To be fair I hear different influences on every play but they’ve managed to create a really listenable sound with a bunch of top tunes. Red Arms are another fine string to Canada’s impressive bow of Rock and Roll bands strutting their stuff this being immersed in the alternative underground but full to bursting with excellent melodies and tunes. Go check em put but don’t hold me responsible for starting you off down that wormhole of discovery but it will be worth it.
Buy Critical State Here
Author: Dom Daley
When does a genre of music become overground? How many records do you need to sell to stop being underground? All questions plenty of genres deal with day in day out and year in year out. From the origins of Ska to today there have always been plenty of bands skanking it out. Politics or just goofy misfits acting out Ska covered it all.
‘Pick It Up! Ska In The 90s’ just about covers a whole scene with the movers and shakers playing their part and covering the story in detail. A thoroughly enjoyable movie that gives the back story and takes on all comers using the people who were in the trenches from Tim Armstrong narrating to No Doubt being included along side the big players from The Specials to Operation Ivy to Reel Big Fish and Blink 182 right up to today’s players like Aimee Interrupter.
Focusing on the 90s explosion this film is a great two hours of musical education thats a comprehensive coverage. Regardless of if you like or love or can’t get into it at all its a really engaging flick. I particularly like how fondly and honestly the main players talk about the scene. When it went from the top of the scene right back down to going underground its a great story and the flow is really good.
As far as music films go its watchable and informative cramming a hell of a lot of detail into just over an hour and a half its great to see the likes of Roddy Radiator getting screen time to tell his story alongside how No Doubt broke out they give props to the likes of Operation Ivy through to Rancid and their contribution. who knew Goldfinger played 385 shows in a single year! Amazing stuff.
Someone describes it as like a pendulum swing and I like that because its spot on from grunge to ska punk to nu metal back to rock to indie and back round again. the endurance of some of the bands like The Slackers and Rancid has no doubt helped bands like The Interrupters and Bar Stool Preachers who are coming through and will be the next generation to challenge the BossTones and thats cool and as it should be and to see The Specials and Neville Staples filling halls in 2019 is awesome.
Check this film out its like a ray of sunshine in dark times and the soundtrack is really really good. Put on your pork pie hat and get skanking you know you want to.
Canadian punk legends, The Black Halos, are back! Original members Billy Hopeless, Rich Jones, and Jay Millette have reunited and are joined by the rhythm section of Danni Action and John Kerns (of Juno award winning Age of Electric). The two songs on this single will remind fans of their first two albums on Sub Pop Records. Not only were they recorded with the original song writing team, but they once again contracted legendary producer Jack Endino (Nirvana, Sound Garden) to mix the production. Singer Billy Hopeless says of the songs, “At the beginning of any grande production it is important to establish where the players are and what situation they are involved in. The term reincarnation derives from latin, meaning entering the flash or something new from the past. Both these terms fit this reintroduction of the Black Halos next chapter.”
L I V E
February 7 @ Rickshaw Theatre, Vancouver BC
February 8 @ Rickshaw Theatre, Vancouver BC
May 2020 @ Canadian Music Week, venue TBA
The Black Halos are best known for their album “The Violent Years”. The album earned them extensive radio play including a Top 20 single in Canada with Some Things Never Fall and saw them play notable festivals like Warped Tour, Edgefest, SXSW, CMJ, and The Kerrang Awards in the UK. The video for Some Things Never Fall saw regular rotation on both MTV in the United States and Much Music in Canada. The album went to the top of Canada’s Earshot Campus Radio Charts and was on heavy rotation at notable U.S. radio stations like WFMU, KLXA and KEXP.
D I S C O V E R
It’s always a good day when The Zuglys drop a new record of any description. A bunch of Oslo natives kicking out the jams on their terms – dancing only to their own tune GBZ as we like to call them, are a force of nature and you need to let them into your life it must be pretty empty without them, that’s all I can assume? Besides I’m declaring right here right now that this is the finest Deathpunk album since ’98s ‘Apocalypse Dudes’ which is quite some gap.
Album number four (or five if you include the compilation of early releases) it would be fair to say that Zugly are one of the best-kept secrets in all of punk rock land. How? Fuck knows is often a few words we use to describe the phenomena or just that people generally haven’t got a clue what’s good for them. Over the next few paragraphs, I’m hoping to either put you off music for life or help persuade you to click the red words below and go investigate this band of maverick noisemakers.
Right, let’s do this. ‘Algorithm & Blues’ contains thirteen songs of varying levels of intensity mostly stressful full-on in your face punk rock Oslo style without compromise or a hint of wanting to conform to reach a wide audience of nodding dogs who wouldn’t know a good tune from a puddle of piss. The opening track is ‘Welcome To The Great Indoors’ which is nice. It begins with some Angus like scales working out up the fretboard before the rhythm section joins in building up to the crunch point then bosch! We’re off as the guitars pin you to the back of your seat and we’re careering downhill at a frantic rate of knots. Fuck this is how to kick off your album. Ivar Nikolaisen leads the charge with his uncompromising vocals and what a thrilling four minutes that was.
Forget Turbonegro and Kvelertak this is how to rock out 2020 style. this is where the bar gets set, these are the leaders and others will just have to follow, simples. ‘Fake Noose’ is intense and has a really haunting melody through the vocals it’s like audio crack it’s that addictive but then when you tackle the subject of elected dying and going to Switzerland to do it its gotta be a little intense right?. The quality charge continues as ‘Staying With The Trouble’ is up next with its triumphant guitars and pop-savvy melody on those backing vocals its a lighter side of The Zuglys for sure. Have they finally decided to sell a little of their soul for success and chart acceptance?
After the slight interlude of ‘Follow Your Dreams’ were right back at it hammering away on ‘Kings Of Inconvenience’. ‘The Man Behind The (Oxygene) Mask’ is the Zuglys on top of their game it’s bold, it’s grand, it’s epic. It gallops from the off (no great shock there to be fair) but the melodies happening are fantastic and the more you play these songs the more things jump out you didn’t notice on the last play and this song is one of the best examples of that. Remember what you thought when you first heard Turbo knock out ‘Apocolpse Dudes’ well, this is like that.
‘Fuck Life…But How To Live It’ is hardcore heaven. Uncompromising and just full of boundless energy like the Beastie Boys tackling early Black Flag. The second single off the album ‘Corporate Rock’ is anything but. Hounding out fake bands with a huge riff that belted out like a 30lb hammer landing on your temple. I’m standing firm behind these boys they know the score!
‘The Kids Are Alt-Right’ is tackling the hot potato of today’s global politics but I hope they’re wrong on this one I hope that Hope Not Hate prevails and the Kids are alright and our children don’t head down a wormhole of Trump and tory hate for anyone and everything except money and not 90% are nihilists. C’mon Oslo’s finest offer us some hope? whilst there is a darkness I have to believe the kids are generally all right.
Blimey, for some light relief from the last one ‘Fuck The Police’ raises the alarm, Doh! bollocks lets go with them. Use the intro to inhale then prepare to enter the pit as the intensity escalates. “Fuck, Fuck Fuck the Police” if you can’t beat them join them. That my friends is pretty much where we get off this trip except for ‘Requiem’ and its one last hurrah! Rounding off an absolute belter to kick-off 2020. The Good The Bad And The Zugly are everything you want them to be they make you think, Smile, Laugh, break things, give yourself over to the noise they make, be grateful you have them in your life and you also have impeccable taste in hardcore punk rock and roll Oslo style.
As they said it themselves on this record “Don’t tell me that the sky is the limit when there are footprints on the moon” Go The Zuglys I’m rootin’ for you to break on through. Let’s make this go overground! Just go Buy it! it’s because you’re worth it!
Buy Algorithm & Blues Here
Author: Dom Daley
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