Snarling Dogs – ‘Snarling Dogs’ (Drunken Sailor Records)

Snarling Dogs – ‘Snarling Dogs’ (Drunken Sailor Records)

Oh Boy, Drunken Sailor Records is on fire this year, releasing epic album after must-have record. Snarling Dogs is the latest in an ever-expanding line of stunning punk rock’ n roll records.

After submitting a demo last year, These Pittsburgh punks Snarling Dogs unleash their rabid album on an unsuspecting world with a healthy heartful of napalm these dead boys aren’t taking things lightly nor taking prisoners on this first outing they’re scorching the earth and everything in their path. This is top-notch fistful of Fury punk n roll at its finest. I could pack my review with rabid dog comparisons about biting and barking but that’s too easy so I’ll just stick to the facts when it comes to the Rock n Roll and when I get excited it makes me feel alive and almost wanting to run around like a dog with two dicks.
It’s eleven rapid, runaway revved-up rockers, taking in the first knocking of Punk rock n roll from the Stooges through the Bowery in the 70s and all the way to London when ‘New Rose’ changed everything these cats have been paying attention and absorbing it all in order to channel it into their modern twist.

‘Nothing Left’ is charging around like The Stooges only just broke outta Detroit with the speed and mixed with the cheap drug-fueled speed of early Damned or The Dead Boys. It’s all about the energy and attitude and this has it in spades.


The record isn’t just crash bang wallop mind there are more measured moments like ‘Hour at a Time’ – a building groove that sounds like the inner thoughts of some crazed killer running loose through some rainy downtown fleeing the scene of the crime with some great Iggy Style yelps on the breakdown.

‘Enemy’ is brutal and unhinged punk rock with a maniac pace and energy- exploding through the speakers. they should head out on tour with The Cavemen a thought I had when the shimmering guitar filled the void on ‘I’m An Animal’ it’s not all crash bang wallop see.

‘Overtime’ rivals anything Stiff Richards delivers whilst ‘Sniper’ takes aim (sorry, Couldn’t resist that one) is the battle cry for going over the top for WW3 like the spirit of Motorhead dines out with some snotty NYHC in 2024. These boys have a sensitive side as they demonstrate on ‘Highway Of Hurt’ but don’t think they’ve gone soft because ‘USA’ opens fire on anyone listening in. Hell, they even have a ‘Fight Song’ – get in there I’m on team Snarling Dogs sounding like a 70s Glam-inspired foot on the monitor chest-beating anthem.

The album ends with ‘2 Crosses’ as the band goes widescreen with a cool lick and rollicking rhythm proving they’re not a one trick pony and can turn their hand to whatever style they like it just so happens they prefer rockin out like they’ve got rabies and they’re on the run from the pound but don’t get too close this is one wild animal and I freakin well love it. Makes you feel alive and in love with Punk Rock n Roll Ave It! absolutely Buy It!

While the record has these intense dynamic shifts, Snarling Dogs glue it all together with their cohesive live rock-n-roll energy. Snarling Dogs is the perfect escape from the mundanity of life.
Chug that 40 oz on your lunch break, smoke that entire pack of cigs, and take a piss on your boss’s car. There are two dogs in you. Now it’s time to set the Snarling Dog free.

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THEE HEADSRINKERS are ‘Head Cheese’

THEE HEADSRINKERS are ‘Head Cheese’

THEE HEADSRINKERS DEBUT ALBUM ‘HEAD CHEESE’ TO BE RELEASED NOVEMBER 29TH VIA PROPERTY OF THE LOST RECORDS

PRE-ORDER HERE:

If there was ever an ad for joinmyband.com, this story is it.

Rob (stocking) and Gino (balaclava) found each other there and started practising as a duo in a mate’s garage sandwiched between rusty bicycles and an old MG. They wanted to sound like The Jesus & Mary Chain. It didn’t quite work out that way. Planning for his imminent move to Hastings not to be a lonely one Stiv (doll’s head) also found the couple, who by this time thought a human drummer would be a nice addition, through the aforementioned musician matchmaking site.

The road they travel is littered with youthful memories of all bands across the world and through the ages. Being in a band is THE adventure, a gang of misfits you want to be part of. Practice rooms being raided by armed police because there was a starter pistol modification factory next door and being coined off stage after an ill-judged booking, just a couple of whimsical recollections. Rob, primarily a lover of Northern Soul and reggae, spent his youth playing in mod and ska bands and spent one summer travelling across Europe in an ambulance playing squats and community centres with crust punks Rites Of Man. It was never the plan for him to be chief lyricist and singer, he just did it until “they found someone better” but with subject matters from driving your motorbike at night and switching off the lights to not letting go of past beefs and resentments, it’s going be a long wait.

When asked for band inspiration. The answer is immediate. The Eighties Match Box B-Line Disaster, The Fall and the Sex Pistols. And ambition? “To play the 100 Club.” Can’t say fairer than that. They have all the raw power too. Songs driven by the bass line, with no middle eight, making repetition an art form. Vocals spit and sneer but touch on the pop sensibilities of The Mary Chain that Rob & Gino first wished to emulate. Gino’s turns his Vox Phantom into a full fuzz incendiary device, all held together by Stiv’s fast and loose garage beat.

From playing 20 capacity basement gigs, 2024 has seen the masked crusaders star rising with promoters and venues across the country asking for their attendance. This debut album does what every debut should. A sum up of the band right here, right now. Recorded in three days at Ranscombe studios in Rochester with Jim Riley at the helm. Home to the “medway sound” boasting a back catalogue of The Prisoners, The Dentists and of course Billy Childish. Twelve tracks delivered, most not reaching the three-minute frontier of abrasive garage energy.

Today the music world gets to sample its first taste of the albums bitter sweet charms in new single ‘Sunday Driver’ which is ‘about a man who only feels alive behind the wheel of his killing machine,’ and storms along like Mark E Smith if he was staring in 1970s car gore fest ‘Death Race 2000’. It’s raw, frantic and oozing petrol guzzling charm.

Thee Headshrinkers will be roaring into your town, and then your life, very soon. And if you don’t like it well then that’s just head cheese.

Catch Thee Headshrinkers live at the following dates:

SAT 19th Oct – Dust, Brighton, with THE SURFRAJETTES

Sat 26th Oct – Elmo’s, Bristol

Sat 9th Nov – The Pig, Hastings (POTL / GYO all dayer)

Sat 16th Nov – Chaplins Cellar Bar, Bournemouth

Sat 30th Nov – Tough Love instore, St Lenoards

Sun 1st Dec – Smugglers instore, Deal

Sat 14th Dec – The Anchor, Wingham (Garage / Psychobilly all dayer)

Find Thee Headshrinkers online at:FACEBOOK /BANDCAMP /INSTAGRAM

Meatbeaters – ‘Prime Cu*ts’ (Heavy Medication Records)

Meatbeaters – ‘Prime Cu*ts’ (Heavy Medication Records)

From Down Under via Poland is exactly how I like my loud, fuck you Rock n Roll. Who doesn’t? Meatbeaters are a whole inappropriate bunch of scoundrels from Adelaide. The fact it’s the serial killer capital of Australia is insignificant. Well, It’s also the place where The Meatbeaters have resided. What do they sound like I hear you ask. Well, Imagine Motorhead digested the punk rock songbook and danced with the devil whilst taking advantage of everything that’s illegal and not good for you and turned it all up to eleven. They might have gone unnoticed for a couple of decades but thanks to this here interweb thing we can all play catch up on these deviants. Their filthy sonic destruction is wrapped up in this wonderful compilation album for your leisurely dedication. They are of course loud, and dirty, and make an ugly beautiful din that has no time for subtlety so absolutely zero fucks given here. If you aren’t sure check out ‘C.O.A.B.’ or ‘Lunch’ and watch those easily offended run for their nearest safe space.

The Meatbeaters’ are heavy as an anvil, relentless as prime Fast Eddie, filthy era Motorhead mixing it up with the eMC5 and the Cosmic Psychos. This is a band who’ve gone under the radar for too long so Heavy Medication have stepped up to write this particular wrong and bring it to the masses for immediate consumption. Get the beers in and get this on the stereo and turn it up. with Eleven originals, some of which are making their first appearance on vinyl here. How cool is ‘Spit Roast’ riffing on that ‘Born To Raise Hell’ attitude whats not to like?

Don’t go too hard when you’re headbanging to ‘Show Us What You Got’ because ‘Big Momma’ follows and you wouldn’t want to not be ready for that thunder express rushes through the speakers. It’s a relentless ride but the quality is immense throughout, just be careful not to do yourself a mischief. Now don’t just take my word for it get involved strap on the bullet belt and wear your denim n leather for protection this is The Meatbeaters baby and they play Rock n Roll! Buy It!

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Author: Dom Daley

This is a vinyl-only release. If you’re looking for Meatbeaters CDs, please visit the band’s Bandcamp site or Pitshark Records www.pitshark.com (European distro).

Rowdy – ‘Rowdy’ (Drunken Sailor Records)

Rowdy – ‘Rowdy’ (Drunken Sailor Records)

On a recent trip to Barcelona, I had my phone with a few new albums to review for entertainment. What better way to spend your flight than writing up some reviews Especially when they come courtesy of Drunken Sailor Records. Rowdy is the band and boy it felt like my flight was about two minutes long so good was the inflight entertainment via this album. all that was missing was lashings of booze and a Karen fight on board but hell, the soundtrack was awesome.

Now Rowdy are a new band on album number one so this is the ground floor kids so jump in they hail from Texas via Scotland who are a new combo on me but the sounds aren’t new at all, its Rowdy by name and Rowdy by nature. From the howling good time melodies through some ragged arsed punk rock n roll its loose baby, like all those great bands from the 70s. It’s got an innocent charm and sounds like they’re already well-oiled but the music comes first and the rock rolls on.

Banging melodies played through thrift store instruments hit hard but with passion and a deep-rooted love of what they do. ‘Keep It Secret’ is light enough to be carefree but raw enough to keep the punkers interested, and the melody is everything here. The chorus is awesome, and the tempo keeps things exciting and honest. Pretty much the mantra throughout, to be fair, is racing downhill with the roof down and the stereo cranked, with everyone singing at the top of their voices having the best of times. It’s just such a great record. With clunky power chords thumping out the rhythm over a solid bass line and Moon the loon style drumming, it’s all good in the hood here.

With a classic four tunes per side it’s time to get the job done and not muck about like a cool Joan Jett howling for the Dead Boys with a fist full of classics on their mind. ‘Fine Mystery’ is like a rougher early Blondie with no fine smooth edges just plenty of grit and some wonderful guitar licks to help it on its way, such a fine tune. The variety is loaded up on side two as the cool ‘Cost Of It’ rips through the speakers. The loose production is unfussy and everything is crystal clear which is perfect for this primitive Rock n Roll and it all helps to hammer home how good the music is ending on ‘Love To Lose’ like a bruising lets ave it rocker if AC/DC were punk rockers jamming on something way more garage than Blues and a mighty fine way to bring the curtain down on any album kicking up dust and rockin out. Outstanding album just buy it! Now if all flight soundtracks were this good!

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Author: Dom Daley

Kevin K & The Bowery Kats – ‘Rosewood’ (Vicious Kitten Records)

Kevin K & The Bowery Kats – ‘Rosewood’ (Vicious Kitten Records)

Kevin K returns in 2024 with ‘Rosewood’ – a ten-song collection to backdrop a world set with tension, AI advances and an ever-decreasing circle of real honest Rock n Rollas. That’s what the Double K and his record label want you to believe but it’s not as bad a picture as that intro might suggest, no sir. We at RPM know that it’s out there still kicking and screaming but it might be harder to find which is why we’re here and I guess why you’re still reading this here review.

Prolific Punk Rock n Roll lifer The Double K loves a Riff and ‘Rosewood’ has plenty throughout its ten tunes. Rockers, steeped in da blooze baby plus the quieter moments that find KK at his most reflective and openhearted. The format of bittersweet songs leaning heavily on his heroes such as Big Star, Johnny Thunders, the Replacements and the Stones are present and accounted for which is the staple of Kevin’s repertoire and thank God for that keeping on keeping on.

Double K has always kept close to his NYC roots and sung about his early formative years and those halcyon days are still his staple call it retro or nostalgia, for lifers like Kevin K it’s all he knows and the well can never run dry due to its rich past. The record is probably Kevin K at his best to be fair and sounding live is a real benefit for these songs no longer having to lean on a drum machine Kevin has embraced the modern world and on ‘Rosewood’ delivered a kick-ass record and captured what’s in his heart really well.

The opener ‘Sometime In The Rain’ has a great hook and melody and the wall of guitars sounds vibrant and alluring. Sure Johnny Thunders would approve but that’s the point. ‘What Will I Do’ is aggressive whilst ‘Last Train Home’ is more laid back but the rawness carries the song home. ‘Moving On’ has plenty of swing from the hypnotic riff and the fact that he resisted the temptation to rock out with the rest of the band is what makes it.

‘How I Feel’ is a really dirty Steve Jones kinda riff built around a Stooges groove. It might share a title with The aforementioned Stooges but ‘I Feel Alright’ comes out windmilling those riffs and one of the best tracks on offer here. There’s room for a loose take on ‘Brand New Cadillac’ and I do like the Thunders inspired guitar solo – very nice.

The album closes on the reflective ‘My Time Has Come And Gone’ and we’re done. The only acoustic song on the album and classic Kevin K, wrapping up a really impressive album from the man which only leaves me to say if you know Kevin K and like what he does then this is a no brainer and if you’re here for your first time then this will impress. always good to hear new music from Kevin K and smile at his cat-inspired artwork. head over to Bandcamp without paws and pick up a copy and act like you’re the cat who go the cream.

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Author: Dom Daley

Satanic Rites Of The Wildhearts & UK Tour announcement

Satanic Rites Of The Wildhearts & UK Tour announcement

THE Wildhearts announce brand new studio album – ‘Satanic Rites Of The Wildhearts’ on Snakefarm  

and Headline UK Tour March 2025

https://thewildhearts.tmstor.es/

The Wildhearts are proud to announce that their new studio album, ‘Satanic Rites Of The Wildhearts’, will be released in spring 2025.

The creatively brilliant Ginger Wildheart is arguably amongst the UK’s best and most prolific songwriters, and his band, The Wildhearts, have just signed a worldwide deal with Snakefarm / Integral.

“The songs were written during a period of transition, from extremely negative to positive. I realised how much control I have over my mental health, and the songs came from that understanding. There’s everything here – catchy choruses, proper fuck-off riffs, anger, frustration, acceptance and revelation, with plenty of insane detours. The album starts pessimistic and ends up like ‘Ah, so I CAN turn my life around?’

Sometimes you have to start from the very bottom, your darkest point. We have more control over our emotions than we think. We control the outcome by how we respond. Once I started learning that, the songs came pissing out. It’s a hard rock album for people who actually love hard rock! We’ll be taking a full evening’s entertainment on tour, kicking off with party-punks Dirt Box Disco, going to rock ‘n’ roll church with Jim Jones and being flayed alive with The Wildhearts. 

The party starts when the doors open, so get a buzz on and get down early. 

Come join the Wildhearts’ community gathering. We guarantee you’ll leave with the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll firmly restored.” – Ginger Wildheart 

‘Satanic Rites Of The Wildhearts’ was produced by Jim Pinder (Bring Me The Horizon, Lotus Eater, While She Sleeps, Bullet For My Valentine) and mixed by Jim Pinder and Carl Bown (Trivium, Machine Head, While She Sleeps, Bullet For My Valentine, Bring Me The Horizon, While She Sleeps). 

“The first album I A&R’d was ‘Earth vs The Wildhearts’. What a magnificent, game-changing record! What a baptism of fire!! Very quickly, it became clear what a rare talent Ginger was, and is; to my mind, one of the great British songwriters of the past 30 years, and this new record underlines that point. 

The conversation here was simple – let’s rejoin forces, let’s complete the circle, with an album forged in the spirit of ‘Earth vs…’, both in terms of the music and the overall intent, and let’s reference the title and that memorable front cover photo, too. Which is what we have; the start of an exciting new chapter in the story of a band who have always been defined by the desire of one man to write songs that soundtrack our lives; songs where – to quote Wildhearts fave ‘Nita Nito’ – rules do not apply.” – Dante Bonutto, Snakefarm 

To pre-order / pre save ‘Satanic Rites Of The Wildhearts’ go to: https://thewildhearts.tmstor.es/
‘Satanic Rites Of The Wildhearts’ will be available on ltd coloured vinyl LP, CD with exclusive bonus track and cassette. There is also an album test pressing (limited to 50, customised & signed by Ginger). Plus, a signed bonus CD EP, with all bundle offers.
To celebrate this release, The Wildhearts will be playing 8 headline UK shows in March, starting on March 7th at the Leadmill in Sheffield and concluding at the 1865 in Southampton on 16th March. 
For three decades, The Wildhearts have remained at the forefront of the UK rock scene, and their incendiary shows have cemented their reputation and legacy as one of the best band’s their homeland has produced, so miss these shows at your peril.

The Wildhearts UK Tour March 2025

07th  – Leadmill, Sheffield

08th – Junction, Cambridge

09th – 02 Ritz, Manchester

11th – Epic, Norwich

13th – Garage, Glasgow

14th – KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton

15th – Rock City, Nottingham

16th – 1865, Southampton
Tickets for the tour go on general sale at 10am Friday 25 October and can be ordered here

Willie Dowling- ‘The Simpleton’ (self Release)

Willie Dowling- ‘The Simpleton’ (self Release)

From The Grip onwards, one thing you can guarantee is that every Willie Dowling project will be packed with quality tunes. Fast forward to 2024, after Honeycrack, The Sugar Plum Fairies, Jackdaw 4 and The Dowling Poole, this is Willie’s debut solo album.

‘Let Us Begin’ manages to meld a slick, Queen-tinged melody to Willie’s customary smart, caustic lyrics. “We knew this was coming for most of our lives. Nobody wins, the anarchist sighs…”.

And sometimes it seems that the weight of having a social conscience sits heavily on his shoulders.

He’s joked about the Jeff Lynne comparisons, but musically the talent is at least equal here, though Willie is like the pessimist searching for a reason to remain hopeful. Understandably, given the warped nature of the world. It would probably be easier if he didn’t care, but he really does.

The piano-driven songs are beautifully played, and, as ever, the musicians are of impeccable quality (Andy Lewis and Jon Poole on bass, Darby Todd on drums). ‘Long Drop Down’ describes the idiocy of the “I’m not racist, but” keyboard warriors and the gutter press, while the title track is like Billy Joel with a rage of social ire.

‘Sadie Goldman’ “writes a line upon the wall; half of nothing equals nothing much at all”. This and ‘The Cure’ will appeal to those of us who appreciate the songwriting of The Feeling. The cello of Jo Lewis also adds another level to the melancholy. Jon’s bass playing on ‘The Gravy Train’ is fantastic, obviously, and Dowling Poole fans will find a lot to love here, unsurprisingly. It almost makes me want to buy a fretless. Almost.

‘Down The Slide’ gets its teeth into the world of the red top press, to a classy groove. “Don’t you let the truth get in your way. A retraction, but the damage is done anyway”. ‘I Killed My Imaginary Friend’ would be at home on a Sparks album (that’s high praise, by the way), and ‘In The Ocean’ perhaps saves the best for last. Willie’s voice has never sounded so good. “Regrets, you ask, I’ve more than just a few. They’re leaking out from places I once hid from view…”

While there are elements of the aforementioned artists, no one else but Willie Dowling could have written these songs. I hope that The Man Who Cared Too Much (copyright M. Chamarette) can feel some satisfaction in what he’s crafted here.

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Author: Martin Chamarette

The Courettes – ‘The Soul OF The Fabulous Courettes’ (Damaged Goods Records)

The Courettes – ‘The Soul OF The Fabulous Courettes’ (Damaged Goods Records)

The album title pretty much describes exactly what’s inside the moody stylish artwork. the duo have been slogging their wears around the globe toilet circuit for years honing their craft to this point and have delivered the record they’ve been promising from day one. ‘The Soul Of… is a stunning wall of sound with its Cuban heel boots rooted in the good and the great of decades of Rock n Roll and have dragged it by the beehive into the 21st Century kicking and swaggering. From the subtle fuzz of the opener, ‘You Woo Me’ they nailed it from the sound to the melody to the delivery this is a peacock of an opener and played loudly it’s exhilarating stuff. From the floor tom thump to the BVs and that subtle homage to Spector Wall Of Sound it’s a high bar they’re setting.

The pop wheeze of ‘Clifornia’ and the addition of La La Brooks should have seen this as the feel-good hit of the summer. It’s sunshine on wax folks as the fuzz accompanied by those happy-go-lucky keys is a recipe of pure gold and then you have the melody rolling round the Los Angeles seafront. The album is a little less dirty Garage and more of the melody and emphasis on the song rather than the style but saying that it’s hard to see past the nostalgia of a bygone era but when it’s done this well why not go retro from the orchestrations to the handclaps and the well-placed fuzz they’ve absolutely nailed it. from Shangri Las’s to the Ronettes to more modern garage rock the White Stripes never sounded this classy ‘Here I Come’ sounds like it’s had a back alley dust up and the pairs knuckle duster came in handy. Love the shuffle on that snare.

they can seamlessly glide from the uptempo dance floor fillers to the dramatic balladeering-like ‘Don’t Wan’t you Back’ shows that Flavia and Martin Couri have got the chops to deliver this rock n roll malarky in whatever tempo they choose. they don’t spend too long on the slow numbers nor do they just get their groove on but ‘Shake!’ is infectious as is ‘Better With You’.

La La Brook is back for her encore on the smooth ‘Run Run Runaway’. Throughout this bakers dozen it could easily be single after single and bringing the curtain down on this Fabulous record is the haunting ‘For Your Love’ as the guitar shimmers accompanied by some strings before Martin joins in and adds some vocals alongside his shuffling beat. If you want to know how to do retro in the best possible way with class and style but not forgetting to write top tunes then The Fabulous Courettes are ready and waiting and bearing their soul for everyone to enjoy and where they go next is anyone guess, the world is their oyster. Get on it right now!

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Author: Dom Daley

The Hip Priests – ‘We Become Nothing’ (Self Release/Ghost Highway Records)

The Hip Priests – ‘We Become Nothing’ (Self Release/Ghost Highway Records)

The time has come to say goodbye as shit islands loudest, filthiest, hardest rockin motherfuckers bow out having kicked against the pricks for over a decade. They’ve always shown Zero Fucks and always done it on their own terms, be it the prolific single releases with Spasm Gang rewards, the Long Players full of promise being thrashed to death around the toilet circuit of the UK indie scene they have decided to call time and move on to pastures new but not before delivering what might just turn out to be the bands finest piece of work ever, and that’s not something I say lightly.

Having seen them live countless times and being SG member number two its fair to say I’ve been all over every single record these gents have put out on whatever format they chose and this one rages against the machine big time and if they didn’t give a single fuck on the way in they most certainly aren’t holding back on the way out. ‘We Become Nothing’ is a ten-inch EP full of rage and then some, showing the ones that followed that they can deliver every mother fucking time. From the off ‘If You Can’t Beat Us…Join Us’ is a full-bloodied, open-throttle banger from the riffage that you’ve come to expect from Ricket and Ben but the Rhythm in the engine room, holding the beast on the leash is thunderous. To his credit Von Cruz has hit his stride here delivering his finest performance one last TIME Saving the best til last it would seem – fist punching, hard rockin, beer spilling bile at its loudest best.

Turn up those speakers and let the guitars slash and hack with a wonderful riff, ‘All You Never Wanted’ is the opener turned up to eleven. Pure unadulterated fuck you punk rock with top lyrics to boot, ave it! Love the breakdown which sounds like it’s having its own breakdown as it fucks your head, fans will love this one and wonder why these boys aren’t massive. Love the wah overload of ‘Home Is Where The Hate Is’ as side one is brought to a shuddering halt but not before I almost spilt my Molotov Cocktail when Meryl Streek kicked in with the spoken words, fuckin glorious stuff and I wholeheartedly endorse every mother fuckin word of it!. Going out in a blaze of glory be fucked they’re burning down the whole house and neighbourhood with this one. Now go take five, chill, get some air and get back to that stereo for the second half.

‘Lose Those Chains’ is a slower more melodic beast with a big chorus (in Hip Priest terms) but built on a big groove. ‘Thicken My Skin’ is, of course, a banger, I love that thumping groove and the melody is carrying this fucker home. The message is right on the money with Von Cruz again delivering the goods. This only leaves ‘I Wanna Live (Like I’m Gonna Die)’ which is it folks, hold back the tears and draw breath it’s not quite a ballad but it’s probably the closest you’re going to get in Hip Priests world. With a truckload of emotion poured into the playing here it’s the one to finish the sets in November before the final fireworks are set off and the instruments are thrashed into a heaving pile of burning wood in the middle of the stage. That’s it kids the Hip Priests are done and dusted and they bow out in a spirit of defiance and middle digits aloft. God bless every stinking one of you and thanks for the memories it’s been a hell of a ride and almost every turn it’s been a pleasure and most certainly never a chore. Adios Amigos it’s been a pleasure and quite literally that all folks…See you in November. Buy It!

Buy it off the band or Ghost Highway but be quick there aren’t many left I believe.

Author: Dom Daley

The Libertines – Great Hall, Cardiff University. Cardiff – 07.10.24

The Libertines – Great Hall, Cardiff University. Cardiff – 07.10.24

Once again we gathered in the great hall at Cardiff University watching Dead Freight use their twenty-five minutes to good effect with a solid sound much the same as when we were here the last time The Libertines played at this venue and Dead Freight supported Then I wasn’t familiar with much of the set but again the band impressed with their full bloodied sound of indie post-punk with the set closer of ‘Bat Man’ being the band standout track and a great way to end their set for a nicely filling up room.

Now last time The Libertines played here it was a Saturday night. The venue was heaving from the get go but tonight it’s a more chilled-out Cardiff Uni possibly due to it being a School night. Still, there aren’t the same level of pissed young men throwing themselves about which is quite nice and there is a time and a place for such uncontrolled behaviours. It would seem tonight wasn’t the time or place however from the opening song Cardiff was in fine voice as the band took the stage looking match fit and sounding like they’ve been rearing to go for weeks and with the set list bedded in the band were sounding fantastic having road tested some of the new songs earlier on their club tour that was fantastic to see the band at close quarters again.

Kicking off with ‘The Delaney’ it was evident after the opening three or four songs the band were in no mood to fuck about and it was down to some serious rocking business and ‘What Became, ‘Boys In The Band’ and ‘What Katie Did’ their telepathic frontmanship weave was in sync as Doherty and Barât interchanged vocals and guitar parts with a majestic telepathy that is a sight to behold and tonight in rather fetching fedoras they looked every inch the been there seen it done it Roc n Rollas that they are and The Libertines 2024 are all the better for it. Tonight, when they only need a glance across the stage from one to the other, they work as one no words necessary, just that innate bit of magic that not every band possesses but the Libertines do.

Again it’s the rhythm section that pushes our six stringing pirates all the way with a thunderous energy that is often the overlooked force behind the Libertines, Gary often seeming like he has about three pairs of arms and John Hassall holding everything in place that enables the two swashbuckling frontmen the room to do what they do.

We get the usual suspects off the first two albums with the odd song off their third album thrown in for good measure but tonight the new songs off their magnificent ‘All Quiet’ album that lifts the set and sit perfectly in the set alongside fan favourites I might as well point out here that they played every song off ‘All Quiet’ with the exception of ‘Barons Claw’ which is quite remarkable yet not surprising such is the band’s confidence and belief in this new material.

From ‘Horrorshow’ to ‘Run Run Run’ which is greeted like an old friend, the main set is brought to an end with a goosebump rendition of ‘Can’t Stand Me Now’ and the foursome exit stage left to a well-deserved rapturous applause.

Of course they were going to return to the stage to a seven-song encore that began with a cosy gather around the ole Joanna as ‘Man With The Melody’unfolds before ‘Oh Shit’ cleared the head before ‘Gunga Din and ‘Last Post’ enabled a quick intake of breath before we head into the home straight and the ‘Time For Heroes’ before we get a loose run through ‘Songs They Never Play On The Radio’ before we get the familiar fireworks of ‘Don’t Look back Into The Sun’ and we’re done. Cardiff has once again been thoroughly entertained by one of the UK’s finest bands currently making new records and touring. Always a pleasure and never a chore if you get the chance I can’t recommend seeing The Libertines highly enough. Wonderful band and probably better than you would imagine trust me I know these things. Same time same place next year gents thank you very muchly, you beautiful, talented bastards.

Author: Dom Daley