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) 

Continental Lovers – ‘Dale Arden Vs The World’ (Bandcamp)

Continental Lovers – ‘Dale Arden Vs The World’ (Bandcamp)

Released via Bandcamp to be getting on with, I’m assured it’s also getting a vinyl press on snap! Records (or at least some of them are) On this evidence it richly deserves that vinyl pressing and a whole lot more besides.

Continental Lovers is the workings of former Breakdown band leader Joe Maddox who was busy writing tunes prior to the pandemic and decided to recruit some likeminded band members who had a passion for good time Rock and Roll with a penchant for big choruses like Cheap Trick and a few other notable seventies rock n rollas. A dash of punk Rock snot and a whole heap of attitude and when it’s put together by people who clearly love the music and respect where it’s come from it deserves to rise straight to the top of the pile. Joe has put together a bunch of Trash Rock monsters that are glittering examples of just how to do trashy punk and on this evidence, it won’t be too long before the support slots are the thing of the past and its headline shows in packed venues for The Continental Lovers.

Some of the songs were tested out on the public as demos over the last year or so but the punch of songs like ‘St Joan’ are excellent. short songs with big hooks and no messing about are exactly what’s on offer here. Punching like a heavyweight but these haymakers aren’t random swinging but more lazer-guided jabs to the temple.

Six tracks just about make for side one of an album, but we’ll investigate them one by one, hopefully, we can give them the respect they deserve. None of these tunes overstay their welcome and most nestle around the two-minute mark kicking off with ‘Tape Deck’ which is a sprightly, snotty dust-up where Joe gets on with the job of kicking out the jams with no fucking about. Cool, calm, and right up for it. ‘Really Doesn’t Matter’ has the feel of his old band The Breakdowns with an excellent melody and I love the tone of the guitar break which nails it and pulls the whole tune together. A cool backbeat and some sunshine Rock n Roll blasting through the speakers.

‘Tattered Star’ is Trashy Rock n Roll in all its finery. There’s a familiarity about it like slipping into a well-worn pair of creepers that have some wickedly comfortable insoles for you to bop til you drop. Continental Lovers clearly know where their music comes from and have big enough hearts to use that history and write new songs for the 21st century whilst doffing that gatsby to the past.

‘St Joan’ pays tribute to the Queen of noise – Ms. Jett and they nail the riff to the lyrics and pen a killer song that is fitting someone so cool. I hope she gets to hear it and who knows take these guys out on tour and duet this one cheek to cheek. ‘Can’t Get Her Out Of My Head’ is sub two minutes of 1-2-3-4 hey ho let’s go. It’s got attitude and a cheeky pogo, covered in sweat and just enough snot to satisfy the punks and the glam kids.

Bringing this EP to a swift end is ‘Dale Arden’ which is a thumping way to go out – swinging and bopping and leaving the listener wanting more, more, more. A massively impressive debut offering of six of the best. Continental Lovers can go straight to the top of the class with this EP. It’s everything you could hope to hear. Now get to work on an album and we very much look forward to the record when it hits the shelves later this Summer. Continental Lovers your new favourite Glam Slamming trash Rock n Rollas #Fact! If you get the chance go see em live and when the pre-orders drop for the vinyl record we’ll let you know

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Author: Dom Daley

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!

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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

SLADE -‘All The World Is A Stage’ Box set

SLADE -‘All The World Is A Stage’ Box set

SLADE“All The World Is A Stage’’ box set includes 5 live albums, 

three of which have never been released before 

Available 9th  September

Pre Order Here

On 9th September Slade and BMG are proud to present their new smash hit live boxset ‘All The World Is A Stage’, shining a light on Slade as a phenomenal live band. This unique five-album set serves as documentation of why Slade became pretty much unbeatable as a live attraction, 
Slade were unstoppable throughout the seventies becoming one of Europe’s biggest bands, releasing 6 smash hit albums, including three UK No-1’s, a run of 17 consecutive Top 20 singles and their hits are synonymous with the glam era. This new live boxset includes three never previously released live sets from across Slade’s expansive live era and will become a key component of the Slade catalogue for years to come.


The three previously unreleased live shows featured on ‘All The World Is A Stage’ are –


Live At The New Victoria recorded on April 24, 1975, captures the band before they went around the UK to promote their feature film, In Flame. Heard officially for the first time, it now presents a fitting snapshot of the group’s powerful live performances. 


Live At The Hucknall Miner’s Welfare Club recorded on June 26 1980, shows the band unwilling to trade exclusively on their past with songs featured from their new studio album at the time ‘We’ll Bring The House Down’, along with classics ‘Take Me Bak ’Ome’, ‘Gudbuy T’Jane’, ‘Everyday’ and the perennial ‘Mercy Xmas Everybody’.


Alive! At Reading the third unreleased full live set, captures the band delivering a sensational live performance to over 80,000 people. As last-minute replacements for Ozzy Osbourne, few knew they were going to be performing but their sensational set was the highlight of the festival and led to Slade enjoying a renaissance in the eighties.
Completing this raw and epic new live box set is previously available;  ‘Slade Alive!’ considered one of the greatest live albums of all time, “Sounds better, the louder you play it” – Los Angeles Times, and 1982’s Slade On Stage.  
‘All The World Is A Stage’ will be a collector’s item for years to come. Exploring the shows that paved Slade’s journey to their legendary live status within the rock community.

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

2 for Tuesday

2 for Tuesday

A single launch show next Friday 15th July Camden Assembly with Healthy Junkies/Kyran Thrax/DJ Pete Fox.

‘No More Good News’  was written after hearing that Tom Petty had died. David Bowie was lost the year before…two of the band’s  musical heroes. ‘We lost many before them, and of course, there was to be more after them.’ Tom Petty’s Album & Song ‘Wild Flowers’ is referenced in the song.

A single launch show will be held at the Camden Assembly on the 15th of July with special guests Healthy Junkies. The band are currently collaborating with Eater main man Andy Blade, after meeting at a recent Wasted Youth gig. A London show on the 26th October in celebration of Cleopatra records 30th anniversary has just been announced where the band will be Andy’s back up band playing ‘Ant’ in its entirety. Also on the bill Jah Wobble, who will be playing ‘Metal Box’ in dub for the fist time & 999.

New rock outfit UMBILICUS have released their first single, called “Hello Future”, from their debut album “Path of 1000 Suns”.  The group is made up of CANNIBAL CORPSE drummer/lyricist Paul Mazurkiewicz, guitarist Taylor Nordberg (DEICIDE, INHUMAN CONDITION), bassist Vernon Blake (ANARCHUS, NAPALM DEATH-live), and vocalist Brian Stephenson (FORE, OLD JAMES). Though the band members are active in the metal community, the quartet put their love of 60’s and 70’s rock into an album of hard rock, drawing influences ranging from GRAND FUNK RAILROAD, AEROSMITH, LUCIFER’S FRIEND, SCORPIONS, LED ZEPPELIN.

Album incoming in September 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