DESPERATE MEASURES RELEASE NEW SINGLE ‘UNTOUCHABLE’

DESPERATE MEASURES RELEASE NEW SINGLE ‘UNTOUCHABLE’

OUT SEPTEMBER 27TH PRE-ORDER HERE:

‘SUBLIME DESTRUCTION’ IS OUT NOW VIA CADIZ MUSIC – ORDER THE ALBUM HERE:

“A level of skilled musicianship far exceeding the Fisher-Price punk of your average contemporary outfits.” Classic Rock 8/10

“Furious punk-infused rock ‘n’ roll with huge choruses. 12 tracks that prove the sulphate spirit never dies.” Daily Mirror Newspaper

Fresh from a UK tour with Australian punk legends the Cosmic Pyschos, and two sold out shows in Finland, New Zealand/London punk ‘n’ rollers Desperate Measures are primed to release a fifth single from their acclaimed ‘Sublime Destruction’ album, released via Cadiz Music earlier this year.

Titled ‘Untouchable’, the song finds Desperate Measures easing their feet a little off the accelerator pedals for a track that loses none of its intensity, despite its slower pace.

“‘Untouchable’ is a bit different for us. It was the last song we wrote for the album, and I guess it has shades of the Psychedelic Furs or Lords Of The New Church about it. Basically, it’s a ballsy, dark love song,” says singer Eugene.

Desperate Measures are busy working on new material for an EP release later this year and will be ripping up stages up and down the country for the rest of 2024. Look out!

Order ‘Sublime Destruction’ HERE:

Desperate Measures are: Eugene Butcher (vocals), James Sherry (drums), Michael Gaffney (guitar/vocals) and Phil Roadkill (bass/vocals).

CATCH DESPERATE MEASURES LIVE AT THE FOLLOWING DATES IN 2024.

October:

4th London, 100 Club (with Menace and The Outcasts)

13th London, 100 Club (matinee with Head South film screening)

November:

6th London, Water Rats (with Split Dogs and Dead Fun) UNTOUCHABLE SINGLE LAUNCH SHOW

9th Reading, Facebar (with Balaam & The Angel)

15th Peterborough, The Parkway (with UK Subs)

16th Corby, Steel House (with Wrathchild and Syteria)

22 Brighton, Daltons

December:

29th London, 100 Club

30th London, 100 Club

4th London, Water Rats (Vive Le Rock X-Mess party)

15th London, Dublin Castle (acoustic show)

Find Desperate Measures online at:FACEBOOK / BANDCAMP

The Peawees- ‘One Ride’ (Folc Records in Europe and Spaghetty Town Records in North America)

The Peawees- ‘One Ride’ (Folc Records in Europe and Spaghetty Town Records in North America)

Six years since their previous album, The Peawees are back with 11 corking new tunes of power pop goodness. Admittedly, I am more familiar with guitarist Dario Persi’s band, Radio Days, and while there are similarities between the two groups, Radio Days are a blast of sunshine while The Peawees sometimes have a darker edge to their melodies. That said, both bands have a pile of strong songs, proving once again that Italian bands currently have the upper hand, with the exception of The Speedways.

From ‘Banana Tree’ onwards, there are tunes to get you grooving, nodding or punching the air. This is a slinky number for the dance floor, as is first single ‘The Wolf’ (see video). ‘Drive’ is a radio friendly anthem, once heard, never forgotten. Simple, but very effective. And that’s what The Peawees specialise in; like Radio Days, they make familiar melodies sound fresh and exciting. ‘Plastic Bullets’ adds keyboards and a “woah, woah” refrain. It’s here that they sound most like The Speedways, as high a compliment as I can give. Two minutes fly by, and you’ll be playing it again.

‘Lost In The Middle’ has that hint of menace that John Reis does so well, currently my favourite track. ‘She Cries As She Kills’ is another slice of power pop, complete with handclaps. The production is excellent throughout, the guitars have just the right amount of crunch, without overshadowing the vocals. ‘Who’s The Enemy’ will get you swinging your pants, with a Beatlesque chord sequence. It’s infectious stuff. What can I add? The title track shares some DNA with Radio Days, no bad thing, obviously. With this album, they’re two of my favourite bands. Speaking of which, ‘You’ll Never Be Mine Again’ sees the band duetting with The Detroit Cobras. While the inimitable Rachel is sorely missed, fair play, it’s a beautiful song. If the above mentioned bands are your thing, you really need this album in your life.

Buy Here

Author: Martin Chamarette

Quireboys – ‘Wardour Street’ (Cadiz Music)

Quireboys – ‘Wardour Street’ (Cadiz Music)

The 19th of November 1988 will be forever etched into the RPM Online history books as the night I first met our esteemed boss, Sir Dominic of Daley, down the front at St Davids Hall in Cardiff catching the classic “There She Goes Again’ era line up of the Quireboys (supporting one Yngwie “fucking” Malmsteen would you believe) live. We bonded like brothers that night as it felt like the remaining 99.8% of those in attendance truly wanted to unleash the fury on us cowboy-booted ne’er-do-wells, and a decade or so aside (when our glorious leader went off to play Dick Whittington), we’ve been good friends ever since.  

This is why October 11th 2024 is such an important date for us here at RPM HQ, not only because it marks the release of the all new 11 track album from the mighty Quireboys, but it also sees the band’s frontman Spike reunited in a recording studio with bassist Nigel Mogg and pianist Chris Johnstone for the first time since 1993 and the band’s second album ‘Bitter Sweet and Twisted’. An album, which in hindsight, turned out to carry a pretty prophetic title, given the antics that followed its release and those that eventually unfolded during the band’s second shot at glory, when they returned in the early noughties with the release of their excellent ‘This Is Rock N Roll’ album and an additional “The” preceding their band name.

There’s been plenty written elsewhere about the last line up of The Quireboys’ acrimonious split and Spike’s subsequent battle to regain the band name, but the positives that came from that parting of the ways now sees Spike’s former bandmates treading the boards under the name Blue Eyed Sons and bandanaman himself not only reunited with his former “classic era” bandmates but also having secured the blessing of his ole six string sparring partner and band co-founder Guy Bailey to carry on, before his untimely passing in 2023.  Add into this 2024 Quireboys mix the return of American drummer Rudy Richman, and with Thunder guitarist Luke Morley stepping into the boots of Guy Bailey, with just one listen of the boisterous honky-tonk of lead single ‘Jeeze Louise’ you’d be forgiven for thinking that any of the intervening years since me and Daley first encountered the band had ever really happened, and yeah ‘7 O’clock’ was still without that chorus that would go on to make it a top forty hit here in the UK.

I’m reaching for my cowboy boots by the time I get to track two of the LP, the single flipside ‘Raining Whiskey’, only to realise that they have long since been replaced by Wellington boots (complete with the comedic L/R genius magic markered on the turn downs), and instead I’m just happy to relish in the obvious joy in Spike’s voice as he trades lines with his hero Franke Miller over this Bad Company/Stones-esque stomper. A sprightly opening one/two, and a real statement of intent for sure.

Things slow down slightly for ‘You & I’ the first of a few tracks that sound like smash hit singles in waiting and transport you back to an age when singles actually made musicians into bonafide stars, all before the tempo is back up to “in their prime” Faces pace, and the boogie of ‘I Think I Got It Wrong Again’ has me remembering why I first fell in love with the Quireboys all those years ago.

Elsewhere there’s the swaggering ‘Myrtle Beach’ for you to hum/whistle on the way home from the pub after a few shandies, and the immense Stones riffage of ‘Happy’ (no it’s not a cover) is custom built to get us all up on our feet dancing, add in the rather pointed strum of ‘No Honour Amongst Thieves’, and this trio fully demonstrates the light and shade of the Quireboys songwriting palette here in 2024.

Of the album’s remaining quartet of tracks the harp pumping strut of ‘Howlin Wolf’ reminds me of Horse London’s Gary Buckley’s streetpunk outfit The Terraces but still remains 100% Quireboys rock ‘n’ roll, whilst ‘It Ain’t Over Now’ is another of those potential hit singles I mentioned earlier, being not unlike a modern-day ‘I Don’t Love You Anymore’. Which just leaves the funky blues of ‘Like It Or Not’ and the images it immediately conjures up of what a Gary Moore and Spike collaboration might have sounded like if that were indeed still possible before it really is chucking out time as Morley’s acoustic guitar and Spike’s smoky half spoken vocals take us on one last nostalgic walk down ‘Wardour Street’.

I really must at this point take time to mention just how much of a positive impact Luke Morley has had on this set of songs, not only in his impeccable playing but also in his “spot on” production work. He really has captured the vibe and mood of the band and bakerboy caps are well and truly doffed here at RPM HQ.

I’ve enjoyed pretty much every album the Quireboys have released over the years, whatever the lineup, and ‘Wardour Street’ whilst an excellent addition to the band’s already impressive back catalogue is also like a shining beacon of light coming out of some very dark times indeed, and for that reason it makes it just that extra little bit (of what you fancy) special. I’m so glad Spike is once again back in control of all matters Quireboys and I look forward to seeing the band play some of these new songs live when they return to UK stages this November.

“What time is it?” It’s time for you to pre-order you copy of ’Wardour Street’ HERE.

https://www.spikequireboys.com

https://www.facebook.com/QuireboysOfficial

https://www.instagram.com/quireboysofficial

Author: Johnny Hayward

Swami and the Bed of Nails/Mudd Club – Beacon (Lantern Hall), Bristol – 18th September 2024

Swami and the Bed of Nails/Mudd Club – Beacon (Lantern Hall), Bristol – 18th September 2024

Playing their first show outside of the US less than an hour away from my home I was not about to miss seeing the Swami and his Bed of Nails for the very first time, not even when it’s taking place in a venue that’s really not suited to this kind of show.

Tonight, it’s not the only show in the venue either as in the main hall we have Elvis Costello and Steve Nieve reinventing that singer’s back catalogue (a show I’d caught a few nights earlier and found to be very interesting indeed) whilst here in the smaller Lantern side room we have John Reis (like you didn’t know he’s the Swami) ploughing through a set of tunes that whilst not a million miles away from his more fabled days fronting Rocket Front The Crypt are really drawn from a much wider influence gene pool. One listen to the band’s latest ‘All This Awaits You…’ record will prove this, as in the words of the man himself, they are “fanning the embers of rock n roll music.” So, you best stand back, because this five piece really are about to explode, and its only gig number one.

Before all that though, and warming things up nicely for the headliners are local trio The Mudd Club who only found out they had landed the gig a few days ago, not that they let it phase them, playing a set of at times Cramps-y influenced garage rock they utilised their 30 minute slot well, plugging their ‘Give Me A Thrill’ record and winning over some new fans in the process.

By contrast as John Reis comments late into his band’s set tonight, most of the people here to see Bed Of Nails have probably been with him for over three decades now, and the show actually ends with a song by the band I last saw him playing in Bristol with, ‘All Hits’ by The Night Marchers. That was God only knows how long ago. This is certainly no nostalgia set though, and a Sultan’s cover aside (the glorious ‘Just a Fool’) tonight’s set list is all about the frontman’s last two Swami records.

Kicking off with two tracks from 2022’s ‘Ride the Wild Night’ (the title track and ‘Do You Still Wanna Make Out?’) the band sound anything but jaded after their long trip over from the US, in fact if anything a slight timing misunderstanding with the sound guys ahead of the five piece taking to the stage only seems to fire the guys up even more.

It must be difficult for any band to promote a new album when it isn’t officially available in the country they are playing (the vinyl is available at the merch table folks for a very modest £25) but that doesn’t deter the guys as they rip through all the album’s  nine tracks with the keyboards of Joe Guevara really adding that extra dimension to the band’s distinctly rock ‘n’ roll missive. Highlights are aplenty but the furious ‘Ketchup, Mustard And Relish’ is the best Ramones song da bruddahs never wrote, and in ‘How Are You Peeling?’ Reis has possibly written one of his best songs ever…about fruit. Ha!

Outside of the new album there’s a further (I think) three belters from the Swami’s debut record with ‘Vape In The Dark Alone’ seemingly not complete without our leader’s hilarious preamble that fully explains the influence behind the song.

There are another eight shows on this tour (it all rounds off at the Oslo in London on the 28th of September) for you to not only discover this vape related secret but also pick up a copy of the band’s fantastic ‘All This Awaits You…’ record.

Don’t sleep on this one, because you will be seeing one of the gigs of the year if you do pick up a ticket or three.

Just do it!

Author: Johnny Hayward

Pizzatramp – ‘The Last Supper’ (TNS Records)

Pizzatramp – ‘The Last Supper’ (TNS Records)

The three-piece thrash punk band Pizzatramp have finally got their acts together and made a new album. No, really they have and it’s the “classic” lineup as well which might suggest they’ve had this recorded for ages but just didn’t get around to releasing it and waited for the right time and their management team had a plan and wanted to push it out at the optimum moment on the crest of a wave…oh wait, Pizzatramps innit bruv. Fuck it, scrap that. Start again…

The trio of ne’er-do-well herberts from just inside the Welsh border have finally got around to releasing their new record but to be fair it’s fucking excellent and not because it’s a weird colour or packaged in their usual most excellent artwork and has a lyric sheet but because they do indeed bang out the finest racket of Thrash punk on the planet let alone their corner of shit island. To be fair they wrote it three years ago, recorded it two years ago, and it’s finally coming out now all the song’s subjects and references are probably obsolete (Thatcher?) Also, it’s safe to assume the trio haven’t found religion either and God botherers might just be picketing outside their gigs from here on in for their blasphemous artwork. Maybe they’ll have to find a hideout in Norway with some kindred black metal spirits for the foreseeable who knows? Anyway.

So have Pizzatramp evolved? Uhm, Nope. Have they branched out? Uhn Nope. sigh of relief all around then. AAA kicks things off in a truly thunderous Pizzatramp way with foul-mouthed lyrics a plenty, Dan’s drumming is a marvel as is Jim spitting out his rhymes like some modern-day poet who never go the beat poet memo or was born in Monmouth so isn’t a rapper either bruv. Sammy fills the huge bass hole left by…um Sammy so people can’t complain about the new lineup not being as good as the old lineup and they’ve changed since Sammy left. I see what they’ve done there. It’s also noteworthy that a band have great lyrics but aren’t massive dicks they also have a social conscience and a moral backbone even if they joke about it and they have nothing but contempt for the Tories, Farage and Thatcher which is always a winner around here.

The title track is a gurgling monster with a Bass line from Hell and on a song entitled ‘The Last Supper’ if only NYHC sounded this good in 2024. ‘Cop Fetish’ is rampant whilst live classic ‘I Do My Own Research’ pokes fun at those morons who simply don’t or join cults like Farages mob or Trump in the States. This album made me want to revisit the M.O.D and Stormtroopers Of Death era metal and my hunch was correct none of them come close to ‘Mr Slam’ #Fact not even municipal waste are this good.

‘I Spotify’ gives a swift kick to the knackers of those who deserve it. ‘You Missed Billy Elliott’ is one of the best endings ever, only Pizzatramp could deliver this. ‘Flagshaggers United’ might just be Jim’s finest three minutes. Absolutely nailed it. We all know em – a bunch of cunts n all. Not satisfied with that have an earful of ‘Skeletons’ n weep, what a time to be alive and have suffered all that shite. Like the Nazis before the second world war these lessons should be thought in schools for generations to come to warn them about that lot and never forget nor forgive I’m with Pizzatramp but wait there’s more to come ‘Bring Back Margaret Thatcher’ is the albums adios amigos we’re out of here and what an absolute nuclear blast of it is. Of course, nobody wants to bring back Thatcher unless it is to drag her around every town and city in the UK on the back of a Chopper tied to a chain. What an album.

Hats off to you gents, it’s all killer and no filler and joking aside this should be the benchmark for others to follow as far as Hardcore Thrash and Punk records go in 2024. Whatever you’re drinking keep on drinking it and raise a glass to the baddest mofos in the pit Pizzatramp fuckin’ Rule! Buy this album! Right proofread what you just typed whilst playing this record for the tenth time in a row…nah fuck it they won’t mind what’s just spilt out of my head will they?

Buy Here

Author: Dom Daley

Split Dogs are ‘Here To Destroy’

Split Dogs are ‘Here To Destroy’

Bristol Punk Rock ‘n Rollers Split Dogs return with new single ‘Monster Truck’ out now via Venn Records

New album ‘Here To Destroy’ set for release on February 28th 2025 – pre-order HERE:

Rock’n’roll revivalists Split Dogs are not here to make 15 second viral videos, they’re not here to sell you a lifestyle, they’re here to destroy. Born from the frustration of seeing music become commodified and soulless, vocalist Harry Atkins and guitarist Mil Martinez had the idea to form a band as far back as 2015, with the name ‘Split Dogs’ pulled from the classic zombie film ‘Return of the Living Dead’.

In South London, a young Martinez would hear Status Quo, Bachman Turner Overdrive and Dire Straits on the car radio while his father drove him to school. At home he would invade his older brothers’ record collection which leaned towards the harder sounds of punk and heavy metal. Meanwhile in the Black Country, Harry’s mother instilled a love of Northern Soul, Slade and rock’n’roll, with stories of nights out at Club Lafayette and family singalongs at home. According to Martinez, “Our sound is a culmination of all those early influences and, to be honest, it really shows.”

It wasn’t until 2022 that Split Dogs officially arrived on the scene with bass player Suez Boyle joining the band in 2023. Already a prominent figure in the queer punk scene, Suez played the first ever Rebellion Festival at the tender age of 16 with her band The Walking Abortions. Up until that point, drummer Chris Hugall, an old friend of Martinez and former member of ska punks Mouthwash (signed to Rancid’s label Hellcat back in the day), was only on hand to help design artwork. It wasn’t until 2024 Hugall joined the band full time cementing the current line-up.

The raucous live shows and infectious lyrics saw the four-piece make a name for themselves among the punks of Bristol, a scene that has always welcomed LGBTQ+ and marginalised people. As word spread, so did the gigging, and soon enough Split Dogs were playing to sold out rooms in mainland Europe, eventually grabbing the attention of UK label Venn Records (Gallows, Bob Vylan, High Vis).

‘Here to Destroy’ was recorded over three days at Middle Farm Studios by producer Peter Miles. All tracks were laid straight to a 16-track reel-to-reel tape machine, no autotune, no effects pedals, no computers. To add to the music’s authenticity, the album was recorded live, with Harry singing along in a vocal booth. No cutting and pasting, just nailing takes. According to Martinez, “It was a blast! We fully immersed ourselves, sleeping in a small apartment below the studio, cooking meals and listening to Pete’s extensive record collection”.

Back in May of this year, Split Dogs fired out the first sample of these sessions with the ‘And What?’ single that rolled in like a freight train loaded with gravel, and now the band are back with another sucker punch in new single ‘Monster Truck’.

“Monster Truck Is about lessons learnt, seeing it coming but you keep on trucking,” says guitarist Mil Martinez. “Focus on yourself and the good stuff around you. Be strong, lead with an open heart. Don’t take kindness for weakness…. You better not tread on me!”

For the video, it was clear that Split Dogs needed some seriously big trucks to do justice to the song’s giant riffs, so they called on Big Pete Ltd, the UK’s most successful Monster Truck Team, and Big Pete did not let them down.

‘When we wrote our new single ‘Monster Truck’ it was a no brainier that we had to find the best Monster Truck team in the UK to join us for the video so on the hottest day of the year, we hit the road! Big riggs, big riffs and big moves, it’s time to grab your gear stick and get your mind out of the dirt!”

The Bellrays – ‘Heavy Steady Go’ (Sweet Gee Records)

The Bellrays – ‘Heavy Steady Go’ (Sweet Gee Records)

Californians The Bellrays release their brand new long player to coincide with their mega jaunt across the USA supporting Social Distortion and what a banging record it is too. In true Bellrays fashion it’s all killer and no filler. From the bellowing pure Rock n Roll vocals of Lisa Kekaula finely complimented by the sweet tones of Robert Vennum’s guitar. The record is split by two cities, two years and two rhythm sections pulled together to make another finely balanced Bellrays record where they walk the line of punk blues rock n roll.

The record kicks off with a brooding menacing ‘I Fall Down’ that pretty much encapsulates everything that’s good and great about the band. Lisa’s voice dominates the room with another commanding performance as the song builds to a mega solo a song of real cool class with a great chorus that gives you goosebumps.

Once the band have relaxed the record opens up firstly with the groove of ‘Hard Drive’ and the even groovier (is that even a word?) ‘Snakes’. ‘One More Night’ is the sound of a band playing a song they know will be a floor filler in any live setting as Lisa’s vocals take control and I’m wondering how the hell this band aren’t a household name. Every album is packed with bangers and they know what they’re good at and stick to that formula and just deliver every time. The playing is spot on as is the tone of the record it sounds so warm and inviting you must surrender and just enjoy the ride.

There’s a shimmering coolness about ‘California’, The record ebbs and flows really nicely in the middle section from all our rockers to the more laid back rollas but always filled with great tones and a mix that is so inviting. ‘Wolfs Sun’ is a brooding gutsy song with a super fuzz guitar going toe-to-toe with the vocals.

I love the all-out twelve-bar boogie of ‘Down On My Knees’ bollocks to reinventing this wheel let’s just roll with it and do it in style. It’s a peacock strut of a song that even dares to give it some cowbell. Before the record closes there’s time to turn it up with a raging ‘All The Rage’ with a shift of the gears the four to the floor is fired up with a dirty riff that just kills it right to the solo that’s unadulterated guitar hero stuff on a real album highlight wedged into the business end of the record.

Rather than signing the record off with a ballad or laid back song they go for some sidewalk strutting cool entitled ‘Whatever Turns you On’ and they are done. The Bellrays release a record that might just be their finest hour. It ticks every box you’d want from cool to classy to rock and fuckin rolling The Bellrays are in da house mofos and their bringing the PA and guitars and the air raid siren vocals of Lisa Kekaula this record is everything I was hoping it was going to be and some and my advice is don’t let it pass you by, get on the groovy train and lets boogie The Bellrays are once again bringing the party, Heavy Steady Go! cat go just simply Buy It!

Buy Here

Author: Dom Daley

Swami And The Bed Of Nails UK Tour

Swami And The Bed Of Nails UK Tour

SWAMI & THE BED OF NAILS (FEAT. SWAMI JOHN REIS OF HOT SNAKES,

DRIVE LIKE JEHU, ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT) UK/IRELAND TOUR STARTS SEPTEMBER 17TH

DEBUT ALBUM ALL OF THIS AWAITS YOU OUT NOW VIA SWAMI/BMG

Swami & the Bed of Nails featuring Swami John Reis (Hot Snakes, Drive Like Jehu, Rocket From The Crypt, PLOSIVS and more) are following the recent release of their debut album All Of This Awaits You (stream/purchase HERE) with their first UK and Irish tour, commencing in Bristol on September 17th and ending in London on September 28th.

Produced by John Reis and mixed by Ben Moore, All Of This Awaits You was born out of the final Hot Snakes writing sessions in 2023. Transforming into what Reis describes as “a growing tributary” after the passing of his longtime friend and bandmate Rick Froberg, the songs on the eventual nine-song album presented here come from this challenging time of reflection and redirection.

All Of This Awaits You is an immediate blast of joy intended to celebrate our time on Earth. It is nostalgia for a past that probably never happened. It is the hope that the future will consider embracing the innocence of rock ‘n’ roll. It is an idealized pursuit intended to elevate the status of the simplest pleasures and ridicule the unattractive lust of the unhindered ambitious. The music is a reenactment of the past lives of elderly teenagers returning once again to sustain their echo. All Of This Awaits You is punk rock music, but what that means is your guess as good as ours. Watch the music video for new single, “Ketchup, Mustard and Relish” on YouTube HERE.

“I’ve never thought much of self reflection, at least not the deep kind,” Reis says. “I dunno, I think I felt that kind of introspection would somehow derail my rock n roll instincts and objective. My goal has always been to make explosive music, exciting records, play meaningful shows, shake hands, kiss babies and then repeat. I never treated anything I did artistically as being precious. There is always going to be a next thing that I would hopefully love even more.”

Don’t miss your chance to feel the force of this new chapter in John Reis’ musical journey up close and personal.

Swami & the Bed of Nails will be playing the following dates in September:

17 Bristol, Beacon

18 Manchester, Night & Day

20Belfast, Ulster Sports Club

21 Dublin, The Workman’s Club

23 Glasgow, Broadcast

24 Edinburgh, Voodoo Rooms Ballroom

25 Newcastle, The Cluny

26 Nottingham, Boat Club

28 London, Oslo

Swami John Reis online:

Swami Store | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Spotify | Apple Music

The Dictators – ‘The Dictators’ (Valley Entertainment)

The Dictators – ‘The Dictators’ (Valley Entertainment)

So here we go 2024 and The Dictators are back in the ring swinging but let’s first address the elephant in the room. This is Andy Shernoff led Dictators no Handsome Dick Manitoba. So regardless of the why and whereforths or who did what where when and why I’m gonna review this with an open mind like the Dictators are brand new band and the baggage is left outside the studio door.

‘Get The Band Back Together’ is a sprightly opener on this ten-track proto-punk record and a jolly decent introduction it is too. Welcome to 2024 The Dictators are in da Mofo Funkin house. To be fair the tempo is fist-pumping heart-racing stuff and the energetic gang vocals on ‘My Imaginary Friend’ is most welcome and the production is massive and really helps create a really good energy. Sure they’re not here to reinvent the wheel but more designed to show the listener that these guys still have the chops to deliver good old school hard rockin punk n roll with the best of em and to be fair they deliver throughout. Its clear the MO was to rock out, do it to the best of your ability and leave nothing behind and as far as that goes it’s job done. I really enjoyed ‘All About You’ and this one showcases a really strong lead vocal on a song that is as good as anything the band has in the catalogue. Stick to what you know is always a safe and authentic move and songs like ‘God Damn New York’ hammer this home. It’s got a beating Big Apple heart and the chorus is something you’ll be punching the air to and that is always welcome be it the 70 or the 2000’s its great to hear. I guess this album does exactly what you wanted it to, if you’re a fan from the old days or you’re a more recent disciple looking for a fix from a band who knows who and what they are and just delivers.

The world is always a better place with bands like this making albums and writing new material as good as this and to close the album off there’s a tribute to one of Noo Yawks finest – ‘Sweet Joey’ is a tribute to the one and only Joey Ramone and a really good tribute it is too with heart-felt lyrics and some great riffage from Ross The Boss. Don’t worry about the politics of the band just play the record and appreciate how damn good it is, it’s only Rock n Roll baby and I like it.

Buy Here

PROPHETS OF ADDICTION TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM

PROPHETS OF ADDICTION TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM

PROPHETS OF ADDICTION TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM, ‘FACE THE MUSIC,,’ – THROUGH BRAVEWORDS RECORDS

At some point in your life you just have to take account for your actions and face the music. PROPHETS OF ADDICTION mainman Lesli Sanders has taken that to heart. PROPHETS OF ADDICTION’s fourth album, Face the Music is set for a release on 25 October via BraveWords Records. The first single, Superhero, from the upcoming album will be released 27 September.
 
Kicking things off with the downright dirty “Flavor of the Danger,” the listener is immediately clued in to what they’re getting with Face the Music, an album loaded with catchy late 70s inspired glam punk n roll riffs, powerful and emotionally resonant vocals and a clever lyrical output. “Let’s Get High” sees the band slide slightly into a melodic goth route ala Sisters of Mercy. The song isn’t a drug reference, but a “recollection of the excitement that a new record would bring as a teenager and after the long wait finally able to hear it for the first time,” says Sanders. The band’s take on the Rod Stewart classic “Maggie May” is nothing short of punk magnificence, The band had the opportunity to play the track for drum legend Carmine Appice, who played with Stewart from 1976 – 1982. Appice was so impressed that he asked, “would you mind if I send this to Rod?” The album’s lead single “Superhero” comes complete with a hook that won’t leave your head for days. “Superhero is a song I have been sitting on for a few years and wasn’t going to record until the right musicians were put in place, realizing the potential. I finally found that group of musicians,” the frontman states.
 
Face the Music, PROPHETS OF ADDICTION’s debut for Bravewords Records was recorded between 2022 and 2023 in Seattle, WA and Las Vegas, NV and produced, mixed and mastered by Phil Soussan (bass player for Ozzy Osbourne, Billy idol and more). Drummer Wayne Stokely says of the album, “We wanted to make a classic 70’s style rock n’ roll album without losing our raw and punky vibe, but with a modern 2024 production. There’s not a lot of records out there like this one, so I think we achieved our goal. The songs speak for themselves,” while Sanders adds “this is the record I have been wanting to record for years. The feel is right, the musicianship is right, the songs are right and now the time is right for you all to give us your thoughts.”
 
Of the band’s signing with hotshot upstart label Bravewords, Sanders declares “We were looking for the right label and the search was extensive, the most important aspect to me was getting it out there for people to hear – otherwise, what’s the point, right?” while Stokely adds, “I’ve known Tim and Giles for years now. Plus, I’m already signed to the label with another act so it seemed like a natural fit.”

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