RPM Online – The Best Of The Best – EPs / Singles & Music Related Books of 2021 & the writer’s thoughts on 2021

RPM Online – The Best Of The Best – EPs / Singles & Music Related Books of 2021 & the writer’s thoughts on 2021

Books & EP’s/singles

One thing we do love here on RPM is a bloody good music-related book.  We’ve read loads and lockdown was a really good time for sitting about fingering the pages of a good autobiography or a book of lists from closed venues to record shops to biographies.  Here is a selection from some of the writers at RPM Online.  If you have any suggestions or books you’d like us to review then please get in touch at rpmonlinetcb@yahoo.com and we’ll be sure to get our reading gogs out and give your recommended book the once over.

As for the singles club, we do love a good EP or 7” single be it the real thing on wax or a virtual one with a video.  It’s a sign of the times that we have more and more digital singles or one-track album samplers drop through the email but we do love a slab of wax and 2021 provided us with some right belters. So please find below a limited run of highly recommended singles.

Gaz Tidey

‘Grammar Free In The U.K.’ – D&D Philpott (irondig books)

 ‘Nöthin’ But A Good Time’ – Tom Beaujour & Richard Bienstock (st. Martin’s press)

‘The Twenty Seven Club’ – Lucy Nichol (lark)

Johnny Hayward

‘Diminished Responsibility ii’ – Alvin Gibbs (Tome & Metre Books)

‘Grammar Free In The U.K.’ – D&D Philpott (irondig books)

Grebo-‘The Loud And Lousy Story Of GBOA and Crazyhead’ – Rich Deakin (Headpress)

‘Pete Way’ – Ross Halfin (Rufus publications)

‘All Or Nothing (The Authorised Story Of Steve Marriott)’ – Simon Spence (omnibus press)

Dom Daley

‘Diminished Responsibility ii’ – Alvin Gibbs (tome & Metre books)

 ‘The Scene That Would Not Die’ – Ian Glasper (Earth Island Books)

‘Ever Fallen In Love (The Lost Buzzcocks Tapes)’ – Pete Shelley & Louise Shelley (octopus books)

‘To Hell And Back’  Walter lure & Dave Thompson. (Backbeat Books)

 ‘Snake Pit Therapy’ – Sonny Vincent (Far West Books)

Kenny kendrick

 ‘Rainbow In The Dark’ – Ronnie James Dio/Mick Wall (Constable)

Dan kasm

‘Sing Backwards And Weep’ – Mark Lanegan (White Rabbit)

‘Nöthin’ But A Good Time’ – Tom Beaujour & Richard Bienstock (st. Martin’s press)

Nev brooks

‘Sing Backwards And Weep’ – Mark Lanegan (White Rabbit)

‘Tenement Kid’ – Bobby Gillespie (White Rabbit)

Grebo-‘The Loud And Lousy Story Of GBOA and Crazyhead’ – Rich Deakin (Headpress)

Gareth ‘Hotshot’ Hooper

‘Diminished Responsibility ii’ – Alvin Gibbs (Tome & Metre books)

Singles & EP’s

Johnny Hayward

Desperate measures – ‘Rinsed’ (Easy Action Records)

Hip Priests – ‘No Stranger To Danger’ (Ghost Highway Recording)

The Lickerish Quartet – ‘Threesome’ Volume 2

The Chisel – ‘Enough Said’ (Wardance Records)

Lars Frederiksen – ‘To Victory’

Ben Hughes

The Lickerish Quartet – ‘threesome’ Vol. 2Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes – ‘Go Get A Tattoo’ (International Death Cult)

Bob Vylan – ‘GDP’ (Self Release)

The Urban Voodoo Machine – ‘Empty Plastic Cup’

The Speedways – ‘Borrowed and Blue’

Dom Daley

Hip Priests – ‘No Stranger To Danger’ (Ghost Highway Recording)

RMBLR – ‘RMBLR’ (Spaghetty Town Records/Wanda Records)

Criminal Kids – ‘live at liars club’ (spaghetty Town records)

The Black Halos – ‘Uncommonwealth’ (Cursed Blessing Records) 

Desperate measures – ‘Rinsed’ (Easy Action Records)

Suzi Moon -‘Call The Shots’ (Wanda Records/Pirates Press)

Kenny Kendrick

Ghost – ‘Hunter’s Moon’ ( Loma Vista Recordings)

Murder Van – ‘Crooked Smiles’ EP

Sea of Snakes – ‘World on Fire’ EP

Smith/Kotzen – ‘Better Days EP’ (BMG)

Bob Vylan – GDP (self Release)

Gaz Tideys BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT OF 2021 was the mighty Redd Kross cancelling rather than just postponing (again!) their UK/European tour.

However, he is MOST LOOKING FORWARD to Recording an album with his long-lost late’80s/early ‘90s band, Sister Morphine.

Johnny Hayward spent most of 2021 being Dissappointed that Terry & The Idiots didn’t getting back together. But he is mostly looking forward to 2022 andTerry & The Idiots finally getting back together. Also Hopefully getting to see Stiff Richards live some time next summer. Oh and Rebellion is looking very interesting with the R Fest stage just announced.

When we caught up with Ben Hughes he expressed that he was Disappointed he didn’t much care for The Wildhearts – ‘21st Century Love Songs’. He was however Most looking forward to More live shows than in 2020 and 2021 combined!

Dom Daleys thoughts looking back are being disappointed Bristol ticket shop going under with my money from the cancelled Redd Kross show and Redd Kross cancelling rather than rearanging.

The amount of cancellations due to covid but mostly The Damned reunion being put back once then again until late 2022.

Also The vinyl meltdown and pushbacks for smaller independent artists in favour of reissues from big labels.

The deaths of some of my favourite music people (Charlie Watts, Sylvain Sylvain, Waldo, Timo, Darrel Bath and Scotty Mulvey)

Looking forward to…

The original line up of the Damned reunion shows in Hammersmith  and the amount of new albums that should drop in 2022.

As for Kenny Kendrick.

Biggest Disappointment this year? “TheDeaths of Charlie Watts & Malcolm Dome”. Skunk Anansie tour postponed (again).

When we asked what Kenny was Looking forward to in 2022 he said, “Skunk Anansie tour! and Green Lung playing Steelhouse Festival”

Dans thoughts on 2021

“I’ll just say, certain bands publicly airing their handbags at dawn…. yet again”.
Looking forward to 2022 for me.
“If the year doesn’t take a nosedive akin to what we’ve become accustomed to, I’ll be seeing Pavement for the first time on their latest cash in reunion tour, I’ll also be seeing Psychedelic Furs, Bambara and Killing Joke. I will also be forgetting that I am 36 and attending 2000 Trees festival in July.”

RPM Online The Best of The Best – Live Shows in 2021

RPM Online The Best of The Best – Live Shows in 2021

Well, that’s another year almost done. Its been tough for live venues running at reduced capacity punter hesitancy (understandable) It’s only really been half a year when the Governments mucked us about, major labels took over pressing plants at the expense of independent bands, the pandemic hasn’t fucked off, we’ve lost some special people from our Rock n Roll world and we’ve all grown a little older and possibly unwiser (is there such a word?) but on times it felt fantastic to get back out there to some of our favourite venues for half the year. It did feel great to see some of our fellow live show warriors and on times it felt like we’d never been away.

But, there have been some fantastic albums released, concerts seen, books read people interviewed and new bands made.  Here at RPM Online we’re going to celebrate those achievements with our lists.  We all love a list or a pigeon hole, or a debate as to what genre our favourites fit into but the bottom line is we need this thing called Rock and Roll more than ever to see us through some tough times as we reengage with old friends and make new ones.

People, welcome to the next few days as the fine writers of RPM Online offer up their choices of the runners and riders of 2021.  Before I open up this can of worms can I just thank this fine body of men for their efforts over the past year and if you’ve bought an album on the recommendation of RPM then thank you. Also, The PR people who’ve done right by their clients and of course the musicians and songwriters who put in the hard yards in these very difficult times thank you thank you thank you we love you all.  So without further waffle here are the lists for 2021. Starting with some of the live shows that helped put smiles back on people’s faces. There might no tbe the quantity yet but we sure as hell saw some quality shows in the latter half of 2021.

BEST LIVE SHOWS OF 2021 as seen by the writers of RPM Online

  Fraser Deathtraps

The Hives – Guildhall, Portsmouth

 Wildhearts – Fleece, Bristol

 The Hip Priests – Chameleon, Nottingham

 The Hives (Offspring & Bob Vylan) – CIA, Cardiff

 Wildhearts – Tramshed, Cardiff

 The Hip Priests (& Electric Shakes) – Le Pub, Newport

 Rebellion/Hits (Maid of Ace & Dirtbox Disco) – Wintergarden, Blackpool

 Goldie Lookin’ Chain – Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl

 Fleur East – Butlins, Bognor

 Platinum Queen  – Butlins, Bognor

Johnny Hayward

Roger Taylor – Cardiff, St David’s Hall

The Bar Stool Preachers – Flemfest, Pontllanfraith Rugby Club

Cock Sparrer/Spunk Volcano & The Eruptions – Bristol. The Fleece

The Hip Priests/Deathtraps/Electric Shakes – Newport, Le Pub

Gaye Bykers On Acid – Newport, Le Pub

Ben Hughes

The Future Shape of Sound/The Urban Voodoo Machine – Gypsy Hotel 15th Anniversary Show, Brixton

Bob Vylan – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds

The Wildhearts – The Tramshed, Cardiff

Hands Off Gretel – The Crescent, York

The Professionals – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds

Gareth ‘Hotshot’ Hooper

Jesse Malin – Fleece And Furkin, Bristol

Wildhearts – The Tramshed, Cardiff

The Hip Priests – Le Pub, Newport

Urban Voodoo Machine – Bunkhouse, Swansea

Dom Daley

Jesse malin. Fleece, Bristol

Trampoline.  The Globe, Cardiff

Wildhearts. Tramshed, Cardiff

Hip Priests, Deathtraps, Electric Shakes. le pub, Newport

Bar stool preachers, Riskee & The Ridicule, Bottlekids. le pub, Newport

Urban Voodoo Machine. Bunkhouse, Swansea

The Shunkos. Neath, The Duke

Dan Kasm

Jesus and Mary Chain, Albert Hall Manchester

Mysterines, Grand Central Liverpool

Crawlers, East Village Arts Club

Video Nasties and Zetra, Outpost Liverpool

Panic Shack, Jacaranda Liverpool

Nev Brooks

Fields of the Nephilim- The Tiv. Buckley

Jesse Malin, Kris Gruen – Bristol , Fleece

Cock Sparrer, Spunk Volcano & The Eruptions – Fleece, Bristol

 Gaye Bykers on Acid – LePub, Newport

Bar Stool Preachers/Riskee and the ridicule/Bottlekids – LePub, Newport

Ane Brun- Shepherds Bush O2, London

Tokyo Blade – ‘Fury’ (Cherry Red Records)

Tokyo Blade – ‘Fury’ (Cherry Red Records)

There were many bands that got tagged with the New Wave of British Heavy Metal label back in the early eighties. Some of those bands embraced it, Saxon, Iron Maiden, Angel Witch, Samson etc, and some hated being lumped in with it, Def Leppard being the most obvious example. Even bands like Budgie, Judas Priest and Motorhead who had been around long before the NWOBHM moniker was thought up by Sounds magazine, were getting pulled into the whole NWOBHM movement. Of course, Budgie and Priest were nothing to do with it, but it was easy to see why they got caught up in it. Budgie’s Power Supply album was by far their most heavy metal sounding album and was released in 1980. Priest had released their breakthrough album British Steel in 1980 as well. It can be argued that Motorhead were indeed a NWOBHM band though because their seminal albums Overkill and Bomber were released in 1979 just as the NWOBHM got started, and their most successful period started in 1980 with the ‘Ace of Spades‘ album. Anyway, I digress!

Tokyo Blade were forged in the fires of the NWOBHM and released their first self-titled album in 1983. By this time the wind in the sails of the NWOBHM had started to die down. The album is a full-blown classic in my eyes with songs like ‘Powergame’ and ‘Break the Chains‘, it’s just heavy metal personified. The band suffered with many line up changes but continued to release material until the late nineties.

The current line-up of Andy Boulton (Lead guitar), John Wiggins (Rhythm guitar), Alan Marsh (Vocals), Andy Wrighton (Bass) and Steve Piece (Drums) have been together since 2016 and recorded the albums ‘Unbroken’ (2018) and ‘Dark Revolution’ (2020). Their latest release ‘Fury’ was written and recorded in lockdown with Andy Boulton utilising his home studio to record the album.

The end result sounds great with a powerful mix. There is some fantastic traditional heavy metal on offer here with solid performances and some well-written songs. The opening track ‘Man in a Box’ highlights the vocal abilities of Alan Marsh and is polished with some guitar wizardry from Boulton. ‘Blood Red Night’ has an epic feel to it, ‘I am Unbroken’ is a full-on chugger with some tasty drumming from Piece holding the track together. The album flows well but my only real criticism is that is overly long with fifteen tracks.

The album has both a foot in the past and one very much in the present. A solid metal album that deserves to be listened to. There’s plenty on offer here for old and new fans alike. The cover art is fantastic too, let’s not forget that Tokyo Blade had utilised the Samurai on their artwork long before Iron Maiden’s Senjutsu! The album is released via Cherry Red Records in Jan 22.

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Author: Kenny Kendrick

The Barstool Preachers, Riskee & The Ridicule, Bottlekids – Le Pub Newport 09/12/21

The Barstool Preachers, Riskee & The Ridicule, Bottlekids – Le Pub Newport 09/12/21

With the sold-out sign on the door, expectations were building and something special was in the air. Bottlekids, Riskee & The Ridicule, and Bar Stool Preachers is an excellent three-band lineup by anyone’s standard.

The last band I was lucky enough to see pre-pandemic was in Rough Trade Bristol and just happened to be tonight’s headliners. To be fair they were building up a good head of steam ahead of the release of their third album. With the world at their feet, big things were anticipated and expected. Then you know what happened, time virtually stood still as we all retreated to behind our doors. I did a zoom call with Bungle Preacher and that seems such a long time ago now so tonight was a line in the sand hopefully and the start of something new to build on. Lets have it!

To be fair, the creative types might have benefitted from forced isolation and having time to create new music but without human contact, none of us knew what was going to pan out once we were released. Sure as night follows day those Bar Stool Preachers did the only thing they know, and that was to get in the van, throw caution to the wind and get out there and play some live Punk Rock shows to some lovely people (and some not so, probably). Tonight was the turn of South Wales and the awesome venue that is Le Pub. Drawing in openers Bottlekids with their spikey melodic punk-rock driven by a huge bass sound they did a sterling job of setting the mood. I wasn’t familiar with their songs but I have heard them before and I was pleasantly surprised with the songs and with the really good live mix they had it has to be said. With a new album already done and set for a 2022 release, they punched through and it was an impressive set from a band I will definitely be hearing more of.

Riskee & The Ridicule were up next, playing to a full house the band delivered an impressive set featuring some cracking songs. ‘Blue Jacket’, ‘Molotov Cocktail’ and ‘Kaboom!’ went down really well as did their excellent interpretation Of the Lana Del Rey song ‘Young And Beautiful’. The band sounded up for it and were winning new friends with their anthemic and down-to-earth songs, delivered with passion and conviction. Newport has always been a great litmus test for bands from TJ’s to Le Pub they can sniff out an honest band and will payback with mutual respect and love and tonight RATR were feeling the love.

If the Bar Stool Preachers ever needed a band to give them a kick up the arse and a follow that message then tonight the Brighton Boys were going to have to bring their A-game with Bells and whistles.

As the band took the stage in front of a sweaty Le Pub to open up the intro for ‘One Fool Down’ which was the perfect opener to let people know it was showtime and to get ready for the next hour and some to go in full tilt and as Tom took the stage the crowd was already all in.

The band was the last band I saw before the original lockdown (as I said earlier) but the months slipped away and what seemed like years ago disappeared as I put my lockdown fitness routine to the test and got me Adidas Munich working out my legs as I moved to the monster sounds of a tight and up for it band. ‘8.6 Days’, ‘Choose My Friends’, ‘Trickle Down’ and ‘State Of Emergency’ all flew by as the band got a sweat on, constantly moving and living life in the moment and a glance around it seemed as if it was the tonic everyone needed. The band created a massive positive energy that the audience was feeding off and in turn, the band fed off that back. The sound was top-notch and for a sweaty club showed just how good the songs are with a clarity you don’t always get.

The banter was good but kept to a minimum as the band let the music do the talking. We were even treated to some new songs and the lockdown single ‘When The World Ends’ was very apt. The energy and joy emanating from the stage was infectious as we moved towards an encore. What encore? The encore was binned to save the pretense and to carry on the energy that has been building throughout the evening. As we reached the final shot of the anthemic knees-up that is ‘Bar Stool Preacher’ we all had a sing-song and the world was put to rights.

We left the venue having been treated to a proper punk rock show that celebrated community and all that is good about live music. The Bar Stool Preachers didn’t muck about when restrictions were lifted and got straight back on it giving their all every night one would suspect and apart from Tom falling into the drum kit in the first song after reaching blast off levels of energy and then spilling a beer on his pedal it was a most excellent night of punk rock (not that I ever doubted it anyway).

If you’re looking for a night out with top music then put these boys on the top of your wish list, get out there, and support them because they’re not just diamond geezers, they’re packing some of the best tunes out there. Treasure these moments, because it won’t be long before playing small venues will be a thing of the past for The Bar Stool Preachers and we’ll all remember saying we were there. Three excellent bands for the price of a few pints in a sweaty club is just what the Doc ordered. Brilliant!

Author: Dom Daley

HeWhoCannotBeNamed (The Dwarves) Releases Kids Concept Album

HeWhoCannotBeNamed (The Dwarves) Releases Kids Concept Album

HeWhoCannotBeNamed (The Dwarves) Releases Kids Concept Album w/ Milo Aukerman (Descendents), Spike Slawson (Me First and the Gimme Gimmes) and Chris Barrows (Pink Lincolns, Chris Barrows band)

Laptop Punk Records has unveiled the new LP from HeWhoCannontBeNamed of the Dwarves!

Here’s a special gift for the holiday season: HeWhoCannotBeNamed has enlisted the help of family and allies to create an ambitious themed musical that harkens back to the classic works Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein. All original songs, all composed and performed by HeWhoCannotBeNamed with the assistance of some very special guests including: Spike Slawson of Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, Chris Barrows of Pink Lincolns and Chris Barrows Band and, Milo Aukerman of Descendents, and many more!
Laptop Punk Records was formed by Grim Deeds in 2020 as an outlet for friends and underground punk artists to release singles and albums digitally, and to release a compilation series in the spirit of Lookout! and Fat Wreck Chords. Laptop Punk emphasizes DIY and encourages home recording projects, and also celebrates side-projects and one-offs from both obscure and well-known artists. Lisa Marr of Cub, Kim Warnick of The Fastbacks, and John Jughead Pierson of Screeching Weasel are among the artists who’ve contributed songs, as well as many obscure and new artists with exciting ideas and talent to offer. Laptop Punk’s mission is to promote inspired songwriting from across the globe, and there are already great releases from international (Japanese, Indonesian, Ukrainian, Russian) artists in the catalog. With new releases launching every month, the pace is set to continue strong into 2022 and a new compilation cd is on the way. Laptop Punk Records Compilation Volume 1 is now available and features 29 hits from a wide variety of artists. 
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Fast Eddy Announce New LP for Spaghetty Town Records and Unveil First Single

Fast Eddy Announce New LP for Spaghetty Town Records and Unveil First Single

Fast Eddy was born out of the miasma of Denver’s Rock n Roll, and independent music scene in 2014. Formed from members of some notable Denver bands as Dirty Few, and Itchy O, their vision started on a late-night ramble. Somewhat of a side project, without much of a direction, the band named their project after their old drug dealer and took to writing songs about the heartache and challenges that come along with the hedonistic rampage that it can mean to pursue music unabashed.


As the band became more of a genuine article, each member brought their own pieces to the table and started writing more genuine, anthem-esque powerpop rock n roll. Micah Morris on guitar and lead vocals, Devon Francy on bass, Arj Narayan on drums, and Lisandro Gutierrez on guitar, had stepped up their game and worked their way into a bigger more encompassing world of rock n roll.


After selling their personal belongings, and almost dying from van malfunctions in transit to simply make their first Atlanta recordings, it’s been one bold leap after the other. but their sacrifice hasn’t come in vain, and they’ve simply come too far to turn back now.


Look for “Take A Look” at record stores and wherever fine MP3s are sold on January 21st, 2022.
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System Reset – Many Hands Make Lies Work (Self-released)

System Reset – Many Hands Make Lies Work (Self-released)

Written and recorded around the pandemic period, System Reset’s first recording since guitarist Shovel (he of Trigger McPoopshute notoriety) and drummer Sturdy joined the fold, sees them rip out seven tracks which put many of society’s ills under the microscope. Mini LP or bulging EP it matters not, what does matter is the quality of the material and once again System Reset hit the nail squarely on the noggin with a well-produced slab of molten punk rock. From the opening ‘March’ tackles the subjects of the day with a UK Government set on making the divide wider and taking away fundamental rights you and I have and crushing them without so much as a whimper as the media ignores what is going on under our noses whilst the clowns in power divert and divide System Reset have their eyes on what’s going on and they let rip.

Covering other powerful topics such as domestic abuse (Crack My Head) is one of the standout tracks on offer. whilst its a difficult lyrical topic to get your head around the soundtrack is brutal but riveting and draws you to the lyrics., mental health gets covered with (Anxiety and Fail-Safe), the rise of the right-wing (Cut The Ties) with a filthy spirit of 82 punk rock bass line that isn’t so much a tap on the shoulder but a thump to the back of the head. work/life imbalance is dialed in on ‘Dead On Your Feet’. Big business gets a poke in the eye courtesy of, well, ‘Big Business’. The EP is a word in your ear put to some fantastic punk rock and it’s a frank soundtrack to a fucked up, post-pandemic world. The more I play it the better it gets which is always a good sign of a quality release.

With current and ex-members of Da Capo, Four Letter Word, Trigger McPoopshute, Red Riot and drawing on a myriad of influences it’s a record that covers many musical bases and has a great flow.

The EP will have a CD and limited 7” of the tracks ‘Fail Safe’ and ‘Big Business’ coming in early 2022 but for now it’s digital only.

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Author: Dom Daley

Dirtbag Republic – ‘Tear Down Your Idols’ (Shock Records/Vanity Music Group)

Dirtbag Republic – ‘Tear Down Your Idols’ (Shock Records/Vanity Music Group)

As retro-obsessed as I am, a proper throwback of an album would surely be a fine way to round off my reviewing duties for the year. That album? ‘Tear Down Your Idols’, the just-released new album from Canadian gutter rockers, Dirtbag Republic.

Formed by singer Sandy Hazard and guitarist Mick Wood in 2014, ‘Tear Down Your Idols’ (titled in reference to both the tearing down of favourite bands that blow up big and heritage acts going through the motions on stage) is the Vancouver band’s third album, following 2015’s self-titled debut and 2017’s ‘Downtown Eastside’.

Described in the press blurb as having definite Hanoi Rocks and Dead Boys influences, I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t more than a whiff of the former in the sonics ensconced in this eleven-track long player – ‘Sorry’ being a fine example. It’s a much more harder-edged album, though – more of a street rock ‘n’ roll record that will appeal to fans of Backyard Babies (probably the clearest soundalike here) and Buckcherry. There’s a mainlining of prime, pre-MTV Aerosmith here too. I’m guessing that you’ve already decided as to whether you’re going to check this album out just because of the bands that I’ve just mentioned? Well, here’s another one: I couldn’t help but be reminded of Helsinki scuzz rockers Hybrid Children when listening to ‘Tear Down Your Idols’.

The barroom piano on ‘Don’t Answer To No One’ adds another classic rock ‘n’ roll element, elevating the track to the top of my ‘must-play’ list from this album. At the bottom? Throwback records often trawl up questionable lyrics and this one is no different: the “anorexia nervosa” refrain in ‘Skinny’ is an eyebrow- rather than a fist-raiser that made even my headphones wince. The Manic Street Preachers’ ‘4st 7lb’ it is not.

Even though an idea that should never have made it past the rehearsal room does take the foot off the class, the band never takes it off the gas for the majority of the album; ‘Tear Down Your Idols’ could easily fill a space in your low-slung rock ‘n’ roll music collection.

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Author: Gaz Tidey

Murder Van – ‘Crooked Smiles’ EP

Murder Van – ‘Crooked Smiles’ EP

Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia Murder Van hit all the criteria that their hilarious bio leads us to expect. Old school thrash riffs, a hint of doom, raw production values and some tight ass drumming. The only thing that I don’t want from a thrash band is a death metal style vocal, when I think of thrash vocalists, I want to hear a clean vocal al la Joey Belladonna or Coburn Pharr. Saying that, Sepultura are one of my favourite thrash bands and they certainly incorporate the death metal growl. Maybe I’m just talking bollocks…Ha ha.

 That’s not say that there isn’t plenty to love about their latest release Crooked Smiles. The four track EP (I’ve never been a fan of EPs, either build up enough songs for a full-length LP, or just put out a single), the only EPs I’ve really connected with are the fantastic first release from Queensryche back in 83 and maybe the Alice In Chains acoustic EPs.

Opening track Clawing the Casket tells us exactly what Murder Van (Great name!) are all about, fast riffing, breakneck drumming and shouty vocals get your head banging from the off. I really do like the production here, it gives us that old school thrash feel, the drums actually sound like drums, I’m not a fan of the whole digital recording thing. This EP sounds like an analogue recording, I may be wrong on that though. The other stand out track is Factor X with it’s moody and almost pretty opening, this doesn’t last long though and we are soon back in full on metal mode.

Well performed and recorded, Crooked Smiles is an enjoyable jump into the mosh pit, I can smell the sweat and beer from here.

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Author: Kenny Kendrick

The Scaramanga Six – ‘Worthless Music’ (Wrath Records)

The Scaramanga Six – ‘Worthless Music’ (Wrath Records)

Huddersfield’s finest release their tenth studio album. After the loosely conceptual albums ‘The Terrifying Dream’ and ‘Chronica’, the lead tracks ‘Horse With No Face’ and ‘An Error Occurred’ suggested a more feral, focussed sound this time round. And it is a righteous racket, indeed.

‘Big Ideas’ lurches from the speakers, lop-sided and menacing. If a song can drag one leg behind it, this one does. As the chorus hits, “the woman of my conscience looks like Servalan”, a reminder of the marvellous Jacqueline Pearce, for those of a certain age.

‘An Error Occurred’ is like a slap to the face, in the nicest way. It’s pared back, lean, like The Fall on steroids, with the signature punchy bass of Steven Morricone. ‘Decade With No Name’ keeps up the pace. What can I say? It sounds like The Scaramangas. You’ll love it or be confused and walk away. Which is fine; they attract a particular type of devotion, not unlike their previous mentor, Tim Smith. They have a way with their backing vocals which is unlike anyone else, it often draws me in.

‘Boy’ is the first drop in tempo. While Steven, Paul and Julia are all fine singers, I’m sure they realise that it’s Paul’s voice that is the secret weapon. Lush, he veers here between sinister and loving. His solo album from last year, ‘Cruel Designs’ is a highlight.

When I first heard ‘Horse With No Face’, I was puzzled, mainly by the deliberately off key backing vocals, but, as is often the case, it’s grown on me. I expect it to be particularly fierce live. ‘Dog Form’, with military drums and a bridge that surprises, is suitably odd and addictive. ‘Cults’ even throws in a bit of Showaddywaddy. Expect the unexpected.

‘Death Mask Of The Unknown Lady Of The Seine’, the longest track at over six minutes, sounds like the ‘side two’ opener; there are fourteen songs. The bass and drums push it along like a locomotive, before they keyboards evoke Cardiacs, and the vocals describe the story of the lady who sees her  death as a release.

‘Stranger In Your Own Mind’ has Ants style whoops and a hint of John Barry, only the Scaras can create these songs. It’s difficult to describe to someone unfamiliar with their work. Another similarity to Cardiacs, I suppose. But, this is perhaps a more accessible world, whilst equally satisfying and rewarding once you immerse yourself in it. It certainly seeps into your being.

‘Ipso Facto’ gets dancey, in a John Grant style, just to add to the mix. I can imagine Bowie singing ‘Kate And Cindy’, I don’t know why, but the chorus really takes off. Steven has the honour of closing the album with ‘Then I Met Joanna’. If you know the band, you can imagine his arched eyebrow, complementing the dark lyrics. “You took your silver spoon, and stuck it in the moon, and yet, you wanted more”.

Once again, only the Scaramanga Six could have created this album. I remember seeing them support Eureka Machines. I didn’t know a single song, then they played ‘Misadventure’, and I was hooked. Listen on Bandcamp now; I hope you get addicted to their unique musical world.

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Author: Martin Chamarette