Señor No – ‘94/20’ (Bang! Records)

Señor No – ‘94/20’ (Bang! Records)

Influenced by the likes of Bored! Radio Birdman, Sonic’s Rendezvous Band, The Hellacopters as well as the MC5, Stooges and Motorhead this impressive list alone was more than enough to pique my interest and have me blasting out ‘94/20’, the all new eleven tracker from Spanish garage punks Señor No.

Having never heard of Señor No before and then discovering that not only do they sing in their native Basque tongue but also that the ‘94/20’ album title refers to the fact that this year is the band’s 26 year in the business only added to the intrigue.

Thankfully ‘94/20’ more than lives up to the mystery and PR hype and in fact just like albums I’ve raved about in the past by the likes of City Saints and Trust what really sets Señor No apart is the fact that the songs are being sung in the band’s native language as it actually adds to the band’s incredible sonic melting pot.  And boy what an intoxicating mix it is too. Yes, there are elements of all of the aforementioned bands that could be pulled from the tracks on offer here but for me it is the bark and sneer of singer Xabi Garre (a veteran of the local Basque rock scene) that really hammers home the band’s message. Even if I do have to refer to the English track listing on the band’s Facebook page to really get a grip of the self-styled Bukowski style street poetry the singer specialises in – this doesn’t spoil this musical rocket ride one iota.  In many ways this curiously reminds me of what a Basque Tyla fronting the MC5 singing songs about the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle might sound like, and one thing’s for sure, it will definitely require more than my usual “dos cervezas por favor” level of Spanish for me to fully understand.

So, with this in mind let me introduce you to Señor No’s ‘94/20’, an album chock full of musical twists and turns and yes, more than just a hint of mystery thanks to Xabi’s vocal stylings. With the band’s mission behind the record being to re-record and reimage songs from throughout their career to date.

Kicking off with ‘La Ruta Interior’ (The Interior Route) this is perhaps the nearest Señor No comes to the sonic jams of their Detroit heroes and the guitar interplay between Jorge Colldan and Joseba Baleztena at times really does bring to mind Smith and Kramer. For me its when the band really go for the throat like on ‘Déjate’ (Leave It) that they really click and here you can clearly pick out the Motorhead influence albeit with a little Poison Idea thrown in for good measure too.

Señor No are anything but a one trick punk rock piñata though, just take one listen to ‘Perra’ (Dog) where the guitar breakdown really will have you punching the air in celebration or the kooky time signature of ‘Meando En La Niebla’ (Piss In The Fog) that gives the track a real feelgood swig from the bottle kind of swing, all driven along by bassist Fumai and drummer Fosy who put in a superb shift throughout.

Bristling with energy and sounding like the very heartbeat of Basque punk rock ‘n’ roll ‘94/20’ should have by now seen Señor No tearing up and down the highways and byways of Europe in support of the record, that day I’m sure will eventually come, but in the meantime you can order your copy via the link below.  Glorious stuff!

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ASTEROID B-612 “Forced into a corner (Bang Records)

ASTEROID B-612 “Forced into a corner (Bang Records)

At last! ASTEROID B-612 ‘Forced into a corner’ is released for its very first time on vinyl!

This is the second album of legendary Australian band ASTEROID B-612, and it is the killer predecessor to their album “Not meant for this world!”.

Australia has plenty of awesome bands we know this It might be a long way from The UK and America but man they were right at the front and often when it comes to Rock and Roll.  Originally recorded and released in Melbourne, Australia way back in 1994, this album was produced by Dave Thomas from BORED!. If you took our advice after reviewing ‘Not Meant For This World’and checked them out then you will have an inkling of what to expect. Bored! and Asteroid B-612 influenced by The Stooges, MC5, Birdman, etc.  C’mon what’s not to like?

Having been previously only available on CD and only in Australia, I guess pre Internet this was a bit of a secret and only the lucky ones knew and we all want to be one of the ones in the know right? Right.

A total must for all fans worldwide of MC5, Stooges, Radio Birdman, Bored!, Hellacopters, etc. You know the drill and where these guys are coming from. As the opener blasts off out of the speakers with that sweet sweet distorted guitar riff ‘Edge A Little Closer’ doesn’t so much as rock out but comes Stomping through the ether it’s measured and barely under control with a cool hook on the chorus but the solo is sounding so sweet.  Asteroid B-612 (still an odd name for a band) know how to rock it up and sound like the distant cousin of a broken Rock and Roll home with Lovesores and these ones were banished to the other side of the earth to keep them apart but the time has come and thanks to the likes of Bang Records we can all get in on the secret.  Damn, records like this shouldn’t be a bloody secret every self-respecting lover of Garage Rock and Roll should investigate here.

‘I’ve Had You’ turns up the energy and leans on fellow tunesmiths like Los Pepes as far as writing catchy uptempo rock and roll goes.  In contrast ‘The 32st To The 2nd’ is a laid back groove more in keeping with The Stooges vibe.  It’s a super consistent record and the quality is excellent throughout.  Sure some tracks stand out like side two’s opener the sleazy ‘Plastic’ with its gang vocals sounding like a boozy night in some dive bar where the jukebox is way too loud but who cares when it sounds this good. It’s not all bluster and beer drinking as the epic slow-burner of ‘I’m Not For Sale’ will testify.  With its sparse bluesy dark and brooding verse leading into the inevitable crescendo before dropping back into the shadows.

The energy is pumped back into the record on ‘Can I Touch It’ from its bass thump intro it’s like a frantic spinning top bumping off each instrument waiting to slow down or crash and burn.  Before we finish we get into some choppy Chuck Berry territory as ‘Dannys Sister’ jives and boogies on down. There’s still time for a bluesy seven-plus minutes before we get the hell out of here. Asteroid B-612 doesn’t do bad records and this is another must-have slab of epic vinyl. If you don’t believe me then check it out for yourself – Buy it!

Buy ‘Forced Into A Corner’ Here

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Author: Dom Daley

 

 

Bored – Take It Out On You (Bang Records)

Bored – Take It Out On You (Bang Records)

‘Take It Out On You’ is 1990 Bored! E.P. Which has now, On this release been expanded by adding a bombastic and brutal take on ‘Iron Man’  to complete these sessions from that year; it features Tim Hemensley on both Bass and Vocals. Australias best exponents of loud over the top Rock and Roll!

Its dark – mysterious – dirty;  Detroit dripping Australian Rock and Roll at its absolute finest.  Perfectly marrying that Stooges fuzzed-out – Fucked up reckless Rock and Roll with some of Australia’s finest like Birdman and a clear understanding of punk rock and at the sharp end of the Grunge explosion along with the likes of Mudhoney they get all that Detroit influence.

From the opening ‘Conquest’ you certainly get the impression of a band who’ve left the tape rolling inside a studio with no windows or air-con and a band who are just playing harder and harder.

It’s a killer collection of full of wild riffage and attitude soaked vocals. ‘Mr 10 Percent’ is everything you wan tit to be.  Purposeful, angry yet just being under control and even when the solo takes off it never sounds like they’ve lost control.

‘Sweet Charity’ is pure ‘Funtime’ era Stooges with its stretched out jam vibe and seven minutes of sonic excellence as it assaults your senses on several fronts.  Its a heaving angry jam and played loud is a Godsend of Garage punk Rock. the title track, however, has a handle on a more rock n Roll Misfits kinda vibe rather than being just punks they take the Garage Rock route.

There isn’t a huge body of work behind the band but there is a history of quality and Bang Releasing this on the back of 2016 ‘Piggyback’ compilation is a pretty decent place for you to start if you’re new to Bored!

Side two of this album starts off with my favourite track on offer here ‘Final solution’ has a huge throbbing bass chug and sort of mashes up some Jon Spenser Blues Explosion with some of that Detroit Action Rock n Roll and absolutely own it.  I love the chorus and the laid back tempo and groove of the song is exceptional. ‘Motherfuckin’ Motherfucker’ is like Iggy fronting Motorhead and as far as attitude goes what are you expecting considering the song’s title?  All killer and no filler is about the best place to start.

‘Iron Man’ is heavier (if that’s possible) imagine if Sabbath were a punk band weened on VU and the MC5 rather than UK psychedelia. It does, however, sound like a whole world of fun and I’d imagine more than a couple of stubbies were downed in the making of this racket and when the tempo changes someone is certainly channeling their inner Kramer meets Iommi and that’s always a cool place to be.

If you like loud guitars and songs with a great sound in the Garage Punk hard rockin’ style than fill yer boots you’ll love this bad boy.

To be fair to BANG! Records they have pushed the boat out as far as Bored! goes and have plenty on offer over on their web site.  BORED! “Get off my wah-wah and suck this!”, BORED! “Piggyback”, 2LP, BORED! “Negative waves”, LP-CD, BORED! “Junk”, LP, BORED! “Scuzz”, 2LP, TIGER BY THE TAIL, S/T, LP-CD (Featuring Dave Thomas on vocals and guitar)and to complete the set ‘Take It Out On You’ is here. Buy it
Bang! Records Here

Author: Dom Daley

Dark Carnival – the Last Great Ride (Bang Records)

Dark Carnival – the Last Great Ride (Bang Records)

Detroit High Energy rock at its purest essence!!!! Niagara (DESTROY ALL MONSTERS) & Ron Asheton (THE STOOGES) among other great Detroit musicians recorded this killer album back in 1996.
And now it is finally reissued on vinyl with 2 added tracks to the original vinyl release, remastered in order to get its purest sound, and new artwork courtesy of Mrs. Niagara Detroit and Mr. Colonel Galaxy.
And guess what…. This is an extension of Destroy All Monsters with absolutely killer guitars in line with The Stooges´ “Funhouse” with the unique stamp and signature of Mr. Ron Asheton.


10 classic shots which need to be in your record collection right by The Stooges, Destroy All Monsters, MC5, Sonic´s Rendezvous Band, Radio Birdman, The New Christs, Bored!

I can’t vouch for how improved the sonic assault is compared to the original because I never owned the original slab of wax and digital is a whole different ball game especially if your listening on a PC but I can vouch that it’s not muddy in fact it’s positively bright in the mix department  Niagras voice is as seductive and sinister as ever and has a dark quality that sounds dangerous and then you throw Ashetons guitar soloing into the mix and you have a potent force to be reckoned with. Just listen to ‘Heaven Can Wait’ in the dark and loud and you’ll get the point. I love Ron’s guitar work on ‘Bang’ he’s really Rockin it out and the absence of any low end makes for interesting listening.

I love the boredom and fuck you attitude of ‘Good Morning, Headache’ and ‘The Last Great Ride’ is epic and the perfect way to end this collaboration and the guitar work gives me goosebumps with the solos absolutely killing it.  with only 500 copies of this pressed it won’t be long before this becomes rare as hen’s teeth so time is of the essence and you can’t say you haven’t been warned.  Get it!

Buy Dark Carnival Here