Bullets And Octane – ‘Riot Riot Rock n Roll’ (Bad MoFo Records/Cargo Records UK)

Bullets And Octane – ‘Riot Riot Rock n Roll’ (Bad MoFo Records/Cargo Records UK)

LA rock ‘n’ rollers Bullets And Octane follow up 2018’s ‘Waking Up Dead’ comeback album with a new 10 track affair entitled ‘Riot Riot Rock n Roll’. Long time frontman Gene Louis has behind him a stable and formidable line-up that has been destroying the pits and dives of the world for a couple of years now. With Felipe Rodrigo (guitar), Zachary Kibbee (bass) and Jonny Udell pounding the skins, it feels like the second coming for this band.

In the past Bullets And Octane have toured with Avenged Sevenfold and hit the festival circuits with the best of them. They have had albums produced by the likes of Gilby Clarke and Page Hamilton. But the music industry is a different beast to what it was 20 years ago and the crowds are also dwindling for everyone. It may seem like the glory days of live rock music are behind us, but Gene Louis has had to adapt to the times and Bullets And Octane have always been a band who thrive on being the underdog, and oh how we love an underdog here at RPM.

 

The roaring, meaty engine introduction leads into a title track full of trademark angst and rebellion with a catchy, anthemic chorus to shout from the rooftops. With a wall of distortion and a heavy, rhythmic beat, it carries a statement of intent that rings true through the entire album. Gang vocals have been a Bullets and Octane trademark for pretty much 20 years now, and ‘Riot Riot Rock n Roll’ shows no signs of the band changing that.

Gene spits and growls the vocals with the sleazy delivery of Lemmy meets Zodiac Mindwarp. Filipe peels off killer riffs and Slash inspired solos like his life depends on it, while the rhythm section pounds like a well-oiled beast keeping it all together.

The first single ‘Ain’t Gonna Be Your Dog’ was co-written by ex Buckcherry guitar player Keith Nelson and would not sound out of place on a Buckcherry record to be fair. A mid-paced radio-friendly rocker, the subdued vocals invite you in and then rage for the chorus. It comes on with guitars slung low and a middle finger raised in salute.

Bullets and Octane have always dealt in heavy, gritty rock ‘n’ roll and this album does not stray from that path. It’s the kinda music that has dirt under the fingernails and grease in the hair. Songs for the outcasts that reek of engine oil and have last night’s whiskey on the breath, but still retain melody and an anthemic quality.

With dark and foreboding melodies that skulk like Marilyn Manson is his prime and then morph into high octane choruses, the likes of ‘Addicted To Outrage’ and ‘Heaven Can Wait’ will always have me salivating. A shout out to Filipe’s inspired and inventive guitar riffs that just gives the likes of ‘The Devil’ an extra cool factor and makes ‘Give Me A Reason’ sound like a punk rock ‘Panama’ to these ears.

Then there’s the signature stand out anthems for troubled times and disenchanted minds. ‘Chaos’ is a timely anthem and one of the strongest tracks on offer. Riding on an overly familiar, yet killer guitar refrain, the verse pumps from the speakers. “What’s that? Let’s turn it up!” suggests the frontman, before the band blasts into yet another memorable chorus. Then closer ‘Lost Crazy Psycho’ has our illustrious singer almost rapping a diatribe before exploding into a glorious and volatile refrain that stays with you long after the (virtual) disc has stopped spinning.

 

Its 2020 and everything we know and take for granted in this world is fucked right now. If you are reading this, then music is your escape, and maybe a new Bullets And Octane album is just what you need. ‘Riot Riot Rock n Roll’ is 10 tracks of angst-ridden rock, choc-a-bloc with attitude and themes of escapism, rebellion and generally not giving two flying fucks!

It’s fair to say Gene Louis has not mellowed with age and Bullets And Octane are here to inject rock ‘n’ roll venom straight into the jugular.

Buy ‘Riot Riot Rock and Roll’ Here

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Author: Ben Hughes

 

 

Bullets And Octane / Disgraceland / Idestroy – Cavern Club Exeter May 16th 2019

Bullets And Octane / Disgraceland / Idestroy – Cavern Club Exeter May 16th 2019
Disgraceland frontman Ollie Stygal is possibly the South West’s version of Henry Rollins, perhaps with a slightly different physique. Like Rollins, Ollie is getting angrier as he ages and this is highlighted mid-set with the fantastically titled 100% Cunt which is dedicated with real vitriol to the Tories, Nigel Farage and Tommy Robinson, and let’s face it, it’s well deserved.
While being angry, Disgraceland are still an exceedingly tight punk rock n roll machine, playing fast, furious and very catchy tunes that wouldn’t be out of place alongside Dead Kennedy’s, early Damned and even Motörhead numbers. With gigs lined up around the country and their debut EP due on 1st June, Disgraceland are a band well worth keeping an eye on.
Following the storm kicked up by Disgraceland was never gonna be easy and despite their best efforts Bristol’s idestroy don’t really manage it. Songs tend to pass by without ever really grabbing you and it’s hard to understand just what the band is trying to be. One minute they are trying to get big crowd clapalongs going and then the next trying to get all aggressive, but it all seems a bit fake to these eyes and ears. Idestroy might be the band’s name, but on tonight’s showing, Imildlybruise might be more appropriate.

It has been 13 years since Bullets and Octane last graced the Cavern stage, and while they are a completely different beast now, with only madman frontman Gene Louis remaining from those days, they haven’t lost any of the fire or huge sense of fun that they had back then.

 

Louis remains that frontman that wants to connect with every single person in attendance, and that he does, spending as much time off stage as on it, hugging, high fiving and dancing with everybody and anybody and even getting one fan to take over vocals for him on a few occasions, which may or may not be due to him forgetting the lyrics!

 

The band themselves are no slouches though with the rhythm section of Jonny Udell (who strangely was in support band The Knives when B&O were last at the Cavern), and Zachary Kibbee holding the mayhem together while guitarist Filipe Rodrigo provides another focal point throwing himself around the room, while still delivering in spades.

Newer songs like ‘Bad Motherfucker’ and ‘When we were Young’ are greeted as enthusiastically as classics like ‘Caving In’ and ‘Pirates’ by the small but very appreciative, and often very drunk, crowd, who give back as much as they receive right up until the final chords crash out.

 

On leaving the venue I overhear someone say “that was the most fun I have had at a gig for ages”, and that sums up a Bullets and Octane gig better than I ever could! Keep singing that Song for the Underdog!

 

Author: Nigel Taylor
Buy ‘Waking Up Dead’ Here