The Boys – ‘The Singles Collection 77-25’ (Cherry Red Records)

The Boys – ‘The Singles Collection 77-25’ (Cherry Red Records)

In the time-honoured old lady at the thought of an election, “Not Another One?” yup, it’s another one, but this is the definitive Boys Singles Collection just in case you’d forgotten how bloody good the band is.

The 2CD Digipak features the ‘A’ & ‘B’ sides of every physical (7″ vinyl /CD) Single release from both The Boys & The Yobs from 1977 to 2025. The release includes a 20-page booklet with detailed linear notes and pictures of all the relevant sleeves. Just in case you fancied trawling Discogs looking to track down the elusive original 7″ before the brand new 2026 album drops from The Boys.

What’s not to love about such classics as ‘I Don’t Care’, ‘Sick On You’ ‘, First Time’, and the legendary ‘Brickfield Nights’, which are all very much part of the current Boys live set. But it’s also a chance to wrap up the latter Boys singles like ‘I’m A Believer’ and ‘Punk Rock Girl’, which, to be fair, are distant enough to be joining the first wave classics because time has fallen favourably on songs like those off ‘Punk Rock Menapause’. The liner notes are suitably detailed and offer fantastic value with their twenty pages. Every festive period you can offer up ‘Run Rudolph Run’ or ‘The Worm Song’ just to offend your nan.

Drawing in their footy anthem ‘Svengerland’ and demos as well as unplugged B Sides, this is a comprehensive set and trawling through the good old days in the late 70s to the here and now, it’s a wonderful two-disc showcase to the endurance and downright class of the Boys and all who sailed with them. Forty songs over two discs is one hell of a legacy to Rock n Roll. Buy It!

You can pre-order the collection from Cherry Red – click here

Author: Dom Daley

Buzzcocks – ‘Attitude Adjustment’ (Cherry Red Records)

Buzzcocks – ‘Attitude Adjustment’ (Cherry Red Records)

Brand new album from punk pioneers Buzzcocks is here and I’ve been lucky enough to have had it on rotation at RPM Towers for a while and whilst I’ve dealt with the name and Petes passing I know there will be departments of the punk rock police who will be all over this but I’m ok with the elephant in the room and respect Diggle and co for continuing as Buzzcocks, sure from a marketing perspective its a no brainer and they’ll get a lot more tracktion with th eband name over Diggle solo (no disrespect intended but its a fact) Anyway, Lets move on its a new year and a new album is in hand and to be fair pound for pound its a slow burning slab of puk rock that deserves a lot of credit from Diggle stepping out of his comfort zone of penning a few tunes on a Buzzcocks album to being the captain of the ship and to his credit he handles it like a master of his craft. The vocals are like a fine wine and matured from the Diggle of yesteryear, and I’m sure there would have been conversations in the recording studio as to how Shelley would have handled a verse or melody and treated it respectfully without trying too hard to mimic or force it.

The record begins with the opening single ‘Queen Of The Scene’, and hats off, it’s a bloody good song, and it grows over time to be a very impressive dark melody with a good hook on the chorus. The band know what they’re doing, and whilst there are album tracks present, they are few and far between, and some of the subtle moments and interplay are exquisite at times ‘Tear Of A Golden Girl’ and ‘Heavy Street’ both spring to mind.

Sure, it’s not a ‘Love Bites’ or ‘Singles Going Steady’, but it’s a standalone collection and is a really strong collection of tunes. I particularly like the arrangement of the acoustic-driven ‘All Gone To War’. Diggle handles the vocals throughout the record really well and does a great job being the “vocalist” in the band.

It’s 2026, and Buzzcocks are still relevant, and this record is a mature statement of intent and with songs as good as the big strumming riffs of ‘Jesus At The Wheel,’ why shouldn’t we still be applauding them for their efforts Diggle sounds like latter-day Bowie here, which is impressive. Fearlessly diving into the unknown but with a bunch of top tunes. To be fair, as the album charges towards the finish line, the songs get louder and the final fling is excellent, with some familiar one-string licks on ‘Just A Dream’ and then the vibrant ‘Feeling Uptight’ and talking of uptight the penultimate song ‘Break That Ball And Chain’ has a distinct Motown backbeat feel to it which is a surprise and a very pleasant one at that. Then the dark curtain call of ‘The Greatest OF Them All’ leaves you wanting more.

Fourteen songs is value for money and easy to see why they needed an outlet for the music. Still writing sharp tunes, delivering them with attitude, it’ll do for me and long may it continue. Buzzcocks Forever Forever Buzzcocks! Buy It!

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Author: Dom Daley

Tokyo Blade – ‘Beware The Blade – Classic, Rare & Unreleased 1983 – 2025, 4CD Box Set’ (Cherry Red Records)

Tokyo Blade – ‘Beware The Blade – Classic, Rare & Unreleased 1983 – 2025, 4CD Box Set’ (Cherry Red Records)

I’ll tell you one thing, Cherry Red Records always do a bloody good job when releasing these here box sets of material from bands generally no longer performing or looking back on long lost careers, but for a fair sum of money you can delve deep into the vaults of a band’s catalogue and none more worthy than the mighty Tokyo Blade. Hailing from Wiltshire and formed in 1982, Tokyo Blade were initially considered part of the NWOBHM scene but quickly outgrew the tag, enduring over the course of 14 studio albums and 5 EPs. Several vocalists from the early formative years of Alan Marsh through the more Glam and American-inspired Vikki Wright’s ‘Black Hearts’ Era.

Spread over four discs, this comp features classics from all corners of the band’s career on discs one and two, as well as obligatory “Bootleg quality”, oh sorry I mean raw and rough around the edges live recordings and an inspired disc of unreleased material for the deep divers.

For me, I loved the first album and the artwork that accompanied it. It was fast, rough and ready. There was the obvious NWOBHM aesthetic, but these guys had something else going on, and they wrote memorable tunes. Hell, was it really 1982 when ‘Powergame’, the outrageous ‘Mean Streak’ with its mental drum break and breakneck borderline punk riffage. The acoustic intro of ‘If Heaven Is Hell’ and the bonkers cliché lyrics and power stabs nostalgia can be a wonderful thing. My God, I haven’t played some of these songs in decades, and although the production can often be a little thin and dated, the songs rage and that warmth I get around my heart is immeasurable. Of Course, the Mighty ‘Night Of The Blade’ with its thumping double Bass drum bonk signalled another era of the band and one I wholeheartedly got on board with. The addition of Wright on vocals added a little something that gave the band the edge over the Chariots of the world, and at the time, they were my go-to metal band, no doubt about it.

‘Love Struck’, ‘Warrior Of The Rising Sun’ and ‘Lightning Strikes’ still sound magnificent. They should have been fucking huge. Disc one is a stone-cold classic! Once Vicki James Wright went stateside and The Blade disappeared off my radar for a while, it was time for a reset and a new singer. Disc two is a more polished sound, less rough and ready and a better production if I might be so bold. These songs are taking a bit of getting used to. I’m hearing the slower, more Shy keyboard layered tunes of ‘Chains Of Love’, but there was still the heavy rock of ‘Friend In Need’ punching through. A lot of this disc gives the Dokken and Ratts of this world a run for their money, no doubt about it. George Lynch and Warren DiMartini, and Steve Vai should have looked over their shoulders because the Blade could hold its own.

The Accompanying booklet gives a great snapshot fag packet summary of the history of Tokyo Blade, or as some would have you believe, the curse of the blade. Their legacy is some awesome Hard Rockin’ albums, a lifetime of live shows and memories most mortals don’t ever get to have. You, however, can relive the halcyon days of one of the finest bands to come out of the 80s metal scene in the UK and a band who never got their dues and who, in my humble opinion, should have headlined festivals and sold a ton of platinum records.

Let’s not get carried away because disc three harks back to a moment in time with a live recording from Europe, the Earthquake Festival, Holland to be precise. Anyone who was into music then would have frequented record fairs and picked up bootlegs from their favourite bands, and this is of that quality. Not soundboard and certainly not polished and studio enhanced, but raw as fuck and loud as fuck, just how they should have been remembered from 1984. It would have been nice to hear some live material from the Black HEarts period and line up but hey ho, you can’t have everything.

Onto the final disc, and the one that will be the go-to for most Blade fans, the unreleased material. A whole album’s worth and a full throttle hard rockin assault it is too, from the wholesome thud of ‘Lie In The Sand’ to the riff-a-rama of ‘This Dying Light’ via the keyboard trip of ‘Shout At The Dark’.

A band that didn’t stand still and was ever revolving and evolving, which might have been their strength and their cryptonite. This Box Set does, however, shine a light on an awesome band, whatever era tickles your fancy, and I’m willing to state here and now that if they ever did a show in the UK with Vicki on vocals, then I’m there. Don your studded belt, stripey trousers and sweat bands and get your fist in the air for the Mighty Blade! Not that I want to be disrespectful to Andy Boulton who put this together and has always been true to the Blade throughout its 14 albums (And still going to this day), it would be a buzz revisiting such a glorious time for this writer, but ‘Black Hearts’ was and still is a banger. Buy It! All this music for less than £30 is an absolute bargain.

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Author: Dom Daley

Earlier this year Tokyo Blade released their 14th studio album, ‘Time Is The Fire’ via Dissonance, to rave reviews.

The Donnas – ‘The Atlantic Years’ (Cherry Red Records)

The Donnas – ‘The Atlantic Years’ (Cherry Red Records)

I started listening to the Donnas back around their ‘American Teenage Rock ‘n’ Roll Machine’ album and never stopped. As their sound became a little more developed through the years, their eventual signing with Atlantic Records after what is still my favourite album by them (‘The Donnas Turn 21’) was not a surprise. They had put in a ton of work over the years building a fan base and refining their sound. The Ramones inspired early singles had been incorporating more influences as the band found their own sound. I really thought the band would explode with the release of their major label debut ‘Spend the Night,’ but it never happened. This collection brings together both of the albums they released through Atlantic, as well as a disc of bonus tracks.  

At this stage, the band had somewhat blended a pop-punk and hair metal approach with their own special ingredients. ‘Spend the Night’ comes rocking out of the gate with one of my favourite songs on the album- ‘It’s on the Rocks.’ There is no let-up across the album as one gem after another comes next. The lyrics from the Donnas have always been cool as they are filled with attitude, sass, and cool. ‘Who Invited You,’ ‘Pass It Around,’ and ‘Too Bad About Your Girl’ are just three more examples of excellence across a great album. This disc is flushed out with a couple of bonus tracks. ‘Big Rig’ reminds me sonically of their previous album and features an effective but more subtle chorus. Finally, ‘Backstage’ provides a nice close to the first disc in the package with awesome vocals by Brett Anderson.

The second disc in this package is ‘Gold Medal’ with a bonus track. This was the first and really only time that I wasn’t hooked on a Donnas album. It remains my least listened to in their catalogue. I think the major factor for me was that the production seemed a little slicker and more polished. The first single, ‘Fall Behind Me’, didn’t jump out of the speakers to knock the listener around. It had a smooth feel that felt more radio-friendly. From the outside, it felt like the record label was exerting pressure, which is unfortunate, as I think I would have enjoyed these songs a lot more with more of a live feel. I have played the follow-up album ‘Bitchin” significantly more over the years. One of my favourites is ‘Don’t Break Me Down’ where the guitar work by Allison Robertson shines in the mix.  The title track reminds me more of something from the Nuggets era. I remember my new CD when this was released accidentally cut ‘Have You No Pride’ in about the middle of the song, and had to be replaced. ‘Lost and Found’ closes out the CD with a livelier feel than the album songs and will likely find its way onto my custom Donna’s playlist.

The last CD in the package is likely of more interest to long-term fans who are already familiar with the first two discs. ‘Hyperactive’ reminds me how awesome the ‘Get Skintight’ album is, with a much stronger punk influence. Maya Ford (bass) and Torry Castellano (drums) provided an awesome rhythm section for the band. Going back further with ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll Machine’ helps showcase the growth of a band that maintained their brilliance until they left us. The exuberance of youth is infectious and demands the body to move with the beat as we sing along at the top of our lungs. ‘Mama’s Boy’ comes kicking and screaming out of the speakers before we get the old album track ‘Play My Game.’  Now, we start getting some harder to find items with a lot of live songs included and some alternate mixes. An acoustic ‘Don’t Break Me Down’ delivers the goods and showcases in another way how brilliant the song is. The electric guitar solo works perfectly over the acoustic frame. The alternate mix of ‘Fall Behind Me’ provides a nice twist with the electric guitar riff mixing perfectly with rocking acoustic sections. Other standouts on this disc include ‘Done With You’ with the band delivering an attitude and hook-filled song that will also be on future Donnas’ playlists. Covering Billy Idol is not an easy proposition, but the Donnas deliver a fun version of ‘Dancing With Myself.’ The final ten songs are live recordings and showcase what a great live band the Donnas were.

I still rock my ‘The Donnas Turn 21’ shirt and get comments from strangers of what a great band they were. Their catalog still sounds fresh, and this release should be welcomed by long-time fans like me as well as the passers-by who want something by the band. For those looking for a place to start, I highly recommend this and all their other albums. You have a gold mine of music to discover.

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Author: Gerald Stansbury

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RPM Online -The Podcast -Episode 60 – The gruesome twosome

RPM Online -The Podcast -Episode 60 – The gruesome twosome

It’s only Rock n Roll but We like it. Another day another episode of the RPM Online Podcast with another dozen and some of the finest alternative rock n roll available to own. This week is no exception as we endeavour to bring you the finest new old borrowed and blue tunes available so why not start with an absolute banger courtesy of Los Pepes and a track off their brand new album ‘Out Of The Void’ which will be out in April.

Hot on the heels is The Hell with a brand new track off their five-track EP this lovely ditty is ‘Circle The Drain’ available to the finest record label in the UK Drunken Sailor Records who are unrivaled in releasing excellent music on a consistent basis.

Out of Richmond Virginia Dead Billionaires are up next with their melting pot of alternative rock and the track ‘Curb’ of the wonderfully named ‘Disaster Preparedness Colouring Book’. Hot on the tail is some punk rock from The Squirts ‘Barbed Wire’ from ‘Men and Their Masters’. Staying with some classic punk jump on The Extraverts and ‘Marilyn Monroes Eyes’ Snotty stuff from their ‘Supple’ LP the first band we’ve featured from the superbly named Saskatchewan.

How about two legends teaming up for some motherfuckin Rock n Roll? Frank Meyer and Eddie Spaghetti with a track off their collaborative LP that went under the radar but if you love The Strretwalkin Cheetahs and Supersuckers then this is a no-brainer.

It’s the first of two tracks from these lifers on the show today because we like to bring you the finest music we’re currently playing and this is on heavy rotation currently so get on it.

Hitting the shores of Shit Island soon is the finest double bill anywhere as the Descendents and Circle Jerks give us a one-two. with a classic from ‘Milo goes To Collage’ with ‘I’m Not A Loser’ and followed by Circle Jerks from their oddities and rarities album ‘I Wanna Destroy’.

As we like to connect the dots of awesome Rock n Roll this week we bring you The Mattless Boys with ‘ It Only Hurts When I Cry’ followed by Black Eyed Sons and the title track from their debut album ‘Cowboys In Pinstripe Suits’ featuring Joe Elliott from that there Def Leppard. Then rounding off the trio is a classic from Mott The Hoople and the single edit of ‘Golden Age Of Rock and Roll’. ‘Dirty Laundry ft Honest John Plain and Ian Hunter along with Darrell Bath. Joe Elliott sang on Ian Hunter’s last pair of solo albums and guests on Black Eyed Sons.

Another week another track from down under and Split System and their new single is a particular favourite for us so here’s the other track on the single.

Billy Idol is back with a new album and single so with some spit and polish Young William is here with his new single off the album ‘Still Dancing’. The album ‘Dream into It’ will be out on April 25th. it features guest slots from the likes of Joan Jett and Avril Lavine.

Another Australian band and debut for us is The States with the track ‘Gimme Joy’ their first single on Legless Records. Melbourne Australia is certainly a hot ed of rock n roll and long may it continue.

Cast your minds way back in time when Punk exploded there were many forms of expression from the Damned and The Clash to America and Australia it was far-reaching and style-wise it didn’t have boundaries and that’s what it was all about which is why artists like Patrik Fitzgerald was able to flourish and his most popular track would probably be ‘Safety Pin Through My Heart’ so now seems like a good time to take a left turn and air some anti-folk which was released on Cherry Red Records a few years ago as part of a double album compilation.

Another throwback would have to be from The Accelerators who offer up ‘Moving Fast; from their collected recordings 77-79. Back for another go is a track by Meyer and Spaghetti this time from the ‘Partners In Crime’ EP which features tracks that didn’t make the cut of their LP but its too good to miss out. simply superb.

Prophets Of Addiction get aired next with a track off their new LP ‘Face The Music’, ‘Walk The World’ is the latest offering from the glam punks.

As we head into the home straight we hit you with a one, two firstly from No Spoilers with the track ‘Ghosting’ from their LP. Yet more punk rock from Italy via the excellent Label ‘Take The City’ from Madrid Spain.

then if that’s not enough how about a classic track with a twist courtesy of the mighty Motorhead. ‘Ace Of Spades’ is their most famous track but how about hearing one of the early versions they laid down before capturing the classic take. Available first on the RSD vinyl of ‘Remorse No’ LP which has now been pressed on CD.

Finally bringing Episode 60 to a magnificent climax we play ‘Be A Sport’ by Split Dogs off their brand new LP ‘Here To Destroy’ easily one of the albums of the year and it’s barely March. Exceptional stuff I’m sure you’ll agree. With only nine tracks it’s a lean Rock n Roll machine with no filler just top-notch punk rock n roll.

If you enjoy the tunes we play give us a share and a follow it’s much appreciated and helps spread the word further and it doesn’t cost you anything either. Keep the revolutions spinning and keep it RPM Online. Diolch.

Its A Revolution – Podcast – Episode 40

Its A Revolution – Podcast – Episode 40

Join us for this week’s instalment of the RPM Online Podcast Episode 40 no less. This week’s show opens on a sad note with the awful news that 60ft Dolls drummer passed away recently so it seemed fitting that we kick off with the awesome ‘Happy Shopper’ from ‘The Big 3’ album. I witnessed the band at the peak of their powers when they played to a packed-out house in the next village on the same road effectively that we broadcast from. A band that should have been as big as the Manics no question about it but alas they burned brightest rather than fading away, this one is for Carl may he rest in peace.

After such a sad note to begin with the show starts with the original kick-off and the most excellent Turbonegro cover of The classic ‘The Party Starts Now’ released in 2005, this is how to do a cover version deathpunk style. After Martin reviewed the Love Fiends album recently we had to include this Banger ‘Jimmy (Is An Agent)’. Power Pop done superbly.

Great to have UK Hardcore legends Chubby & The Gang ready to drop their new LP ‘And Then There Was One’, to loosen the juices they’ve dropped this new single ‘Theres A Devil In The Jukebox’ which is going down a treat at the pumphouse HQ. October seems so long away.

Cherry Red are continuing their tradition of releasing double album CDs of classic releases and this time its GBH so ‘Sick Boy the single version is our pick of the pack. Out in months time the band still play to this day with the same power and aggression.

A classic reissue with a superb mix was The Replacements ‘Tim: Let It Bleed Edition’ which came out a few years ago. ‘Kiss Me On The Bus’ (Ed Stasium mix) is our pick from this stunning box set that is well worth the price. Packed with goodies for the fair ear The Replacements always do quality reissues and this might well be the pick of the pack. Now if only they were to do some more reunion shows that would be most excellent. As far as remixes or remasters go this is night and day with the original release probably only outdone by the recent Senseless Things remix /remaster.

Another band we love at HQ is The Hillbilly Moon Explosion and with their most recent album getting a repress and launch in a few weeks it seemed right to play one of the best songs off the album ‘1979’ check em out. ‘Back In Time’ is a fantastic addition to the band’s catalogue and an underground band who have bazillion of plays on YouTube if you want to get a flavour of what to expect.

Now a band we’ve played before The Cavemen have a new album out and thankfully it’s more of the same from our favourite New Zealand reprobates. ‘Cash 4 Scrap’ is all killer and no filler (possibly because they don’t hang around long enough) They do a great line in zero fucks lo-fi garage punk even if this is the slowest song in their repertoire.

The first half of this week’s offerings is the brand-new single from the one and only Marilyn Manson who by the sounds of it is right back on form. With a new album hopefully in the pipeline being released on nuclear blast records it’s one to look out for.

With all the unrest around at the moment, it seems appropriate to drop this last live recording of the late great Joe Strummer when he did the firemen benefit and got Mick Jones up to blast off the cobwebs of ‘White Riot’.

Janes Addiction have been getting some great reviews from their live shows and having the four original members back in the fold ‘Imminent Redemption’ sound right back on form for the Californian rockers. Lets hope this new album is of the same strong output. It would be great to have them back making a noise and upsetting people.

Swansea upstarts Monet are busy recording their second album and after a quality live performance recently celebrating 30 years of Repeat Magazine/Records it would be foolish not to add them to the roster of excellent bands to look out for. We’ve also asked Richard to pop down to HQ and host the podcast with us so fingers crossed that comes off soon. Repeat are the kind of people we want to align ourselves with as we all sing off the same hymn sheet. Love Music Hate Racism.

Another band who played the Repeat party was West Wales noise makers Lacross Club and it might be the first song we’ve played twice but ‘Welsh Weather Heather’ is so good we could play it most weeks, get an album done gents those songs might go off if you leave them.

Chris informed me that Sepultura covered the New Model Army and I had to check it out as I didn’t know that one but they bloody well did. Good solid effort but not a patch on the original and hopefully they’ll play this when I go to see them in a few months, next up is ‘The Hunt’.

The Bellrays have a new album coming and its a banger so we’re playing ‘One More Night’ before they head off on a US tour with Social Distortion. One of the finest voices in garage rock no doubt about it. Another band to write a song influenced by a riot is The Damned who deliver ‘Thanks For The Night’ with Vanian on vocals as opposed to the Captain but regardless of who is singing this was and is a classic.

Tubthumper Dunstan Bruce has signed a contract with Heavy Medication Records to release his ‘Fucking Expensive’ single so it would be rude not to give it an airing. The penultimate track is an unreleased single from the late 70s by The Vibrators who have captain Oi reissuing ‘V2/pure mania’ and ‘Bad Time’ is the tune showcases just how bloody good The Vibrators were another very underrated band from the late 70s.

We end this weeks show with with another new song this time from the awesome Peter Perrett who dropped the news of his pending album and then released the first video off the record and what a banger to sign off with. ‘I Wanna Go With Dignity’ is a swashbuckling slice of classic Perrett. Adios amigos til next time.

Cock Sparrer – ‘Hand On Heart’ (Captain Oi!/Cherry Red Records)

Cock Sparrer – ‘Hand On Heart’ (Captain Oi!/Cherry Red Records)

A very wise man (and record producer) once told me that he thought “some of the best songs ever written start with a chorus.” I argued back that in rock that’s not usually the done thing, you build to the hook, but he then went on to list a whole host of Atlantic Soul, Tamla Motown and Stax tunes just to prove his theory, and it’s something that’s obviously stuck with me to this day.

Whether producer James Bragg had the same conversation during the recording of the long awaited eighth studio album from London Oi!/streetpunk legends Cock Sparrer (Bragg returning to duty following his sterling work on the band’s ‘Forever’ opus), I’ll probably never know, but it’s exactly how ‘Hand On Heart’ begins. BOSH! Straight into the chorus of ‘With My Hand On My Heart’ and this 2 and half minute belter is an instant classic.

What quickly becomes obvious though is whatever chats were had, this time around the Sparrer boys are doing things a little bit different. Yes ‘Hand On Heart’ is quintessentially the band we all know and love, but this time around they are (just like Desperate Measures have done with their recent album) pushing the punk rock envelope just a little bit more. Take the distorted guitar and thumping drum introduction that segues into the fantastic ‘Mind Your Own Business’ for example, is the hook here the gang vocal chorus or the guitar riff? I’ll let you decide, but for me it’s one of the many highlights that ‘Hand On Heart’ has to offer, and yeah this could finally be the sound the band has always looked for from a studio record.

‘I Belong To You’ is up next, and this is a song that if you could cut it open would positively bleed Cock Sparrer, as would ‘No Way Out’ which follows at the album’s mid-point, the latter reminding me of the band circa the ‘Here We Stand’ era (a record which is now 17 years old, jeez). This is feelgood music to shine your cherry reds to getting ready for a Friday night on the town… classic Cock Sparrer.

Talking of which, the lyrically brilliant ‘Rags to Riches’ is all about just that; dressing to impress and having a sense of self pride whatever the world can throw at you. Something that the chugging ‘Take It On The Chin’ (a track that had previously featured the ‘Garry Bushell presents: Oi! 40 Years Untamed’ LP) echoes and it’s at this point I have to say that its tremendous to hear Colin McFaull in such fine voice, delivering some of his most impassioned work to date.

That punk rock envelope I mentioned earlier gets well and truly ripped to shreds by the time we reach the opening bars of ‘One Way Ticket’. Is this the band writing for a yet to be filmed Bond movie theme? Whatever it is, it’s epic, and the early-70s Slade-mid section is absolute bloody genius, as is the “Where are they?” vocal hook that drives home the pounding ‘Nowhere To Be Found’, a song that could easily have come from (Sparrer guitarist Daryl Smith’s other band) Argy Bargy’s superb ‘Hopes Dreams Lies & Schemes’ album.

Oh, and then there’s my real highlight of ‘Hand On Heart’, the beautiful, (yeah you read that right) ‘My Forgotten Dream’. The string section arranged by Simon Dobson (who’s worked with everyone from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to Bring Me The Horizon) is like a ray of spring sunshine cutting through the clouds on this most wonderful of Cock Sparrer moments, and even the hardest of heart listening to this is going to melt just a little bit, trust me on this one.

Which leaves us just enough time for the album’s final track ‘Here We Stand’, a boisterous call to arms kind of affair, cut from the same cloth as ‘One By One’ from ‘Forever’, and if this really does go on to prove to be the band’s final hurrah, what a way to end it all eh?

There’s no one out there that writes Oi!/streetpunk anthems quite like Cock Sparrer, and that’s a fact. That they have taken their magic songwriting formula and augmented it with new ideas and techniques fifty-two years after the band first got together shows their continued commitment to be the band other band’s look up to when it comes to punk rock music.

‘Hand On Heart’ is released on 5th April 2024 via Captain Oi!/Cherry Red Records on a multitude of formats to suit everyone’s needs and you can catch the band live at two exclusive album release shows at  O2 Shepherds Bush Empire – Saturday 6th April 2024 and O2 Academy Glasgow – Saturday 13th April 2024.

Hand on heart, punk rock doesn’t get much better than this, so get your copy on pre-order NOW! Here

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Author: Johnny Hayward

It’s A Podcast – Episode 16 ‘These Pair Of Monkeys Can Swing’

It’s A Podcast – Episode 16 ‘These Pair Of Monkeys Can Swing’

Welcome to Episode 16 of our little Podcast where DD And Hotshot bring you some top tunes from the archives. We have some brand new tunes from current records that have either just been released or are about to be released as well as tunes from the archives such as Joe Strummers demo outtake of ‘Coma girl’ that is taken from his boxset 002.

First up in this Episode is a Steve Lillywhite recording of Johnny Thunders recording ‘Leave Me Alone’ recorded with current Damned bass player Paul Gray alongside drummer Steve Nicol. It was eventually released on a 10″ EP on Remarquable Records alongside three other tracks. It was a remarkable time for Thunders who went on to release ‘So Alone’ with a veritable host of bonafide Superstars, spawning his best work (arguably) that included the epic ‘You Can’t Put Your Arms Around A Memory’.

Next up Hotshot picked a Hanny J track ‘Days Felt Like Years’ From her 2019 EP ‘Possession’. HAnny is known for her bass playing in Melbourne punks Clowns but this change of pace offers an insight into her talents as a songwriter and singer.

Ming City Rockers have just completed a new album and whilst we wait for them to start dropping details of when we can expect to hear songs of fit you’ll have to make do with ‘Desperate’ from their last album ‘Lime’ which was released early in 2023. We’ve already had the one-track drop so hopefully, it’s soon when we’ll get news.

Guitar pop indie kids Ash released a great new album late last year and have just released it as an extended option ‘Race The Night’ comes out with an extra raft of tracks. If it’s classic tracks you’re after then look no further than Misfits classic ‘Hybrid Moments’ lifted from the Box set version ‘Static Age’. Digitally remastered from the band’s classic debut – You can’t argue that Early Misfits didn’t deliver and anyone whos seen them play recently can testify that they still have it.

Scandinavian punks The Good The Bad And The Zugly are about to release something of a compilation album based on B sides of singles and a new cut that we play spanning the band’s 15 years of doing this. ‘Decade Of Regression’ hits the shops on the 5th of April. Catch them on tour now!

Next up The Drowns knock out their single ‘Ketamine And Cola’ from the album ‘Blacked Out’ get it off Pirates Press and I can promise you – you won’t be disappointed.

Jumping back to Scandinavia the pair offer up The Backstreet Girls and ‘Boogie Woman’ lifted from their latest album of loud infectious rock n roll ‘In Lust We Trust’. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it which is the mantra the band adhere to and continues to turn out top tunes and top albums.

Joe Strummer gets aired and a demo of ‘Coma Girl’ lifted from his second box set ‘002’ The Mescaleros years. It’s hard to believe that Strummer passed in 2002 and those studio albums still sound fresh and relevant all these years later. This is one of the early outtakes of the track and still, I champion it as his most outstanding solo post Clash record. The box set is well worth investigating full of artefacts and really well designed.

Who doesn’t love Slade? I guess if you’re still reading and you hit the link to play the podcast then you’re going to love this live recording which was recently released on splatter vinyl. ‘Them Kinda Monkeys Can’t Swing’ is a barnstorming opener and this version is particularly good. After a quick check, I can correct myself and say this recording was made from a few nights at the theatre in 1975 so right smack in the middle of the band’s pomp. Captured for a BBC performance Slade are remembered by a slew of fine albums that have just had the rerelease treatment and this is one not to miss alongside the Reading performance that the pair chat about. If you’ve never delved into the Slade archive then what better place to start than a live album stacked with absolute bangers. there aren’t many frontmen with a set of pipes like Holders and on this song he gives his vocals a damn good workout.

Maverick Ryan Adams recently dropped five albums on the same day (now that doesn’t happen every day) one of those albums particularly piqued my attention and ‘Skulls’ is lifted from the album ‘1985’. A daunting and huge back catalogue maybe if you start from this recent album drop you have pretty much the whole sound of the guy in one day – five albums mind and all crammed with tunes. Try him.

Gene Loves Jezebel recently released an album on Cleopatra Records ‘x – Love Death Sorrow’ and it contained a very mixed bag in as much as there were Four covers with the originals and one that caught our ears in the classic post-punk/ New Wave ‘Another Girl Another Planet’ but put their Gothic twist and owned The Only Ones classic taking it somewhere we weren’t expecting but thoroughly enjoyed.

NWOBHM aficionados might baulk at our ignorance when we encounter the recent Cherry Red Records compilation ‘All Systems Go’ and the Crucifixion track ‘Jailbait’. The beauty of these retro boxsets is that you discover bands like this that you might have missed first time around. Don’t take my word for it hit the podcast and get on it.

I think it’s the first Replacements track we’ve dived into on the podcast certainly the first one lifted from the superb ‘Tim’ album box set that came out last year with a superb remix that elevates the album from what we were used to. Possibly hearing the one track in isolation doesn’t do it justice but ‘Kiss Me On The Bus’ is a belter and if you’re new to the Replacements then this is a quality album/box set to dive into it also includes some fantastic live recordings. one of Americas best gifts to music ever – you can take that to the bank.

Finally, on this episode, Laura Jane Grace closes off the show with the title track off her new solo album ‘Hole In My Head’ an album that offers the listener her usual variety of electric and acoustic songs as she rages against the machine. Its her fourth album and this is just a taste of what to expect from another fantastic album. Punk, Folk Rock, Acoustic, Rebel Rousing Grace is compulsive listening and this album maintains the super high standard of songwriting be it as a solo artist or fronting Against Me! or Laura Jane Grace & the Devouring Mothers.

I’m sure you’ll agree if you can understand our poetical Welsh voices we do have the gift of the best music available whatever variety it might be. Join in – let us know what you think. If you have a request or a topic you’d like us to play/discuss then get in touch.

Listen-Folow-Like-Share. Thanks from the pair of us.

Venom – ‘Live From Hammersmith Odeon Theatre’ (Dissonance/Cherry Red Records)

Venom – ‘Live From Hammersmith Odeon Theatre’ (Dissonance/Cherry Red Records)

To understand just how influential (and indeed shocking) Venom, Newcastle’s very own masters of mayhem and metal, were back in the early to mid-‘80s you simply need to read Shane Embury’s sleeve notes which accompany this soon to be released reissue of the band’s second Hammersmith Odeon headline show from 1985. As sixteen-year-olds Venom really was the band we all wanted to be in, and alongside the Napalm Death man’s words of wisdom, Antton Lant (brother of Venom frontman Cronos/Conrad and one time drummer with the band too) also shares some insight into what it was like to not only grow up around, but also eventually be a part of, such a musical phenomenon.

With both musicians perfectly setting the scene for the madness to begin, I take a trip back in time and let Abaddon, Cronos and Mantas whisk me on the rip ride that was their World Possession Tour Part 2.

I was lucky enough to ride on the wings of the Hydra (or Fred Day’s mini bus to be exact) and catch Venom live on this very tour, attending the Birmingham Odeon show two nights before this Hammy O gig, this being a hastily arranged jaunt after the UK leg of the tour had been curtailed (and the Cardiff show I had front row tickets for was axed) following the band’s shock announcement that most of the venue’s booked wouldn’t allow the band to use their full pyrotechnic overloaded production. And having also been lucky enough to have witnessed the legendary Seventh Date of Hell show at Hammersmith Odeon back in the June of 1984, and still trying to grow my eyebrows back following that hotter than hell show, I was not about to miss the Godfathers of Black Metal return to the UK stage…so off to England’s second city we set. More of which in a second.

With the concert film having been initially released as ‘Alive in 85’ by Embassy video and then subsequently re-released on numerous formats by various companies over the years, this is, as far as I’m aware, the first time a UK record company have been audacious enough to bring together both the audio and the video from the band’s October 8th show into one hell of a value for money set. The live package capturing fifteen of the nineteen songs the trio played that night in London and fully utilising a multi camera unit to get (perhaps a little too) up close and personal with the band to showcase the metallic maelstrom that Venom always has been.

Then, newer tracks from the band’s fourth album ‘Possessed’ like set opener ‘Too Loud (For The Crowd)’, the anthemic lead single ‘Nightmare’ and a blistering ‘Satanachist’ all fit in faultlessly alongside such genre defining classics as ‘Black Metal’ and ‘In Nomine Satanas’ and whilst the show is nowhere near as chaotic as that initial Hammersmith headliner, what it lacks in levitating drum risers and bleeding/smashed guitars it more than makes up for in the band’s supersonic punch. The trio sounding and looking nothing like a band about to lose its guitarist (and resident ninja it would appear) watching the DVD once again.

The pyrotechnic bursts are conserved for a colossal sounding ‘7 Gates of Hell’ and the final flurry of ‘Bloodlust’ and encore ‘Witching Hour’, and I have to be honest and say that I distinctly remember coming away from the Birmingham show feeling somewhat underwhelmed by the band after the sonic and visual assault on the senses I had previously witnessed them deliver (it also didn’t help their cause that the Paul Baloff fronted Exodus supported them on the night and totally destroyed the place) but here thirty eight years on and without any of those “in the moment” distractions I found this ‘Live From Hammersmith Odeon Theatre’ to be one of the most rewarding (if that’s the right word to use here) re-issues I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing this year.

So, in the words of the mighty Cronos, “Come on, turn it up!”

‘Live From Hammersmith Odeon Theatre’ is released on 27th October 2023 via Dissonance/Cherry Red Records.

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Author: Johnny Hayward

Hanoi Rocks – ‘The Days We Spent Underground 81-84’ (Cherry Red Records)

Hanoi Rocks – ‘The Days We Spent Underground 81-84’ (Cherry Red Records)

Completists and people who have never heard of Hanoi Rocks keep reading. Everyone else not curious please look away and yes I know there are complete vinyl box sets out there as well as several one-stop box sets but there’s always room for another Hanoi Rocks catch-all set.

What we have here is a very neat and tidy summary of the world’s bestust band and all their hard work in one clamshell box spread over five CD’s. For those well rounded individuals who always knew Hanoi Rocks were the greatst band to emerge from the beautiful 1980s their musical output might well have been flawed and it moght well have been scatterguned over the early to mid eighties but they never dipped below better than anything else you were listening to and they alway did things differently to other bands and they were such an underated bunch of reprobates to ever lay down music.

It always makes me laugh when people say it’s music for fans of Guns N Roses or they were a glam band because your average supermarket music-buying Guns fan or your die-hard glam fan wouldn’t have a clue. Call me a music snob but Hanoi was far more than a glam band and it was they who influenced Guns n Roses and a whole bunch of tripe that was to follow in the decade of decadence. Hanoi was a rock n roll band who were more influenced by punk and what went before them in the 70s – a perfect mix of The Clash and T Rex as well as adding equal measures of early Japan with Chuck Berry they had Jaggers swagger and the elegance of Bowie and weren’t afraid to mix it up from disc on and the magnificent bass drum count in of ‘Tragedy’ with the familiar Yaffa rumble it has never ever lost its flavour. A youthful Monroe leads this bunch of renegades through a magnificent album with all its imperfections and charming backing vocals it’s still the beating heart of a magnificent journey and an album I’ve never tired of.

The skank of ‘Village Girl’ to the teary ‘Don’t You Ever Leave Me’. The Harmonica honk of ‘Lost In The City’ is still a magnificent blast of youthful energy – the levels are everywhere the mix is chaotic but that was the appeal, too fast too young too fuckin beautiful. McCoy’s vocals howling over the top is brilliant and the energy that drives on this record. Who else was doing songs like ‘Cheyanne’? it’s beautiful from the bv’s to the drum pound and runs down of the Yaffa bassline to the strain on Monroe’s vocals its still one of the greatest debut albums ever. I’ll fight anyone who disagrees.

The recent Svart real mix of ‘Oriental Beat’ this one brings on mixed feelings for me now and I wish and hope the others get the same treatment if it’s available. ‘Motorvatin’ is still a banger which is why it’s still prominent in today’s Monroe set. ‘No Law Or Order’ is still one of the best songs Strummer never wrote. Ending with ‘Falling Star’ was and is a tear-jerker of the finest order.

I’m trying to imagine what it must be like to take the plunge and hear these albums as one package for the first time and not have to wait in real time over half a decade for them to unfold. My memory is foggy due to the fact it’s 40 years ago (holy shit, but I’m still here) ‘Self Destruction Blues’ was or shouldn’t have ever been but thank god it did. A million miles away from the debut production-wise and songwriting wise but hell, it still gives me chills playing these songs loudly and whilst I might not have played some of these songs for years when I do I still get that feeling of “hell, what a band, what a record” how weren’t these one of the biggest bands on the planet?

Disc four is obviously ‘Back To Mystery City’ and where they truly hit their stride – every one a banger from ‘Malibu Beach’ through ‘Tooting Bec Wreck’ to the beautiful ‘Until I Get You’ one of the finest soft songs for tough guys ever written. Razzles’ touch and understanding of what was needed on the loud ballad is exceptional. ‘Lick Summer Love’ is awesome and sets the tone for the spectacular ‘Beating Gets Faster’ deep dive classics I think the kids would call these album tracks that don’t get the oxygen they deserve.

This box set might be a time capsule and something awesome to discover but to hear ‘Mystery City again for the first time whilst pawing over the artwork would be priceless and some kid is going to discover that when they pick this up in a record store or online. Imagine hearing ‘All Those Wasted Years’ for the first time and wishing you were forty years older haha! what a beautiful thought ‘Taxi Driver’ Boom heads gone!

Maybe if this had had a sixth disc full of unheard demos or lost tracks it would sell like hotcakes to the Hanoi (de)generation looking for a fix. If you know a kid whos just discovering music and looking for a collection that will blow their mind then this might just be the clamshell all encompassing boxset you need. If for no other reason other than being a completist sucker I applaud Cherry Red for keeping the Hanoi heart beating – God bless em and God bless all those who sailed in the good ship Hanoi Rocks you truly were game changes for some of us punks looking for our band. Buy It!

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Author: Dom Daley