Civic / These New South Whales – The Crofters Rights, Bristol 11.12.23

Civic / These New South Whales – The Crofters Rights, Bristol 11.12.23

The last time I was in The Crofters (The Croft as it was then called) was to witness a typically off-the-hinge night when the Dwarves were in town and oversold the venue by about 500% and the only way they could leave was to trash the equipment and crowd surf out the back of the audience. Tonight I’m happy to report is not full of the same madness well, when I say happy what I meant was a little disappointed it wasn’t jam-packed like sardines into this compact back room that still looks like a converted squash court but when you are in its all about the music and first up tonight were fellow Australians These New South Whales (when I say fellow I mean like the headliners, I’m not Australian) but I do hail from the original South Wales across the bridge. Anyway, I digress. My only experience with these young upstarts was my travelling companion sending me a link to watch their Comedy Central mockumentary.

To say from the moment they kicked off their no-nonsense punk rock I was hooked would be an understatement they reminded me of a punked-up Cabbage with fire in their bellies and a pocket full of very listenable tunes. Don’t ask me to name any of the songs because I’d be fucked if I know them yet but I can assure you I will as soon as the records arrive at RPM HQ so impressed was I they were duly ordered upon my return. A tight as fuck and a super solid rhythm section with a thumping drum beat and fulsome bass throb the melodies weren’t your usual shouty punk fair instead the singer actually sang the melodies and with a stinging guitar they have certainly got the chops to head up the pecking order of Australian invasion bands. they’re not afraid to mix it up either with more indie sound melodies but don’t be fooled these guys have got one hell of a bite. Really impressed and will certainly be hearing more of these Whales. Excellent start to the evening.

Right, it’s time for Civic who I managed to miss when they had a brief visit earlier this year and back in 2019 when they ventured over here. With a mightily impressive album under their belts in 2023 Civic are currently challenging for the top spot and quite how they’re playing venues (all be it cool) like The Crofters when The Chats and Amyl are selling out venues 10 times the size of this place is a debate for another time. Civic don’t fuck about, their no-nonsense to muscle proto-punk is an absolute joy. Sounding like a melting pot of the Saints having a dust up with Radio Birdman tunes whilst riffing off the dead boys decaying bones at their brutal best, wishing they were The Stooges but on steroids is about where I pitch Civic at this current time. Starting the set with the minimum of fuss ‘Selling, Sucking, Blackmail, Bribes’ quickly followed by a stunning version of ‘New Vietnam’ felt like being stood on the track as an Amtrak special ploughed you into oblivion. Life-affirming punk rock at its finest. Tight as drum these fuckers make one hell of a beautiful din. It’s fast, it’s frantic but boy is it good. Seeing as they had a new album to promote (not the reissue of New Vietnam) I’m on about ‘Taken By Force’, they only managed a few tunes off it instead digging back into ‘Future Forcast’ but a fist-pumping ‘Blood Rushes’ and ‘Taken By Force’ almost devastating the venue such was its raw power.

Hell, they were barely on stage for forty-five minutes but that was all it took to prove that punk rock n roll is in good hands or, at least down under it is. rude health I think is the correct term. It was after all a school night but to be fair ‘Radiant Eye’ got a wicked little pit going all it was missing was the horn section but that’s ok its a thumping tune anyway and a few tracks later we were done.

Civic will take some beating and the next time they hit these shores it should be in much bigger venues but if they’re happy to play these small shows then bring it on I’m all in wherever. Less than a dozen songs in less than an hour is just about right on the money and for £12 entry I’ll attend these life-affirming rock n roll shows every single time.

All hail Civic they deserve a bigger reception next time, My new favourite band from Down Under. Stiff Richards next please, thanks.

Author: Dom Daley

Singles Club – February is for Lovers

Singles Club – February is for Lovers

CC Voltage – ‘Berliner Pilsner’ (Snap Records) Vancouver-based songwriter C.C. Voltage has just released his newest single ‘Berliner Pilsner’ b/w ‘Bummer Party’ on Ausländer Music and on 7-inch vinyl via Spain’s Snap Records. Voltage has a penchant for power pop. The song comes from when Voltage lived in Berlin and his favourite Beer company had a contest to write a theme song. Whats not to like I ask you? Beer and Rock n Roll its timeless and classic. Its Berliner Pilsners loss they never picked this one. It sounds like its been poured outta a can of cold 7.5 and you get carried away on the fizz and froth as it spits out of the can. A good time in a beer can what could possibly go wrong? Hang on a minute because the flip side is a slab of street fighting power pop with added 70s Lizzy happening for good measure. Go check it out and get involved CC knows how to pen a banging tune.

The Dahmers – ‘Ghouls In The Garage’ (Ghost Highway Records / Spaghetty Town Records) Gotta love some Horror Rock n Roll and nobody does it better then The Dahmers. Its a limited run so don’t muck about or you’ll miss out. Its sharp – to the point and packs a punch. I love ‘Bats Need Friends’ its a banger but thats not to say the others aren’t because they’re not.

With their back catalogue getting a reissue on various coloured vinyl this is a good time to get into The Dahmers. As for this EP its four tracks of glittery goth power pop and these tunes are excellent as an introduction to the band. Get on it kids you won’t regret it.

Civic – ‘End Of The Line’ (ATO Records) One of the most hotly anticipated albums of 2023 is ‘Taken By Force’ and if you’ve been paying any attention over the last few years they’ve been top of the pile outta Australia along with Stiff Richards, this is a slow burner that will wet your apetite for the album thats just been released. Hopefully this album will set the band on fire far and wide and everyone will sit up and pay attention. This and ‘Blood Rushes’ are smouldering classics. Get on with it and pre order, Civic are coming you wont be able to ignore them.

Civil Rats – ‘Your Dummest Friends’ (Bandcamp) Straight outta Philly this three piece of nerdowellers rock up with their EP of Ramones inspired Punk Rock. Its rough as a badgers arse but its a lotta fun as most of this kind of punk rock can be. They’ve grown up on Ramones melodies and Dee Dees style of playing. They’re aren’t going to change the world but they’re gonna have a good time as much as is humanly possible and thats always cool with us at RPM HQ.

‘Don’t Know Your Name’ is from the Undertones playbook who were all worshipers at the altar of da Brudders so you know the drill. ‘Party Mood’ if I was lazy (which I am) is in the ball park of Joan Jett and again thats always cool. There are an endless supply of riffs to write songs in this vein and bands like Civil Rats can geep mining those riff forever, so keep being you and keep going. 1-2-3-4 Go!

RILEY’S L.A. GUNS – ‘Rewind’ (Golden Robot Records) The other La Guns have also been in the studio it seems and kicking up a shit storm of hard rock n sleazy roll. Rileys version features Steve Riley, Kelly Nickels, Scott Griffin and Kurt Frohlich. Lifted from the forthcoming album ‘The Dark Horse’. You know the drill by now they play sleazy hard rock and to be fair they do it really well and the last album was impressive, not that we should be suprised. A tale as old as time ‘Rewind’ is about somethign so sweet turning sour according to Riley. Click the title to pre save on a streaming platform of your choice.

The Damned – ‘Invisible Man’ (Ear Music) The Damned releases the first single from their forthcoming album ‘Darkadelic’ and another reinvention of the finest band shit island has produced with Vanian in fine voice and Sensible knocking out his psycadelic Riff-a-rama throughout, it’s a bit of a grower and not a shower maybe if the Doors were from Sarf of the river and not San Fran and grew up in 70 England they’d sound a little like this. Hopefully the album will deliver yet more delights from the Damned.

Brock Pytel – ‘Anemic Heart’ (Scamindy Records) Sounding not a million miles from former Husker Du frontman Bob Mould on this dreamy slice of alt rock for ex Doughboys drummer Brock Pytel. Hit up this single and his previous release on Bandcamp hopefully, an album is somewhere down the tracks because this is a fine slice of music that gets better on each play. Its a real ear worm burrowing into your brain building as it meanders out of the speakers.

Automatics – ‘I Swear’ (Self Release) A dreamy ballad from punk survivor Dave Philip who has kept the Automatics band name alive and kicking over the last few years with a string of releases. Dave has covered the spectrum of rock n roll and this more gentle and dreamy number will resonate with a lot of power pop fans far and wide. Hit em up at the link.

Les Lullies – ‘ Dernier Soir’ (Belugar Records) Belugar don’t release bad records (look at their roster) this slice of European power pop is a wonderful terrace chanting slice of bop – n – power pop. I haven’t a clue what their singing about but it doesn’t matter because it makes me happy to hear an uptempo bit of loud pop with fist pumping chorus sing a longs. Les Lullies, hail from Montpellier France, they play with passion and style and make great tour partners with th elikes of the Speedways from the UK or Guida from Italy. They have the chops alright – get on it and turn the collar up on your jacket and suck on your lucky strike Les Lullies are coming and a full album will be here springtime on the wonderful Slovenly Records.

Catholic Guilt – ‘Live For The Rush’ (Wiretap Records) Melbourne alt-rockers Catholic Guilt mark their return with the new banger “Live For The Rush,” off their upcoming sophomore LP due out later this year on Wiretap Records.

Civic – ‘Taken By Force’ (ATO)

Civic – ‘Taken By Force’ (ATO)

We’ve been on top of what’s coming out of Australia for a while and along with Stiff Richards we’ve championed Civic from their EP ‘New Vietnam’ (five years ago) to their debut album (Future Forecast) and the much anticipated ‘Taken By Force’.

The cassette ‘live on PBS’ was in on heavy rotation at HQ hipster mobile tape deck for ages until the tape snapped. Thankfully, Civic have their act together and their albums are now readily available on this side of the spinning rock which is marvellous. No more crazy import prices for our rock n roll imports all of that and a short UK tour this summer.

‘Taken By Force’ is eleven songs including the opener/intro with its siren and military snare march entitled ‘Dawn’ before the “rough as” punk rock snarl of ‘End Of The Line’ kicks in. It’s got an air of confidence about it – they know they’re onto something with songs that kick ass and rock and roll with the attitude of their forefathers the likes of The Saints, Radio Birdman and MC5 all obvious influences, Civic have most certainly got the chops and the tunes to back it up and go toe to toe with anyone. These guys walk the walk and talk the talk.

The title track has a rasping acoustic guitar lying underneath the electric guitar as the gang vocals spit out the verses toward the chorus before heading back to the start. It’s not rocket science its just the beauty of writing resonating Rock n Roll garage style and doing it oh so well. I love the guitar solo thats like tryign to ride a wild horse without any saddle and that beast is pissed but you do it anyway and do it with style.

The songs generally weigh in at the sub three minutes which is short enough for anyone to deal with especially when its got the tempo of a runaway train like ‘Fly Song’. Trick of The Light’ is the exception to the rule clocking in over five minutes long. Sounding like a masterclass in The Hangmen style as its brooding tempo and swagger its a real banger as it grows like a shadow engulfing a wall.

Hang onto your strides because ‘Born In The Heat’ comes in like a rampant jaguar galloping with menace. I’ve only had it to play for a few days and I feel like I’ve been playing it for months the ebb and flow are excellent and the songs change as to what’s better the slower numbers or the out-and-out rockers. ‘Neighbor Sadist’ slashes from slower menace to out and out swinger with Lou Reid New York era poking me but with a bit more venom in the delivery.

‘Time Girl’ is just wham bang thank you man as it races to a conclusion. ‘Blood Rushes’ has grown and grown on me with its measured tempo and melody before the record signs off with the lapping of the waves of ‘Dusk’ signs off quite left of centre but it does help sooth the savage beast after quite a workout leaping around to ‘Taken By Force’. If you’re not already on board then do yourself a favour and get on it – you wont regret it at all. Civic gotta love em the abslutely rock!

Buy Here

Author: Dom Daley

Civic – ‘Taken By Force’ New Album and ‘End Of The Line’ video

Civic – ‘Taken By Force’ New Album and ‘End Of The Line’ video

Australian garage rockers Civic follow up their impressive EP and album with a brand new video off their second full album release. Hot on the heals of ‘Future Forecast’ the Australian garage rockers tease with the first video lifted off the record ‘End Of The Line’. ‘Taken By Force’, is released on ATO but will also be sold through Rough Trade for UK fans which should help keep the shipping costs down. The follow-up to the Melbourne quintet’s 2021’s debut ‘Future Forecast’ was recorded in the countryside with Radio Birdman frontman Rob Younger as the producer The band spent long days holed up with Rob and the finished record looks set to propel the band to a wider audience. Pre-order the album Here

Civic – ‘Future Forecast’ (Flightless Records)

Civic – ‘Future Forecast’ (Flightless Records)

I first came across the work of Melbourne Garage Punks Civic when I happened to be browsing Bandcamp and ‘New Vietnam’ leapt out on me and I duly ordered the cassette tape (hipster) resisted growing a beard but had the EP on repeat for a while.  The band then emerged releasing a trio of singles over the past few years, including a cover of The Creation’s garage classic ‘Making Time’ Time really does fly by even during a pandemic as ‘New Vietnam’ was out in 2018 its now 2021.

They’ve made a considerable leap to the cleaner, sharper more purposeful sound on display here. the band brings a melodic edge to their muscular Garage punk without losing any of their intensity or grooves.

‘Future Forecast’ moves through the gears with ease from the more catchy songs like the single and opening ‘Radiant Eye’ through ‘As Seen On TV’ to the lap steel guitar and brutal riffs of ‘Tell the Papers’. It’s a really confident record that has a swagger and a cockiness that says Civic knows they’re good and ‘Future Forecast’ will have many people sitting up and paying attention to what they’re hatching down under.

 

 

If you (like me) loved ‘New Vietnam’ and are worried they might have moved on and left behind the punk and power then fear not because ‘Another Day’ is straight out of the ‘Young Loud and Snotty’ songbook,  ‘Hollywood Nights in Hamburg‘ with its retro proto-punk leanings is a real blast of energy, ‘Just a Fix‘ (with its raw riffage is a blast) and ‘Velvet Casino‘ all crackle along with the attitude and snot of their humble beginnings. Making this album an absolutely essential purchase.  If you love your music with riffs, attitude and above all great songs then this is for you.  It’ll breathe life into the Garage Punk Rock and Roll fraternity and give other bands a jolt and a tap on the shoulder because these boys are moving in and taking over.

 

Many of us have been heralding a new dawn for Australian music, ok sure The Chats and Amyl & The Sniffers grabbed a lot of overseas plaudits and rightly so but scratch the surface and there beats the heart of the beast and bands like Civic are rising up with killer albums like ‘Future Forecast’.

 

I’ll make a prediction, along with Stiff Richards, civic are the dingos danglies and more dangerous than 90% of the wildlife also residing on their island.  Get on it before it’s too late. Civic is the band ‘Future Forecast’ is the album so pour yerself a cold VB and get on it.  Now if they could get some UK and Europe Distro the job would be a good un and my work here would be done.

Buy Civic Here or Bandcamp

 

Author: Dom Daley

Rainy Days & Monday

Rainy Days & Monday

Welsh Rocker Benji Webb joins forces with Mike Peter Alarm for a romp through the Massive Attack number ‘Safe From Harm’ from the ‘War’ album reviewed on RPM Here

 

Also hot off the press is this banger from Australians Blowers  with the anthemic ‘Waste Of A Man’ which got the thumbs up on RPM Onlne when we reviewed it Here

Finally staying down under we have the new video from the excellent Civic.  Taken from their awesome new album – ‘Tell The Papers’ is the second single from ‘Future Forecast’ available NOW Here

Hip Hip Hooray It’s Bandcamp Friday! & we couldn’t give a XXXX

Hip Hip Hooray It’s Bandcamp Friday! & we couldn’t give a XXXX

So it’s that day again and the first Friday of the month and Bandcamp gives 100% of its fees to the artist so we want to give you a few pointers of what we would recommend you throw your pennies at. This month I’m heading down under for a trawl through the best music you might not have had the pleasure of hearing from Down Under.  Sure you’ve been spending your Smoko time with Amyl & The Sniffers and The Chats but we’re going deeper than a ditch dug by The Cosmic Psycos down on the farm. Never mind the classics like The Saints and Radio Birdman check these beuts out  Speed week are first up with their trashy punk rock Garage vibe and a release from September last year. ‘Hey Hey It’s Speed Week’ Available Here

 

Melbourne noise makers dish up a fantastic seven-track album. “Formed during a chance encounter at Carrick Speedway,  Fronted by part-time amateur clairvoyant and nail technician Brandt Domingos, former child actor Tarquin Les Smith III, Brad McDermott and some other cunt on the drums, Speed Week invites the listener on an auditory journey into a theoretical dimension where things often don’t seem as they appear.” Charming. But wait the tunes.  Starting off with the old school post-punk of the late seventies early 80s sound that Iggy was knocking out well, that’s the ‘Cost Of Living’ then from there it kicks off with ‘Echo Chamber’. Some great bass thumping and Numans Tubeway Army for inspiration on ‘Phishing’ it’s great stuff and every bit as fucked and essential as your Idles for the style of delivery on the vocals. the next few tunes are brief but who doesn’t like ‘Speed Week Theme’? sounds like Bullseye or Dusty bin right there the mad fuckers.  These reprobates are dipping their toes in the past and dragging the sound into the here and now and I like it – I like it a lot so check em out Here

 

Next up the delights of Private Function and a live recording they did for PBS (Available Here)  Its available for free or give what you want and considering these nine tracks were Recorded for the annual 2019 PBS 106.7FM Melbourne Drive Live program, Private Function’s set captured everything involved in the band’s reckless performances and broadcast it live across the airwaves of Melbourne. It’s all killer and certainly no filler and post-Covid these guys need to get over to Europe for some sweaty fun in the dive bars of the UK.  It would be awesome to sip a cold beer and bang your head to ‘Duct Tape’.  Don’t believe me?  Turn it up and get it on these guys are fantastic and imagine filling out the small clubs for a night in with these, Grindhouse and Clowns.  Now drink that in for a moment…there I told you. They have two albums available and some singles you can thank us later for helping empty your bank account with more imports. Originally this was on hipster format of choice or one for the ladies as us UK people knew cassette tapes.  But it’s 2021 and anyone can play so fill yer boots with their all energy punk rocking tunes.

If that wasn’t enough for you try out C.O.F.F.I.N. and their album ‘Children Of Finland Fighting In Norway’ (Best not ask I guess)  whilst its more of a refined taste with the vocals being less of a vehicle for melody and more a pissed off grizzly bear sat up with its paws drawn waiting for pray.

Came out in September of 2020 these hairy bears might be responsible for chasing Covid into the sea and banishing it from the island of Australia because any Man Woman or virus would be a little apprehensive when confronted by some loud obnoxious Punk Rock and Rollers charging outta the speakers yelling like you stole their Top Cat DVD.  It’s fast it’s frantic and at times it’s filthy and it’s certainly pissed off.  Monster riffs, relentless beats it’s not for the faint-hearted but once you get it you just get it. ‘Average Death’ is anything but whilst having three guitarists is just showing off and fair play to vocalist and drummer Ben Portnoy kicking the shit out of the drums isn’t enough I love it and so should you   head over to their page Here

 

 

Grindhouse – Can I Drive Your Commodore’ Of course, I had to include Grindhouse.  They should be no secret to a lot of RPM readers we’ve interviewed them and they’ve been to Europe and we’re just about to head overseas when Covid hit.  Melbourne is their yard and playing as fast and as furiously as possible is the name of their game. Mick ‘2 Fingers’ Simpson is the caped speedo wearing leader of the pack and beer drinking, hard rockin motherfuckers is the name of their game.  They’ve stood toe to toe with some of our other favourite garage punk rockers on the Demolition Derby volume two but ‘Can I Drive Your Commodore’ is where we’d like to send you.  Its got songs about Hot rods ‘Shit Cocaine’, ‘Cheese’, ‘Gary’ and the death of the Australian Car Industry.  Grindhouse kick-ass everyone knows it and if you’ve not investigated then this is your chance to play catch up.  Get involved Here

 

 

Civic – ‘Radiant Eye’. Another favourite of mine from Melbourne is Civic.  How about a single from them entitled ‘Radiant Eye’  and a really impressive couple of songs. With the lead track being a really punchy proto-punk number that soars.  I love the horns that enter the game before making way for that glorious wah solo.  The B Side sees them cover The Creation, as they shake off the trebley grit for a really excellent version of the 1966 hit, ‘Making Time’ that was also splendidly covered by Stiv and the Lords.

You can take from that what you like but I think it’s fair to say that’s the calibre of artist were dealing with.  Don’t be a dummy dive in and get some Civic Here

 

 

The Unknowns – ‘Nothing Will Ever Stop’ We head up to the sunshine coast where you’ll find The Unknowns. After releasing some demos which are available on Bandcamp this trio got their act together to record a raw as fuck album late 2020.  Its got melodies over the top of some loud punk rock and they leave nothing behind as they speed off with the mixtape being the album ‘Nothing Will Ever Stop’ it’s just some loud Rock and Roll.  There is no studio trickery going on here it’s not big and it’s not clever but it is Rock and Roll and we certainly like it.  They pinch plenty of licks and scales from the good and the great and rattle the floor toms as they kick up a storm sounding like they’re having the best of times.  I love ‘Dressed To Kill’ its carefree noisy Rock n Roll.  Check em out Here

 

 

 

Pist Idiots – ‘Ticker’ Mixing it up a bit let me introduce Pist Idiots and you might think they are just another runaway train of a boozy punk rock band from Australia.  Well, you’d be wrong.  sure they look like they enjoy a beer or two and the name isn’t big or clever (to some) but the tunes on this album we recommend is big boys Rock and Roll.  With a really punchy bassline its got a phat sound and they lean from genre to genre but not in a lost sort of way just listen to ‘Roundhouse’ which sounds like Bruce Foxton has joined Thin Lizzy. ‘Sweet Headache’ is melodic as is the rapid ‘Is That What You Want’. Whilst the title track is a twisted fucked up number that veers from some Nirvana style acoustic song with some emotional vocals before kicking right off,  top tune indeed.  Sydney is where these cats sleep and these seven tracks are varied and a really enjoyable ride.  Check em out Here

 

 

 Next, we op over to Byron Bay to check out Skegss who have one preview track from their up and coming album ‘Rehearsal’ and judging by ‘Valhalla’ its got a lot going for it and with a really catchy melody I love the five-track EP ’50 Push Ups For A Dollar’.  they remind me of one of my favourite bands out of New Jersey – Crazy And The Brains but without the xylophone.  Carefree rock and roll played with a variety of instruments but loudly and with verve. Check out ‘Hell’ off the ’50 Dollars’ album then ‘Heart Attack’ with its laid back feel.  Just a bunch of top tunes and I’m sure the new one will be at the very least more of the same.  Check em out at the link

 

 

 

 

Mini Skirt – ‘Casino’ I was tempted to investigate Meth Leppard just for the name but was so disappointed that they were a growly grindcore band, shame that. So instead let us introduce Mini Skirt again residents of Byron Bay.  they released the ‘Casino’ album back in May of 2020 and from the off, it was an album that drew me in as ‘Pressure’ leaned on some of the alt post-punk of Husker Du.  ‘Give It Up’ rattles along with a hypnotic rhythmic driving beat. But as it hots up it’s captivating stuff.  ‘With Your Hands’ is one from the Stooges handbook and when it’s done as well as this what’s not to like? Don’t be fooled by the laid back nature this is a furious raw and rockin’ album seriously give it some volume and tell me ‘Face Of The Future’ doesn’t hit you right in the guts in a good way but leave enough to get you through ‘Tissue’ but the six minutes of ‘Animals’ is epic and a cracking way to finish off the album – simply awesome. top record.

 

 

Zig Zag – ‘Do Better’ An epic 7″ single from Zig Zag with a song that has an ebb and flow that is every bit as emotional as the back story of the singer Kelly. Melbourne is where they’re at and both tracks are excellently produced slabs of epic post-punk.  The band are perfectly described as  Half garage rock extremists, half disco junkie night cats, careless and free and flaming with pride – and that’s exactly how they sound go check it out.

Singles Club – November Rain and Trump is fired special

Singles Club – November Rain and Trump is fired special

Here’s a quick singles club rundown to celebrate America waking the fuck up and Biden getting the job done.  First up is the brand new video offering from those crazy mysterious kids The Network.

 

Black Spiders – ‘Fly In The Ointment’ (Self Release)  Black Spiders are back kids and they’re coming with a bit of a bang and a riff-laden banger entitled ‘Fly In The Ointment’.  It’s the first new music from the northern Rockers in Six years and it’s a pretty impressive call to arms to be fair.  Welcome back we’ve missed you!

Buy the ‘Fly in the Soup’ single HERE:

 

Find Black Spiders online at: FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM / TWITTER / YOUTUBE / PATREON

Max Motherfucker – ‘Natural Thing’ (Self Release)  After 10 years of playing loud and snotty punk Max always wanted to do some heavy Rock n Roll music.  He mooted the idea for many years and that day has arrived!

The lyrics to the songs are more personal and less negative than at his day job with Christmas.  Max said he just needed a great guitar player with some overwhelming riffs! so he called Johnny Cobra who he’d known for over a decade and he jumped on board. On the drums is Cladymirko, the drummer of Christmas from 2018 till 2020. The bass duties are courtesy of Michel Wern. He also produced the record. I love Christmas and the attitude they exude but this is something altogether different for Max and a really impressive solo record.  Fresh sounding and big riffs you’d be daft not to get involved. If you thought the A-side was a fluke wait till you get a load of the flip. ‘Are We Alive’ is better than anything Turbonegro has recorded in donkey’s years Buy it!   Record of the week with Civic. Pick it up here but be quick it’s very limited!

 

Subliminal Landmines – ‘Wheres My Coke?’ (Independent)  The first video from their LP ‘Gibberish’ for these lafayette punks.  they lean heavily on mid period Green Day so much so that they cover ‘Brain Stew’ on the album.

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Civic – ‘Radiant Eye’ (Flightless Records) I fuckin’ love everything I’ve heard from Civic (which might not be a lot but what I have heard I’ve loved).  Outta Melbourne these cats just kick up a shit storm every time.

A no-nonsense rocker ‘Radiant Eye’ kicks up a heap of garage rock dust with the spirit of the Stooges running through their veins it’s a no-brainer for any lover of guitar Rock and Roll. Flip it over and there’s a pretty smart take on ‘Making Time’ by the Creations that up there with Stiv Bator and The Lords cover, so they’re in great company. They’ve got the Rock and the Roll and just Get it.  My advice, buy the damn thing – Here

 

 

Come At The King – ‘In My Place’ (self Release) A decent tune from Come At The King taken from their soon to be released EP.  They mix up a bit of indie with some loud guitar music and ‘In My Place’ is a very decent representation of their overall sound. There’s some heavy rock in there for sure but they clearly have an ear for some Oasis stylings as well and can turn in a decent melody to boot.

With a new EP on the horizon, this is just a taster for what’s to come.

THE KIDS  – ‘Go Back To Canberra’ (Riot Records)   Street punks The Kids playing grown-up big boys punk rock like Argy Bargy jamming on ‘No Sleep Til Brooklyn’ by The Beastie Boys. As a good cardio workout, GBTC is in yer grill up for the rumble.  All four are 17 years old and already are knocking out tunes to go toe to toe with the big boy’s Sydney Australia you have a real contender.
Stream/buy Go Back To Canberra HERE
Radio Rejects – ‘Monsters’ (Riot Records)  More street punk from Riot Records Band Radio Rejects.  ‘Monster’ is food and drink to street punks with big riffs and gang vocals.  This NSW band says The song focuses on the long term effects bullying can cause, and as in a lot of cases, the people you consider to be “Monsters” were made over the years of being treated like garbage. So it reflects the subject matter in the song. Facebook

That was the week that was

That was the week that was

Another week rolls by and we head towards Christmas but there are no mince pies or sherry being overindulged round here when there are records to review and Shows to see and last week was no exception as RPM brought you a diverse bunch on the live front as well as on the death decks.

 

Sadly the last seven days saw another rock n roller pass on to the next life and we said goodbye to Peter Blast.  I had the pleasure of reviewing several of his albums and spoke to him in the last twelve months.  On behalf of everyone here at RPM I’d like to offer our condolences to his family and friends and raise a glass to his memory.

 

We also brought you an interview with Phil Privilege from the  awesome kings of power punk n pop Cyanide Pills with an amazing trail of singles and albums as part of their repertoire Phil told us they were on the way to deliver the next long player as well as answer a few of our questions about the band, Catch up with it here

 

We also had some pretty diverse live reviews from the likes of hard rockin’ Junkyard , Cowboy Junkies and a doubleheader from He Who Cannot Be Named and the Awesome Hip Priests. But our bread and butter has to be our album reviews and with Black Friday RSD releases in thin supply some of our favourite labels did manage to put out some quality must have records in the shape of MC5. UK Subs ‘Sub Mission’ got its first pressing on record  and we again scoured the four corners of the globe to bring you the likes of Civic from Australia, X Darlings from Switzerland, Paris’ Youth Avoiders and Californias Smash Fashion to name a few.

As for the coming week, we continue with Bens California Dreaming road trip where he visits some pretty amazing places as he skips across the USA. we also caught a few amazing live shows and bring you some fantastic records by some well-known people as well as some of the finest new performers current kicking up a storm on record players and concert halls around the planet. Remember to stick with RPM for all your alternative news and reviews. As Lux used to say “Stay Sick” www.rpmonline.co.uk its a rock n roll revolution!

 

 

 

Civic – New Vietnam (Anti Fade Records)

Civic – New Vietnam (Anti Fade Records)

Sometimes somewhere a band comes out of the shadows and blows your socks off. Well, Civic just about did that and had the foundations of RPM HQ shaking to its core as the reckless guitars and Moon the loonesque drum beats tour it up through the speakers.  The unrelenting evil powers of Rock and Roll came out of the Melbourne suburbs and across oceans to get to us but boy when it did it has lost none of its sheer power or excitement.  No, it’s not original but what Civic have done is captured all the excitement of Rock and Roll and slammed it down within these here grooves along with the danger and sheer adrenaline rush you sometimes get off of hearing a band for the first time.  but it’s not all crash bang wallop, no sir.

 

We don’t mind arriving at the party fashionably late sometimes it’s a necessity to let the dust settle and the important thing is your here now. Not a great deal is known about Civic we couldn’t find much if any cyber presence and our contacts down under seemed a little cakey maybe they’re dangerous to know and people are keeping their new favourite band close to their chests.  Anyway, Let’s get this show on the road and try and make sense of the seven songs carpet bombed over twenty minutes.

‘Nuclear Son’ sort of sets the tone its like many previous Australian bands that we know and so should you have a feeling that seems uniquely southern Hemisphere but there are certainly elements of The Saints and Radio Birdman going on here as well as obvious inspirations like Iggy and the Stooges but ‘Nuclear Son’ is like audio nitrogen its off like a rocket sure there is a certain amount of ‘Raw Power’ happening but damn its sounds great as it pounds toward the guitar break its not anything new but boy does it still give me a rush when its done this well.  Jim McCullough, Lewis Hodgson, Darcy Grigg, Roland Hlavka and David Forcier make up Civic and they should take a bow because this is fantastic.  It only took me a few plays and I’ve been hooked ever since.  From the thrash bang wallop of the openers to the slow burn of ‘Street Machine Dream’ and its sleazy dark pace its a fantastic collection of songs.

‘Call The Doctor’ could be a newly found Banshees song given a steady diet of Australian Beer and dragged around a bunch of dive bars as it builds and moves away from the opening guitar lick the bass is more of a stomp than a throb but the howls of Call The Doctor couldn’t be more appropriate. They finish this heart-pumping seven with ‘Burning Steel’ and just let it rip.  Like I’ve alluded to these guys don’t reinvent the wheel just spin it like a motherfucker and see where it goes and luckily for them, they’ve collided it into a bunch of awesome influences and managed to squeeze out a superb album that I really honestly suggest you should investigate.  If you’ve ever had the slightest inkling or hankering for some punk rock whatever genre or garage rock or whatever rock you like then check this bad boy out.  You can thank me later.

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Author:Dom Daley