D-A-D head to the UK at the start of their European tour in November/December to play a couple of shows in Manchester and London, with special guests Hangarvain supporting.
20th November, Academy 3, Manchester 21st November, Dingwalls, Camden
It’s been 8 years since Denmark’s most celebrated rock band D-A-D released their last studio album but finally the wait is over, it’s been a long time coming but it has been well worth it! The new album harks back to the core of what D-A-D does better than most: four guys who play thrilling rock music with ferocious energy, catchy songs and an infectious commitment. ‘APrayerForTheLoud’ has a clear musical link to classic D-A-Dalbums such as ‘No Fuel Left ForThe Pilgrims’ and ‘Riskin’ It All’. The band was able to pick and choose from a large selection of songs which have been distilled down to what bassist Stig Pedersen describes as the “cream of the crop”. Among the 11 tracks on ‘APrayerForTheLoud’ you’ll find songs that fit right into a vintage D-A-D mould: throbbing, adrenaline-soaked rock, big ballads and mid-tempo songs guided by strong melodies.
According to the band itself, this is a contemporary D-A-Dalbum where the quartet has refined some of their cardinal virtues. Everything superfluous has been discarded in the editing suite, cutting the sound and the band’s expression right down to the core.
This is what D-A-D have to say about their new album: “In the past we have occasionally gone down new avenues to try out stuff that was pretty far from the heart of what we do. It’s been a lot of fun, but this time we have tried to narrow it down to the essence. This time around, we are just being who we really are. ‘APrayerForTheLoud’ is a record where the focus is on melodies and energy. We’ve made a real effort when it comes to writing the choruses and it’s resulted in some great songs where we were meticulous with the details without losing the original rawness and pure energy.”
The band worked on ‘APrayerForTheLoud’ forthe past three years, while breaking off to go touring. Thealbum was produced in familiar surroundings at Grapehouse studio in Copenhagen with longtime collaborators Nick Foss and Rune Nissen Petersen. It’s resulted in a record which the band is thrilled about. Frontman Jesper Binzer says: “Most of all we are proud that we have nailed 11 awesome tracks that are based on where we are right now. We are not shooting in the dark here – this is straight from the heart.”
Being together as a band for almost 40 years now – I guess it’s safe to say that D-A-D would have to be very comfortable in their own skins to have survived quite so long.
It’s hardly surprising then that ‘A Prayer For The Loud’ the band’s first new studio record in eight years is grounded in this ethos, the band having graduated from their humble Disneyland After Dark cow-punk beginnings into major label arena rock contenders who then, through their own hard work and helpyourselfishness, managed to survive the onset of grunge when most hard rockers perished through to eventually becoming the band they are today and have been since the release of ‘Everything Glows’ back in 2000. An album which coincidently not only saw the band change their name to D-A-D but also saw the band’s newest member Laust Sonne join the core trio of the band (singer/guitarist Jesper Binzer, bassist Stig Pedersen and guitarist Jacob Binzer) behind the drum kit.
So, what does almost two decades of being (this version of) D-A-D actually sound like?
Well, remember those days when new albums by the likes of Aerosmith and AC/DC used to leave you thrilled and wanting more? That’s instantly how I felt about ‘A Prayer For The Loud’, as both those hard rock giants sprung to mind during the first couple of spins, but of course this is always going to be a D-A-D record what with the instantly recognisable rich and raspy vocal tones of Jesper Binzer ever present and ready to strike.
Of the eleven new cuts on offer here at least nine of them are total bangers, pure four to the floor rock n roll music, with even glimpses of the mighty Gluecifer and The Cult (circa ‘Electric’/’Sonic Temple’) creeping into the mix during the simply immense ‘The Real Me’.
The album itself gets off to a blazing start with ‘Burning Star’ and the throbbing ‘A Prayer For The Loud’ and I challenge anyone to listen to either of these tracks and not draw an immediate arc back to the band’s commercial peak (here in the UK) of ‘No Fuel Left For The Pilgrims’ and ‘Riskin’ It All’, two albums that any connoisseur of quality guitar-driven rock music will have had in their collections for decades now.
Elsewhere with ‘Musical Chairs’ which crops up just past the halfway mark, the guys have written the song Airbourne have been searching for since they floundered for a sound to take them to the next level, whilst ‘Nothing Ever Changes’ and ‘The Sky Is Made Of Blues’ are the perfect soundtrack for top-down summer driving.
Of the two slower moments on ‘A Prayer For The Loud’ album closer ‘If The World Just’ is my preferred choice over ‘A Drug For The Heart’ purely because the latter sails a little too close to a certain Backyard Babies track for its own good, albeit with Jesper at the mic this is much more Aerosmith than Social Distortion ballad territory.
Kudos must also be given here to the production team of Nick Foss and Rune Nissen Petersen who have taken heavy hitters like ‘No Doubt About It’, ‘Time Is A Train’ and ‘Happy Days In Hell’ and given then an enormous sound that instantly fills your head with rock ‘n’ roll melodies that will live with you for days, no make that years, to come.
I’m not entirely sure why I’m so surprised by how amazing ‘A Prayer For The Loud’ is because D-A-D have always produced quality albums, it’s just this one is right up there with their very best work and is as a said at the beginning of this review the sound of a band very comfortable in their own skins.
Hands down this is the best classic/traditional (label it what you will) album I’ve heard in 2019.
BUY IT!!!!
It’s been a while but the 45 RPM fun bag has been opened and a new bunch of records fell out. As is the case these days not all singles come out pressed on 7″ pieces of plastic some just drop out of the sky via the interweb on streaming services and some in the form of the video single. Well worry not RPM has a varied bag of singles for you this April some your traditional 45 (hooray) others via video so dig in and check out what has been tickling our fancy at RPM HQ.
Christmas / The Skinny Millionaires – Split 7(LSD)
Only 250 copies of this split pressed it sees Christmas, doing their version of GG Allin’s ‘Don’t Talk To Me’. the band claimed to have seen GG Allin as a big influence to the band, with this being their favourite track so a no brainer to be fair.
‘Negotiations Didn’t Go So Well’ The Skinny Millionaires, Rhode Island residents release their first track in five years. Singer Miky Millionaire might be a familiar face for many people. He plays the guitar in The Turbo A.C.’s as well. The fact these tunes are so different works well. A class split and one we’re delighted to include at the top of our roundup and cool that after Christmas and turbo AC’s have split a 7″ before its a cool introduction to the Skinny Millionaires. Two top tunes
Razorbats / the Sick Things (Gods Candy Records and Rob Mules Records). ‘The City’ is the lead track from this most excellent split single featuring two really exciting bands currently writing really strong material one from Norway and the other Canada but both singing off the same rock and roll hymn sheet. With a thumping Bassline and some 80’s inspired riff-a-rama Razorbats are on fire. With a settled line up the band release these two songs before tipping up at a couple of great festivals you can expect a great hook and catchy chorus which is the staple of Razorbats work. It sounds like you’ve been listening to these songs for years but you haven’t of course. However, I love the riff of ‘Summer OF Head’ it’s got a bunch of Stiv Bator meets cheap trick and who doesn’t love those teenage lyrics complete with gang vocals. A big winner in my book and a real feelgood song. Buy it and let some sunshine into your life because Razorbats are like a big ball of blazing sunshine and songs this good make me feel all warm and happy. Go to the band’s Facebook page to find out how you can get your hands on a copy before their live shows so you can sing along. Facebook
D-A-D ‘Burning Star’(AFM Records) Next up is a new song released from Denmarks favorite hard-rockin’ sons D-A-D. It’s their first new music in eight years and a spikey angry tune it is too as you can hear from the youtube clip. Facebook
The Briefs – I Hate The World (Damaged Goods Records) A new album and new single released the same day makes for one hell of a good day in my house and picking up this one was a no brainer. So the A side is the second single from the brand new album ‘Platinum Rats’ its a short sharp slab of Briefs punk rock. It’s catchy with a great hook and gang vocals a chorus a child could remember what’s not to like? The louder the better as well. the B Side features another new song ‘Lonely Satellite’ which makes you wonder how the hell this slipped off the album and onto a B Side which is another reason to pick this up. ITs a must have single – it’s The Briefs for Gawd’s sake! Facebook
Iggy Pop – The Villagers (Caroline International) A really curious RSd single this one. Taken from ‘Zombie Birdhouse’ this Chris Stein produced pair of songs is pressed on a green vinyl sees a previously unreleased version of ‘Pain And Suffering on the B Side which made it a must-have for RSD for us Iggy Completists. The B side also features Steins Fellow Blondie bandmember Debbie Harry on backing vocals which incidentally isn’t the first time they’ve sung together on record. they dueted on ‘Did You Evah!’. If you can pick up a copy of this for its original price then do so it’s from an underrated album as well. and for no other reason than its Iggy fuckin’ Pop. Pain & Suffering did, however, get released on the two-disc 2003 CD of ‘Zombie Birdhouse’ a little fact for all you fact geeks there.
Press Club – Get Better (Hassle Records) Australian rockers Press Club unleash new track before heading to this side of the globe to entertain Europe and the UK with their Guitar based alternative post-punk songs. Having released their debut album in January this is a new track written and recorded by the band in their own studio in Melbourne. Natalie Foster has a great voice full of passion and paints great images with her delivery and energy. Facebook
Ming City Rockers – Lolli Popper (Mad Monkey Records) Whatever happened to Ming City Rockers you might well ask yourselves they seemed to have the world on a string then they went to the US of A to record with Steve Albini and then it seemed to go a bit tits up and they sort of went away for a while. Changed bass player then changed again and then we arrived here. An Instagram campaign of weird messages than a single then some canceled shows then this a RSD single called ‘Lolli Popper’. I missed ’em, I thought ‘Lemon’ was good and this is a lot rawer with a guitar sound that’s like sandpaper on the speakers its the first glimpse into the new album that should be along any time soon (i Hope)
Where We Sleep – Experiments In The Dark (Self Release) Five track EP From the ashes of London’s beloved indie rock outfit BLINDNESS comes WHERE WE SLEEP. Vocalist-guitarist BETH RETTIG is at the helm with a rotating cast of guest musicians. The debut EP ‘Experiments in the Dark’ does feature a guest appearance by DEBBIE SMITH (Curve, Echobelly, SPC ECO and Snowpony with My Bloody Valentine’s Debbie Googe and Moonshake’s Katharine Gifford). BEN PRITCHARD (The Fall, Manc Floyd) also contributes, as does AXEL RAY (United Ghosts, The Black Windmill, Cadet A), the latter spinning gorgeous lead guitar on the first single ‘The Desert’. Sure there are elements of Garbage in the smooth production and arrangments as well as a shade of Polly Harvey in the vocal delivery but its engaging and enjoyable as the video for the lead track the Desert will testify. It’s dark atmospheric and engaging – Check it out Facebook
Plague Vendor – All Of The Above (Epitaph Records) The second taste from their upcoming new album ‘By Night’. The brooding track is an internal monologue that’s disintegrating over a sci-fi punk drumbeat or something like that. Bla Bla Bla goes the press blurb but I’d rather just listen and make my own mind up.
It can’t always be crash band wallop, can it? No, which is why we like to venture out into the big wide world of alternative music and see what’s happening. The new record is out early June and this is the second taster from it. It might not be as instant as ‘New Comedown’ but it’s got some 80’s Bowie going on and that’s never a bad thing. Plague Vendor might just have one of the best names in music at the moment and by the look and sound of it they have one hell of an album up their sleeve as well. Facebook
We Are Interview – ‘Chicago’ (Self Release) Swiss rockers release a new single on digital platforms. The band plays impressive garage rock with inspiration from the likes of QOTSA and Foo Fighters as well with its wall of guitars ‘Chicago’ follows on from the impressive ‘Thunder Cry’. The track was released on an EP entitled ‘Monster Monster’ which features five tracks all entitled after cities around the world that came out last year. The track has a bit of Sabbath happening in the riff and the ebb and flow is excellent and for only a few Swiss francs whats to lose? check em out here
To shut up this shop of 45’s we have to draw the line somewhere so it might as well be with an absolute banger in the shape of Cheap Gunslingers and their ‘Good Times’…
Cheap Gunslinger – ‘Good Times’ (Rum Bar Records) ITs a fantastic slice of new wave rock and roll with loud guitars a fantastic melody not too dissimilar from The Boys with backing vocals like the good old days of 45’s when bands wrote songs to get in the charts and made em catchy and with some swing and a lot of punch. Cheap Gunslingers have all of that and more and if the rest of their album is half as good as this then bring it on it’s going to be amazing but then its no surprise as Rum Bar can’t put a foot wrong and have their finger on the pulse of good time rock and roll! ooh, and did I mention this one is for free! so you have nothing to lose go fill yer boots at the link –Rum Bar: Free Track
So until next time keep spinning those 45’s – watching the videos – downloading the tunes and keep supporting the bands who make the music otherwise there won’t be any music.
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