Let’s not fuck about here – Dutch punk n rollers Batwölf are slipping into their shit kickers and kicking some shit! From the opening assault of ‘Nicotene’ the gloves are off and a well-ballanced punk n roll riff is unleashed. ‘Over Your Shoulder’ is thunderous and has a decent hook on the chorus and a nice touch to expand the beatdown with that barroom piano.

Sixteen tracks between one and three minutes long most around two plus minutes is more than enough time even for the audio challenged of rockers to engage with. ‘Crazy Driver’ is brutal ‘Dictator’ channels the ghost and spirit of Lemmy whilst the title track just Rocks the fuck out. The fact they’re involved with TNS and recently played the Manchester Punk Festival means these guys should be taken seriously and you need to take notice of them right here right now this shit is serious!

If you think there’s going to be any lite relief then strap in mofos this rides heading south like a flaming hellbound handcart ‘Dirt Track HEart Attack’ is like a boot to the throad and before you can catch your breath ‘The Float’ is already upon you handclapping like a cavalier Jagger in sequins and bullet belts. The avalanche of Riffs keeps on coming and the oldie rocker of ‘Gypsie Blood’ is the chaser for the frantic dash of ‘Moth, Flame, Fire’.

Take it easy in manageable chunks in this summer heat kids this should come with a health warning it’s seriously dangerous and I like it a lot. They’re not reinventing the wheel here but they clearly love loud, m fast rock n roll and that’ll do for me when it’s done this well.

Its a lot of songs to get to grips with but the journey is worth it, just stay away from flames and flammable material, ‘Punchbag’ is a flurry of fists before they sign off or spontaneously combust with the anthemic glug of ‘Dead Horse’. Tap me out I’m done, nurse bring me oxygen this Rock n Roll is killing me but I do love it! Now let’s go start some fires, drink beer and buy more loud, fast records like this – Buy it!

Buy Here

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Author: Dom Daley

Scumbag Millionaire / Upploppet – Split (Lux Noise) This is how a split should be done.  One band you know, in this case Scumbag Millionaire, and the other- a new one on me, Upploppet. and boy what an introduction.  Full tilt, no bullshit, heads-down rock and fucking roll.  What a pair of bangers we have here.

Scumbags do write shit tunes it would seem and their contribution is (Don’t Say) I Didn’t Say So’ thunderous drums howling guitars and distorted vocals springing to the finish line before they inhale is how a punk rock and fuckin roll single should be and these mofos absolutely nail it. Not wanting to be outdone Upploppet kick the shit out of their instruments for a thunderous romp through the imaginatively titled ‘Born To Lose’ but forgetting the title, of course, they’re from Sweden and of course we highly recommend you pick up a copy of this before they’re all gone with the wind.     Pick up here

 

 

Jerry Lehane – ‘Drinking Life’ (Rum Bar Records)  A heartfelt wholesome Rock and Roll tune wrapped in memory soaked lyrics with some six-string strumming pierced with some sweet barbed solo licks sees Jerry knock out a hard-edged road worn slice of Rock and Roll with some help from Bosstone Dicky Barrett.  Sure there are touches of Neil Young and Crazy Horse happening especially when the solo meanders through the chords.  But its Epic in every sense of the word from the arrangement to the storytelling lyrics all adds up to a really impressive tune.  Bosstones and Dogmatics couldn’t make a bad record if they tried and this is 100% proof.  Check it out here 

 

 

 

Electric Frankenstein / The Stripp – Split (Spaghetty Town Records) Whoever said rock is dead is definitely not listening to Spaghetty Town Records. They are back with a ripper of a split EP.  First up is New Jersey kings of hard rockin punk Electric Frankenstein.  If you aren’t familiar, where have you been?!  Founded by brothers Sal and Dan Canzonieri, they’ve been knocking out their punk attitude rock and roll since the 90s, they’ve lost none of their venom and passion as ‘American Lies’ is like a cannonball being fired.  Then they hit you in the guts with the beast of a tune ‘Everybody’s Dead Again’ which is an absolute banger of a tune.  Worth getting hold of this 7″ for this song alone.

Second up, Melbourne Australia’s The Stripp.   Who’ve created a buzz in the underground music scene down under. Fronted by Bek Taylor the band’s raw mix of high-speed sleazy hard rock with catchy riffs has had heads turning in the action rock community for their high-energy rock n roll. ‘Dice Man’ has the hallmarks of Girlschool meets something altogether more down n dirty. With their second offering being available in the video below.

Spaghetty Town has made a limited run of this 7″ on green, pink or black vinyl.  Of course it’s available on all streaming and download outlets and also available from the bands direct.

 Buy Here

 

 

Chubby & The Gang – ‘I Hate The Radio’ (Partisan Records) “I Hate the Radio” taken from the forthcoming album ‘The Mutt’s Nuts.’ sees a side step from the rip-snorting hard rockin new wave of hard core that you might have been expecting instead a soft song for hard men in the shape of I Hate The Radio.  Absolute corker it is too.  Check it out here in video form and then when you’re done go order the bloody album –  Listen/pre-order: Here

 

Smashed Gladys – ‘Never Take No’ (Golden Robot Records) A little rough round the edges this is a demo that was going to make up the bands third album that never saw the light of day back in the day.  With a familiar raunchy barroom rocker ‘Never Take No’ is classic Smashed Gladys.  this is the third track from the album thats yet to be released.  Sadly Cato sadly passed away in 2020 and Golden Robot Records are proud to bring you new material  in her honour. These songs as demos for their 3rd album, which has now been remixed.

Listen/Buy ‘Never Take No’ HERE

 

 

 

E.T. Explore Me – ‘President/Drug Me’ (Voodoo Rhythm Records)  How about a bit of scuzzy disco then kids?  Yeah we go tit right here from these Dutch loons.  They’ve got a bit of dodgy lo-fi disco happening in their lives and these powerful grooves will have you out on the dancefloor in those silk shirts bustin moves.  When they say columbia meets Trash Disco they aint messin wiv ya.  This is exactly whats on offer. ‘Drug Me’ is more of the same with a funky late 70s early 80s keith Richards guitar work happenin’  – what a pair of ace tunes but don’t get me started on the video it will blow your tiny mind.  Get on it here

 

 

 

The Chevelles – ‘Steve McQueen (I Wish I Was)’ (Wicked Cool Records)  What a banger this is.  From Western Australia, this is all flash guitar breaks Keith Moon drum beats and a top melody over some rip-snorting guitar riffing.  the Chevelles are power poppin garage rockers with a heap of stone-cold attitude.  A real sparkling single this is to be fair.

“Fuck just getting older, let’s get louder” said frontman Duane Smith and a big fat Amen to that we say.  Clearly not giving a fourX we like that from our rock n rollas.

 

 

 

Jizzy Pearl’s LOVE/HATE – ‘Wanna Be Somebody’ (Golden Robot Records) I remember watching Jizzy in a small club near my home town and so loud were his vocals I thought they’d blown my eardrums he’d lost none of the venom in his tone and it would seem he still has one hell of a set of pipes on him as the heavy groove-laden sounds of ‘Wanna Be Somebody’ hits you like a baseball bat.  Check it out by visiting Jizzy Here / Listen/buy ‘Wanna Be Somebody’ HERE
Listen to ‘Soul Mama’ HERE

 

 

 

 

Steve Conte – ‘Dog Days Of Summer’ (Wicked Cool Records) Lifted from his forthcoming new long-player Conte delves deep into the sounds of classic Rod Stewart when Rod the Mod was making better records than anyone ( well almost anyone) A real ‘Every picture’ vibe going on here.  The sound of summer tweeting in the intro and outro makes way for the carefree sounds of two brothers and an awesome drummer (Charley Drayton) who played with Keith Richards in his expensive winos.  A top summery tune – that’s for sure and if it’s the vibe that the album is hitting then this is the sweet spot of summer right here. It’s a Must have! Stream this bad boy here  and pre order the album (‘Bronx Cheer’)  from Wicked Cool Records. Website: www.stevecontenyc.com

 

Fake Names – EP (Epitaph Records)  Fake Names, the band featuring DC punk legends Brian Baker, Michael Hampton, and Johnny Temple, fronted by Dennis Lyxzen from Refused, have surprise-released a brand new 3-track EP. The EP features guest drummer Brendan Canty (Rites of Spring, Fugazi)! and a punchy catchy ep it is too. Its bright opener has a good hook on the chorus ‘It Will Take A Lifetime’ is a brightly produced slice of post-punk with emphasis on the melody.  ‘Running’ has a lot more punch as it steps into the Bob Mould, Bad Religion territory but has some great bv’s and a catchy breakdown. My pick of the three tracks is the laid back ‘Cuts You Down’ with a chilled verse leading to another catchy chorus.  A very decent ep and hopefully the start and not a one off.

‘Fake Names’ EP is available now // Stream & download: https://fakenames.ffm.to/fakenamesep

For more information on Fake Names, visit: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE

WANTED: Scumbag Millionaire. Today, the Swedish action punks release a new video for ‘Desperado’, the third single from ‘Poor and Infamous’ which will be out this Friday 25/09.

In this video we traveled back in time. To a time when Hisingen was a calm place except for three gringos raising hell. Trying to avoid the local sheriff and the bounty hunters.” 
– Max L (guitar)

High energy action punk, straight out of the gutters of Gothenburg, Sweden! After touring all over Europe in their stinky black and gold Chevy van, playing all the punk rock venues/festivals and drinking all the beers (one entire tray at the time, it’s easy once you know the trick!), Swedish action punks Scumbag Millionaire headed to Sunlight Studio with producer Tomas Skogsberg to record their second album: Poor and Infamous.

Scumbag Millionaire is an extension of the classic Scandirock-scene which had its prime in the late ‘90s with bands like The Hellacopters and Turbonegro. With people craving new Scandirock acts, Scumbag Millionaire are more than happy to pick up where it left off, proudly flying the Scandirock flag in 2020.

September 25th 2020 will see the release of Scumbag Millionaire’s second album: Poor And Infamous. The follow-up to debut album Speed (2018) was recorded at the legendary Sunlight Studio in Stockholm, produced by Tomas Skogsberg (Backyard Babies, The Hellacopters, Peter Pan Speedrock) and mastered by Frida Claeson Johansson at Svenska Grammofonstudion, with guest vocals by Jennifer Israelsson (Hot Breath) and Elin Larsson (Blues Pills).

“Recording with different producers and engineers on different projects has always really helped us develop. Tomas has produced some of our all-time favourite albums and working with him is something we’ve been talking about for a long time. It was an amazing experience working with him and listening to all his stories from the past.” – Adde

All singles from the new album will also be released on 7” single: In a little under six years, the band has released between 17 and 20 singles (they might have lost count), including split releases with bands like Electric Frankenstein and an Iggy & the Stooges tribute split 7”. To end their Speed album cycle with a bang, they released a 12” maxi single. All these releases have incredible artwork, come in different vinyl colours, and contain B-sides that are not available anywhere else.

We simply love 7” singles. The format is amazing, with just one song on each side. And also the size of it. It’s an item you always can afford at the merch table. What’s not to like?” – Adde

Scumbag Millionaire is:
Max A – Vocals & Guitar
Max L – Guitar
Dennis – Bass
Adde – Drums

Website / Facebook  /  Instagram / Youtube

A Fistful More of Rock & Roll, Volume 3 contains Twenty Six of the best Rock n Roll bands from all over the world! Originally slated for release in January of this year manufacturing problems and a pandemic pushed it back to July 31, 2020. Although all the bands/songs are sweaty, beer-soaked denim dripping Rock n Roll, Available on CD and gatefold double LP.

Liner notes from Producer Sal Conzonieri of Electric Frankenstein.

A Fistful MORE of Rock & Roll – Volume 3 continues in the same tradition that the original 13 volumes of A Fistful of Rock ‘n’ Roll did from 2000 to 2007. 

It’s the Return of the Return of Rock ‘n’ Roll,Call it what you like Action Rock Punk n Roll does it really matter? It’s Straight down and dirty, Loud n lustful, Action Rock revolution, High Energy Punk Rock ‘n’ Roll yadda yadda yadda.

Action Rock, Punk N Roll, Hard Rock now we’ve established that you can actually call it what you like if its good I’ll give it a spin and if it’s not then no thanks I’ll pass.  This new age of “Action Rock” is churning out records at a rate of Knotts and for the convenience of keeping all these alternative bands under one umbrella, I happen to think its in rude health.  Having covered a lot of these bands over the years I find it warming that they’ve been brought together  thanks to the super hard work of Sal.

Starting in the late 80s and early 90s, a worldwide Rock revival / New Rock Revolution sprang up, from Scandinavia to the USA to Australia to Wales. Spontaneously, around the world, a group of bands developed this new sound, such as Poison Idea, Action Swingers, Bullet Lavolta, Big Chief, The Fluid, Blue Hippos / Otto’s Chemical Lounge, Celebrity Skin, The Kings of Oblivion, Flower Leperds, Fearless Leader, The Lazy Cowgirls, The Donnas, The New Bomb Turks, The Didjits / The Lee Harvey Oswald Band / The Gaza Strippers, Dwarves, Zeke, Supersuckers, The Hookers, Nashville Pussy, Easy Action, Trash Brats, Candy Snatchers, Adam West, The Cherry Valence, Jakkpot, The Upper Crust, Speedealer, B-Movie Rats, The Stitches, The Humpers, Rocket from the Crypt, The Superbees, The Streetwalkin’ Cheetahs, Zen Guerilla, The Murder City Devils, The Mud City Manglers / The Cheats, D Generation, Electric Frankenstein, The Black Halos, The Spitfires, Danko Jones, American Ruse, TV Killers, Dumbell, Temporal Sluts, Thee STP,  Aerobitch, The Pleasure Fuckers, Safety Pins, The Nomads, Puffball, The Rockets, The Hives, Gluecifer, The Flaming Sideburns, The Hellacopters, Backyard Babies, Turbonegro, The Onyas, The D4, The Datsuns, The Powder Monkeys, The Panadolls, Mustang, Hoss, Teengenerate, Supersnazz, Jet Boys, Thee Michelle Gun Elephant, and so on, that were all featured on the first series of the “A Fistful of Rock ‘n’ Roll” compilations.

Today there is a whole new generation of young bands and (cough, cough) not so young bands delivering the goods and knowing exactly where the action is.  they have built upon what the previous bands started, keeping Punk Rock ‘n’ Roll alive and full of high energy. Thus, a second series is necessary to document this: “A Fistful MORE of Rock & Roll”; No mistakes at all when I say this is one of the loudest compilations and no quarter is given not even an inch.  Side one pairs up Deathtraps with Egyptian Gay Lovers both playing loudly but both offer something quite different from each other. As far as Deathtraps go they’ve just released an excellent album full to the brim of loud rock and roll and a leap in quality from the first which was pretty impressive as it goes.

Flexx Bronco opens up side two with a cool rocker ‘Heart on the Floor’ and again it’s sounding quite different from the Elvis meets Danzig rock of Nevadah and ‘Iggy Dog’ but I have to admit I have a soft spot for the most excellent Drippers record ‘Solitary Speaking’  rumbles along like a freakin’ steam train heading for oblivion.  A quite ferocious cut for sure. Then to follow that with Randy Savages Rockin’ and a rollin’ on their single Guilty of Nuthin’ is an exceptional burst of energy and how can anyone not get behind that guitar solo!

Of the bands I’ve never heard before Joecephus and the George Jonestown Massacre is one with a bit of a mouthful but fear not Rockers the guitars are slung low and the energy levels are in bloom. Moving away from the Punk n roll attitude of a band like Randy Savages you have The Dirty Denims who pray at the altar of DC and all things ROCK!

There are some bands I’ve not heard anything from in quite a while and to be fair bands like The Cheats are kicking serious backside as is Dog Toffee someone I’ve not hear anything from in a while and they sound excellent as do East Coast Low another new one on me and their solid thump.

It might be an idea to listen to this in healthy chunks so as to not overwork your brain and to give your speakers a chance to recover.  Projeckt Daghouse  are kicking up a hellish racket but they are overshadowed by a band I’ve championed since hearing their debut. Poison Boys have got the lot from the pretty faces going to hell. But trying to pick a favourite side is like being forced to choose between the kids.  But don’t tell anyone but the last record is freakin awesome such is the quality of songs on offer.

It’s fair to say I’m impressed and this is right up there with the best for sheer quality and like I said earlier the amount of hard work that went into making this project a reality and all these cool bands delivering the goods on mass is a real Boon to the scene. An honour and a feather in the caps of those who get featured and being associated with such a quality compilation.  I hope Sals turned his attention to volume 14 and I look forward to hearing who and what is on offer because this is only the beginning of the second wave. Now if only this virus would be kind enough to fuck off and let us get back to live shows maybe we can see some of these bands in the flesh tearing it up around the stages of the world.

Pre-orders and limited edition purple vinyl available exclusively Here

Author: Dom Daley

Originally released as a compilation album featuring five-tracks from New Yorks Electric Frankenstein and the equally wonderful Crash Street Kids alongside The Thing and Kathedral.  what you have here is an EP of the Electric Frankenstein tracks plus the addition of ‘EF Theme’ making it a tasty six-track EP.  It’s got the same artwork as the original comp but the track running order has been rearranged.

The street-tough Action Rock of ‘Lie To Me’ gets this party started was it really twenty years ago?  Wow, time flies when you’re having fun. A year after their classic ‘How To Make A Monster’ and a most fertive period for the band who really were prolific around that period and flying the flag for punk attitude hard rock I’m not even sure we had a name for it back then and split it into sub-genres of a genre of Rock and Roll.  Damn, it loud guitared Rock and Roll isn’t it however you want to carve it up. Anyway EF always stayed true to their original sound and blueprint and pushed on regardless of who fell by the wayside or sold out because EF never sold out nor did they stray and go with the trends.  the one thing ‘the Dawn..’ sounds is fresh and as vibrant as it ever did.

Electric Frankenstein always kept it simple knocking out high energy guitar-driven songs with snotty attitude steeped in the history of the likes of the Dead Boys and the MC5 and even some early hard rock to create a monster wall of noise. This collection gives a pretty decent introduction to those who might not have crossed paths with the band before, which is fine it’s better late than never.  ‘One Last Show’ is as macho as it gets using volume and power like a lightning rod when out looking for trouble. ‘Ruin you’ is my pick of the pops with its dirty riff and snarling lyrics that are barked out sounding like a life choice of gargling razorblades and washing them down with some paint stripper but still managing to do it with style.  Top tune.

The final offering on this six of the best is one that goes right back to the heart of EF and from the birth of the band as ‘EF Theme’ originally picked off the debut album ‘The Time Is Now’ back in the midst of time or 1985 to you and me is sewn onto the end of this collection. It’s still a belter of a tune like Alice Cooper band in the backseat with a wasted Wayne Kramer controlling the radio riding shotgun to Kojak whos at the wheel a real Frankenstein party right there but there’s a bit of them all in the DNA of Electric Frankenstein and that’s the beauty of the kings of Action Rock.  It’s a great EP to own seeing as a lot of their records are as expensive as hell on the second-hand market and as some get reissued and gobbled up its nice to see places like Ghost Highway respecting the rock and breathing new life into solid gold like this – As if it needs saying but go get it, kids, you won’t regret it.

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Buy ‘The Dawn Of Electric Frankenstein’ Here

Author: Dom Daley

A record thats been getting a lot of plays at RPM HQ is Local Drags and the awesome ‘Shit’s Lookin’ Up’ so before the review drops here’s a sampler for you entitled ‘Hidden Track’.

 

Next up, continuing a theme of fast cars and loud guitars we have Electric Frankenstein who just blazed a trail across mainland Europe and have just repressed their classic ‘How To Make A Monster’ album so to celebrate the kings of American Action Rock heres EF with ‘Learn To Burn’

Finally, today if there are any rain clouds in the sky this will banish them away and for no other reason other than I love this band and everything they do so here is The Dahmers with ‘To The Night’

Well, we certainly didn’t stand still in the last seven days as we brought you reviews from a range of artist old and new with The Lemonheads starting things off with the second studio album of cover versions entitled ‘Varshons 2‘.  As Evan Dando and Co, head out on a UK tour this week to promote the record RPM gave it the thumbs up as Dando led the band through some pretty diverse waters.  Westerberg, Cave and the Eagles all made it onto the record which as an aside came out in a scented banana yellow version as well.

 

 

It was also a week that saw two live albums hit the death decks at RPM with Metallica lending a ‘Helping Hand’ Where they released a double album with proceeds going to a most admirable cause and helping the most vulnerable in society a real genuine act of kindness that doesn’t get the exposure it truly deserves as the rock stars are often castigated for their excesses but seldom praised when they do reach out with a simple yet effective act of kindness.  So a huge well done from us at RPM as Johnny H gets stuck into the double slice of vinyl trouble.

 

 

The second of our live reviews came when Martin gave The Godfather a good seeing to with their fantastic ‘This Is War’ the once over. describing it as, “Loud Sharp and Beautiful”, is about as close a summery as you can get.  It’s fair to say that it damn near captures the current line up right at the top of their game.  It’s certainly raw it’s certainly loud and no question it has the Godfathers roaring on all cylinders and has you wondering why all live albums can’t sound this good.  Essential listening no doubt about it.

We also brought you a summary of this years Gathering from North Wales as Mike Peters and the Alarm romped through a huge chunk of their back catalogue over two nights with plenty of special guests that included original Alarm Guitar player Dave Sharp, from Texas Ryan Hamilton and 80’s pop rockers Mark Shaws then Jerico. This year’s festivities weren’t without incident as the PA went down twice but it didn’t deter PEters who climbed into the audience with his acoustic guitar and un mic’d got the audience singing along and making the most out of a potentially bad situation and making it a memorable evening no doubt about it.  Gathering twenty-Seven was again a privilege to attend and I can’t wait for 2020 and number twenty Eight.

We also brought you The Spangles album launch show from way up North otherwise known as Harrogate as Ben Hughes had an equally splendid evening with an immensely talented band playing one hell of a debut album.  I for one hope there is a lot more to come from these three guys because their album was easily one of 2018 best releases.

As far as news goes we joined the rock world in wishing Bernie Torme a speedy recovery from his hospitalization from double Pneumonia and hope he’s back to full health as soon as possible. The same for our Australian friend Hayden McGoogan from The Black Heart Breakers who also found himself in Hospital this past week – Get yourselves fit and health please gents and I’m sure I speak for all the writers at RPM in wishing you both speedy full recoveries.

There was also some superb festival news as The Dead Boys were announced as headliners for this year’s Rebellion Festival in Blackpool along with Walter Lure who will be playing L.A.M.F. at the festival and across the channel in Belgium Sjock Festival announced a raft of superb bands added to this years festival including RPM favourites The Hip Priests and Barstool Preachers who play alongside The Hives, Hellacopters, Electric Frankenstein, the Briefs  and Gluecifer. To be fair news wise last week was a bumper week for great rock n roll news.

 

Anyway, that was last week on RPM and as we are always looking forward here’s what you can expect this coming week on the website. We’ve got a couple of bumper interviews with the likes of Slyder from Last Great Dreamers as they announce a lot of dates for 2019 in what appears to be a hugely busy year for the band.  Also, we have a monster interview with “Demons” Matheus Carlsson which should see your Friday seem a lot more enjoyable as we spoke about the past present and future of the band in what also looks like a great year for the band.

As for album reviews we’re once again scouring the globe for great bands and we’ve certainly got those coming at you with the debut long player from ‘Wet Dreams’ reviewed today by Johnny H and there is also the long-awaited long player from Jim Jones & the Righteous Mind’ coming later this week as ‘CollectiV’ has certainly been entertaining RPM HQ and what will be one of the years top albums no question about that. We also look back on some significant happenings this coming week in punk, rock and pop music history so keep it RPM folks for all your turbocharged Rock n Roll!

Stay Sick,

L-U-V RPM

 

Sjock announces yet more bill busting acts for 2019. Belgium’s longest running festival sees Sjock confirm a raft of headline acts for 2019.  going since 1976 This year has The Hellacopters, The Briefs, The Hip Priests, Electric Frankenstein, The Hives, Gluecifer and The Barstool Preachers just to name a few and all for 80Euro at Tickets

SJOCK 44

FRIDAY! NEW NAMES! TICKETS ON SALE!Let's go!!The Hellacopters SWEGluecifer NORThe Barstool Preachers UKGrindhouse AUSThe Hip Priests UKBaby Shakes USCrackups BEHeathen Apostles USThe Bloodstrings GERPrince Beastly BETickets are on sale from now on! https://www.ticketjes.be/en/Buy/StartWizard?eventId=14See all info on our website!www.sjock.comSJOCK Festival 4412-13-14 july 2019www.sjock.com

Posted by SJOCK Festival on Thursday, 14 February 2019

 

2018 is quickly running out of weeks and before we know it we’ll be crashing into 2019 and another year of new records and great bands to see. Before everything blurs into one we have to reflect on what happened last week never mind last year so the final week of November saw RPM review some amazingly talented artists like the brand new up and coming force of nature that is Nikki Hill and her album ‘Feline Roots’. 

As well as the new talent we also welcomed back the return of US Bombs with their long player ‘Road Case’  

There was also musical collaborations that we found really appealing like The wicked EP by The Dahlmanns that we would highly recommend you check out and seeing as its Christmas why not give yourself a little treat.

Whilst on the live front RPM were present for the umpteenth show from the amazing UK Subs who are forever on tour as are The Quireboys but it was the line up of Helldorado that really caught our imagination as Europe seems to have really hit paydirt as far as the amazing line up goes. With top turn after top turn hit the stages and RPM was there to regale the magic for our readers.

Interviews we had them as well as Leigh spoke To Mike Christie about Guitars, Amps and general Guitar related Tech and we also caught up with Sal from Electric Frankenstein to hear all about his compilations and a general EF chat. On the feature front, Ben continued his adventure across the West coast of America and managed to catch a few live shows whilst he was talking in what Frisco, Vegas and LA had to offer.

Anyway enough looking back how about looking forward and this coming week on RPM we’ve got plenty of live action coming your way from some of our favourite bands still making music as well as some tasty new albums as well as a bunch of reissued classics you might have missed out on first time but now is your chance to pick em up. So we welcome December with a cheeky snap from He Who Cannot Be Named for you and as always Stay Sick and keep it RPM. Til next week that is.

 

True story.  I happened to be in New York just before Christmas having decided to take the trip because I’d had heart surgery and died a couple of times so to celebrate being fixed we took in the big apple and on the day we flew home I read that EF was playing an instore in Bloomingdales so grabbed a cab and set off only to arrive at the wrong store so missed the show and had to head back home having not seen the band on their home turf and failed to pick up some shirts and a book as well so epic fail on my part.  Anyway fast forward a few years and when RPM kicked off there were a bunch of bands I was looking forward to covering and Electric Frankenstein was one of them so when I read that Sal was looking for submissions for a brand new ‘Fistful Of Rock And Roll’ it seemed like the perfect time to reach out and grab a quick chat. Heres what went down…

Firstly you’ve got a whole bunch of great bands ready for the next compilation album.  Why now for a new release?  Was there a particular song or band you heard that made you want to put this together?

Well, why now is because suddenly it is 10 years already after volume 13 of “A Fistful of Rock & Roll” came out and I was seeing that there is a whole new generation of bands that are playing and recording now that were influenced by the bands on the first Fistful of Rock series. There were so many new bands and really great sounding bands, not only from the US and the UK , but from all over the world.

Actually, there was a group of 8 new bands that made me say, “Oh wow, I really need to document all the new bands since the first series!”. And those bands are Black Gremlin ( Italy ), Flash House (UK), Liberty Slaves (UK). Scum Bag Millionaire ( Sweden ), Bitch Queens ( Switzerland ), Detroit Sound ( Norway ), and Night Birds ( USA ). I didn’t want all these new bands to disappear without some cheerleading support that can go out worldwide. The first series sparked a global movement for High Energy / Punk Rock & Roll, which is also called Action Rock. For a few years things seemed quiet for Rock & Roll music, but then in the last year all the best of the original generation that moved the bar up for real Rock & Roll started doing reunion shows and at the same time all new bands started appearing. The new bands are really great bands that have moved the bar even further.

 

You’ve obviously been inundated with some fantastic responses too, any particular favourites?

Ha, so, so many bands, over 300 so far! Besides the 8 bands above, I have been listening to great bands like: King Mastino, Idol Lips, The Innocent, Temporal Sluts and others from Italy; Iron Lizards from France; Black Actress, Red Hot Rebellion, Hell’s Engine, Killer Hearts, Thee Perfect Gentlemen, Focke Wolves, Lovesores, Poison Boys, The Cops from USA; Dumbell, Black Sheriff, Christmas, Stacy Crowne from Germany; Stingray from Norway; Chuck Norris Experiment, from Sweden; Hard Action from Finland; Columbian Neckties from Denmark; Savage Beat, Dirty Denims from Netherlands;The Hip Priests, Motherfuckin Motherfuckers, Deathtraps from UK, Turbocoopers, Los Burros from Argentina, Deadvikings, Jet Boys from Japan, Tracy Lords from Hong Kong, The Sick Things from Montreal, Dead Furies from Estonia; Poison Heart from Poland; Aberration, East Coast Low from Australia, and so many more!

 

enough for a few compilations then?

More is always welcome, I want to document ALL the best of the new Rock & Roll bands. So far I am completing the first 6 volumes. I will put out the first 3, then 3 volumes at a time after that. Like the first series, which was 13 volumes, I aim to do another 13 volumes or more, as many as are necessary.

 

What About Electric Frankenstein?  When can we hear some new music from your band?

I added an unreleased EF song on the comp, never fear, ha. We have written enough new songs for at least 3 albums work of music. Soon as we complete a batch so we can demo them for labels, we wish to get things rolling again.

There was an announcement that the band is going to tour in 2019 to celebrate twenty years of ‘How To Make A Monster’ wow where does the time go? it seems like only yesterday.  It has been great to see Gluecifer back playing that would be a cool line up I’m sure you could make that happen.  Anyway, where do these tour plans extend to?  Can the UK expect any dates? you mentioned our good friends The Hip Priests who also have an album early next year that would be a superb match up.

Everything is in the early planning stages. EF is ready to tour, we were in Japan in October 2017 and toured with The Adolescents on the east coast this past June. We should be touring in Europe this coming July, hopefully. We are looking into the UK for August or so. Hip Priests are always our number one choice for the UK and now all our new band friends as well.  Fingers crossed that it all happens.

 

The artwork is iconic and instantly recognizable with the band and seeing the pin badges and patches as well as the show posters it must be hugely satisfying to see people pick up on this all the time and the amount of bands who want to be a part of the Fistful comps is quite incredible there’s always been a lot of love and respect for you guys.  We like to keep an ear to the ground but the response you get is amazing so much to keep up with you must be blown away?

Well, it’s the bands that impress me. About myself, I must have good taste, ha hah, because I always pick the best song by each band. I have always been a person that is personable and friendly and sincere, so in other words, I am not an asshole towards other people and other bands, so it is very satisfying that I can work with so many bands worldwide. I feel that I have done the right thing and stepped up to the plate to make this great accomplishment, not just with A Fistful of Rock & Roll but with Electric Frankenstein as well.

The bands back catalogue is impressive are there any plans for an anniversary Make a monster with bonus cuts or live shows etc?  what about any more spare parts releases to bring us up to date? apart from the split with thee eviltones, the world needs EF.

There is a “More Spare Parts” album available digitally only on iTunes and elsewhere that is fairly recent. I am more concerned with recording all the new songs that we have archived to make as big a musical statement as we did with all our early albums.

So there you have it folks keep an eye out for some EF music and tour dates in 2019 both would be most welcome I’m sure you’ll agree and when the new compilation is released my advice would be to get right on it there are some fantastic bands that we know of and would highly recommend for your listening pleasure besides it would be our pleasure to keep you informed of any news from the Electric Frankenstein camp.  Thanks to Sal for giving RPM the time of day and we look forward to the next time.

 

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EF Website

Author : Dom Daley