Isn’t it a treat when you discover a “new” band via online friends? Especially when they really tick your boxes. So, may I introduce you to punk pop duo, Human Toys? They seem to have quite a following here in France. I mentioned them to my bandmate Mickey, who already knew their stuff, typically a man of good taste.
If you get your kicks from short, snappy Ramones-style pop tunes, then look no further. Poupée, on vocals and theremin and Jon Von on guitar and vocals bring you 13 new songs that grab your attention as they fly by. 2025 seems to be the year of great, short albums, but, as ever, it’s quality over quantity/time. You just know that Dee Dee would approve of ‘Devil’s Night’ and ‘Emma Peel Explosion’. There’s no time to think before ‘Generation Shit’ takes off, not unlike Cyanide Pills, and throughout the theremin does what Pete Shelley did so well, adding simple, addictive melodies.
Another similarity to, say, ‘Rocket To Russia’, is that if you love one song, you’ll love them all. It’s been done to death, but it’s not easy to write short, catchy songs, and the Toys really have nailed it. In fact, there’s no chaff on this or their debut, ‘Spin To Win’, so I felt compelled to buy ‘At The Poor Cow’ on vinyl (no CD available). As it’s from the EU, I’m not clobbered with 14€ customs tax! Rant over.
‘Breakin’ The Law’ isn’t the Judas Priest song (sorry Mr Hayward), and whether it’s ‘Go, Go, Alco’ or ‘Human Zoo’, your feet will be itching to get bopping. It’s not big, it’s not clever, and it’s all the better for it. It’s pure fun with great tunes, and there is a hint of The Rezillos here and there. I don’t know if there’s bass when they play live, but there’s plenty on the record, allowing the likes of ‘I’m Sick Of You’ to have the required clout. If Spotify is good for anything, you can listen to it and then order the album. What are you waiting for?
Sarf of the river punk rock n rollers The Phobics are back with a brand new collection of tunes that was released at the fag end of 2024 but we must have been still ou partying to notice this slip through the HQ cracks so its time to rectify and testify.
With the false sense of security that a very pleasant piano melody will lull you into its the rasping punk rock n roll that ushers the piano out of the window and moves the bastard kids of The Ramones and Heartbreakers into the room to fuck up your day or more to the point usher in the wonderful soundtrack to the rest of your week and turn every day into the weekend.
these Deptford chaps might well have been round the sun a few times but they’ve been paying attention to the good and the greats of some of the finest rock n rollas of the past five decades from the finer points of the Dolls to Da Bruthers and across the pond via The Joneses these cats have got the cream and they’re willing to share it with anyone whos prepared to offer up their time in return for some top tunes.
The mix of loud guitars with the phat lower end is not created by accident it’s a well-constructed beast by people who do know better and ‘Hang 10’ has the Thunders ring on the guitars as they get rinsed. It’s got melody and a swagger that runs through this album like a stick of Deptford rock. Tracks like ‘Dreamworld’ have that Jones crunch on the guitar and the Peter Perrett meets Pete Shelley daydreamin’ vocals. Before we reach the midway point the band crank it up with the delightful romp of ‘Sick And Tired Of The 21st Century’ where they hit the nail right on the head. It should replace the hokey Cokey on New Year’s eve as we all link arms and sing along.
It’s not all Crash Bang Wallop mind, ‘I Want You’ starts off with a nice picky guitar intro before going Crash Bang Wallop. To be fair when The Phobics do give it some Crash bang and a helping of Wallop they do it with style and panache and make it sound fresh and vibrant. ‘Brand New Jag’ has a swagger and leans on some fine cliches and the rhythm section gives it plenty of swing whilst the guitar rips it right up with some fine wah for good measure.
Oh shit get the piano we threw outta the window ‘News From The Sun’ needs it for the intro. What The Phobics do is write bloody good tunes, a load of melody and a sunny disposition that sounds like this band of brothers are having a great time knocking out punk rock n roll on their own terms. It’s timeless when it’s done well and this lot does just that. Hell they even leave the biggest earworm til last as they out Adicts the Adicts with ‘My Best Friend Has Died’ expect Tom to wear a cape and throw out magic tricks at their next show. If you want a fix of Punk rockin power poppin rock n roll then look no further because The Phobics have got us covered. Buy It!
Tyla has soundtracked about 37 of my 51 years here on Earth. For me, it all started with ‘In the Dynamite Jet Saloon’ by the Dogs D’amour. The first time I heard them was a life-changing experience where the band resonated deep in my soul through their songs and music. I still vividly remember the moment. Over the years, Tyla has continued to create a catalogue of songs that I can tie to specific moments in my life. I am not sure what the total number of releases between the bands and his solo work currently is. I might need to do a count after writing this review since it will take a while and may require a calculator. Over the past few years, Tyla has continued to strike gold for me with the Balladmongrels and the latest version of Dogs D’amour where he has incorporated some new elements in the likes of ‘Tree Bridge Cross,’ magical acoustic moments like ‘Ghosts,’ and bluesy diamonds like ‘Serpents Kiss.’ After 40 plus years of writing and performing, the perceived expectation is often musical artists cannot continue to develop and expand. With Tyla, there has always been an ability to blend the familiar with some new tricks. I think back to the acoustic brilliance of his first self-release ‘Nocturnal Nomad’ which is another of my all time favorite albums. Why have I dragged on and on about all this? ‘Gilding the Lily’ showcases new twists into Tyla’s sound but also recalls magical moments from his musical past.
Tyla has described this as a ‘guitar album,’ and there is definitely an abundance of lead guitar across these 18 songs with Jamie Turnbull providing plenty of opportunities to break out an air guitar in a way that I have not done since the likes of the ‘Girl Behind the Glass’ and ‘Rollover.’ Ironically, the album starts off with one of a couple of songs that have not totally grabbed me in ‘Baptism of Fire.’ It has grown on me with each listen, but there is some vocal repetition that can distract from what is going on musically. There is great piano work in the song, and it does start the album off with a rocking feel. ‘Cadillac Man’ is another upbeat rocker with some excellent lead guitar weaved through the song. As the lead single from the album, it is an inspired choice. This is prime material that would be just as home back on ‘Errol Flynn’ as it is here and still sounds fresh. The backing vocals are excellent as well. Next up is another of my favourites in ‘Glory Days.’ This is an acoustic rocker that recalls ‘Nocturnal Nomad’ or ‘In Life In Love In Dreams.’ The strings provide great depth to the song, especially the violin that breaks up that first chorus from the second verse. Tyla’s vocals here are outstanding. The electric guitar provides great accents to the song and provides some brief tasteful air guitar moments as well.
The title track slows things down for another stellar vocal performance. Musically, it would not be out of place on ‘The Life and Times of a Ballad Monger’ or ‘A Graveyard of Empty Bottles.’ The mix allows each instrument space to breathe and paint the musical canvas. We return to more rockers with ‘Gunfight’ opening with a lot of electric guitar and musically akin a little bit to the ‘Bloody Hellfire’ album. It is noisy and hopefully has an opportunity to shine in the live setting. Writing this, it dawns on me that this one and ‘Baptism of Fire’ might have been swapped if I did the sequencing. ‘Killerstown’ showcases another excellent vocal on a midtempo rocker that again recalls the likes of ‘The Life and Times of a Ballad Monger’ album.
The first epic type number is next in ‘Don’t Ever Stop Loving Me’ which starts acoustically and builds in power. The electric guitar here takes the song to another level. I sound like a broken record, but Tyla’s vocals on this album are some of the best he has ever put on tape (or digital). ‘Mickey Roses’ reminds me a bit of the previously mentioned ‘Serpents Kiss’ from ‘Jack O Byte Bluesy Volume 1.’ This is another favourite from the album and inspires some air guitar work to go with my very poor singalong, which doesn’t worry I do where no one can hear me. Closing out the first half of the album with the one other song on the album that has not completely clicked with me ‘I Really Love You.’ It is an upbeat acoustic number that, for me, suffers a bit because of the repetition in the lyrics. It also falls victim to the songs that come before it and what follow it on the second half of the album.
Kickstarting the back half of the album, Tyla delivers an epic that when I first heard it reminded me of his classic ‘The Town’ with an electric feel. ‘Human After All’ is a showstopper of only electric guitar and vocals where the guitar notes and Tyla’s vocals intertwine with one another perfectly. How do you follow up a masterpiece? Cue excellent rocker ‘It’s a Shame’ that provides another singalong tune which hits me a little harder at the moment because of my Dad’s health. Raise a glass to those that you have lost in your life. ‘In Plain Sight’ slows things down a bit but also provides plenty of glorious noise. If you want a past comparison, this is one that recalls side B of the ‘Libertine’ album where something like ‘What If’ rose and fell in musical intensity. The difference here is the added tasteful guitar solo and nuances across the song, which is the longest on here by a hair.
‘Religion Kills’ follows and is our second longest on the album. The drum work is outstanding and really helps create a hard rocking epic song. There are some distorted vocals added at the beginning to give the song a different feel. Tyla’s vocals here slay. The guitar is upfront in the mix as well to create an urgency in the song’s feel. If I had to find a comparison, I might go with a full band and studio version of something from the ‘Mightier than the Sword’ albums. After two epic songs, Tyla delivers another excellent midtempo song with some brilliant lyrics in ‘The Special One.’ There are not many choruses that work something like ‘egocentric narcissist preoccupied with power’ into its hook, but this one does masterfully. ‘Do Anything’ is a slow bluesy rocker that showcases more excellent guitarwork and vocals.
Our final songs of the album begin with Tyla whistling over the music to start ‘River of Death.’ It bears repeating again that Tyla’s vocals on this album are incredible. This is another song that hits me deeply for personal reasons, and it hits harder and harder on me with each listen. Our last epic on the album is ‘Written in Heavy Blood’ and provides lots of opportunities for the air guitar to get a workout. The song has a great groove and vocal hook to it. Acoustic closer ‘Love Will Find You One Day’ works perfectly in its tight 90 second length to bring the album to an end.
I am sure one of the ‘complaints’ about the album will be its length at 18 songs in just over an hour. It is a lot to process over the first 5-10 listens, but I would not eliminate anything here. The two songs that didn’t initially connect with me have each continued to grow with every listen. I hate to think how many songs Tyla has written at this point and love that he continues to find new ways to innovate what he does and add new wrinkles. If you are a fan of his work, I think you will love this album. If you have never heard him, this serves as a really good starting point, and I don’t think I could say that about too many artists 40 years into their career. The first quarter of the year has seen a few dynamite releases already, and this one is another that will be challenging for my album of the year. ‘Glory Days’ are the here and now.
‘Gilding the Lily’ is officially released March 14, 2025.
Every now and then an album comes across your path that will have a real impact and knock you off your feet, almost a physical thing that can be awe-inspiring and breathtaking. Not to be too hyperbolic but Punter did that when I was sent this to review I was instantly blown away. The first play was exhilarating and I had to take a break and do something else then go back to it a day later just to see if I’d lost my senses or if my first impression lasted into the second and then the third and so on. Fuck me sideways, this album is the dog’s bollocks I liked their debut EP from a few years ago bu tthis is next level. I have no idea why, it’s not original nor is it so groundbreaking it’s genre-defying or something so new I can’t make head nor tales of it. It’s a loud rapid punk rock record from Australia (der the cue is in the title) but the delivery and passion contained within touched me like a visit to Lourdes and a dunk in the holy water of punk rock n roll.
‘Safe In The Bubble’ starts it all off with a simple scuff of the guitar before going in both feet first it’s hardcore but with bells and whistles and so much more. The vocal spit in with more venom than I’ve heard in a while all whilst the guitars slash and hack but the sum of its parts only goes to make the devastating racket that is my soundtrack for the last month or so. Hell, there’s even bagpipes for fucks sake. Bon Scott would have thrown his pipes in the Sydney Harbour if he’d heard this and how to wheeze that bag of air.
The title track is along next with a swift metaphorical kick to the nether regions to take your breath away. There’s something quite beautiful about a band that captures such beauty in such visceral and punishing styles. Punter have their collective finger on the pulse as the music gets faster and more manic but it explodes into a calming acoustic guitar outro that I didn’t see coming. If you think that was brutal ‘Turf Layer’ is up next just to poke you in the eye with a very blunt stick but you keep going back for more.
It’s the soundtrack to the best bar brawl ever and could power a fleet of electric cars for days on one frantic play. ‘The Golden Hour’ almost eats itself before ‘Chin Stroker’ is like a rabid dog out of control in a supermarket taking out anything in its path – frantic – brutal take your pick this shit is happening and I fuckin love it.
Its not all thrashing about smashing everything in its path, oh ok it is but ‘Bone To Pick’ is a bit more mild-mannered and more measured with its twelve-bar riffage and a solo that’s tap tastic and like a missile boring into your ear.
The fact there are thirteen songs on this album is mental it’s spoiling us to the point that anyone hearing this should do so on their own it’s dangerous. ‘No Normal’ is tub thumping tastic – oh fuck it you get the picture this record is the bomb and you should just get a copy its as if Clowns have joined forces with Bronx and a whole host of other great bands and joined forces to write an album that sets the tempo for all future punk rock releases.
‘Rise OF The Technocrat’ is a runaway bassline and hack n slash rampage on the guitar it’s bloody dangerous, seriously don’t drive whilst listening to this or your heading for a world of trouble. In fact this album’s thirteenth offering is the album’s finest and it would seem that everything to this point has been merely setting the way. @It Aint Pretty’ is spot on and the absolute zenith of how to do punk rock hardcore style in 2025. Buy this album right now, don’t think about it just trust me and get your grubby hands on a copy it’ll blow you away. Absolute fuckin killer!
Oh boy, it’s been a while but DBUB fell off the radar and feared missing forever until recently when we got a whisper that they were back and beefier than before and had bought new louder amps and had been working out (probably listening to Manowar and the Priest) because Raw Muscular Power is ROCKIN! that R-OC-K-I-N-! Baby with melodies galore wrapped up in a leather glove with spandex a plenty. Fellow Northern Europeans like Razorbats do this kinda crossover as well and there must be something in the frozen lakes because this shit is contagious and banging with hooks n melodies and Rock and Roll music to make you fall in love with the biz.
The title track kicks things off and boy their stall is set out early doors with a massive hook and all Amps set to 11. The new sound is dumber and rawer by their own admission, and the result is ten excellent radio-friendly rock songs, Mullets, Fascial hair, testosterone and hooks that will have you reaching for the battle jackets and leg warmers before lacing up your high tops. Haley Shae of Sløtface guests on the Paul Stanley-tribute ‘Starchild’ (der) of course this record was going to contain a Paul Stanley tribute song. which sounds like Blondie kicking ass in the modern world before the synth-punk of ‘Therapy’ featuring Mike Krol shows the boys have pulled a few celebrity favours in and expanded the sound and delivery and it’s only enhanced the record further adding different flavours. The song is dirty synth-punk with a rapid pace and melodies coming out of every pour.
‘Dogs Of Hell’ sounds like it’s been here before but is a real highlight as it races along giving your speakers a cheeky caress as it fills the ether with a floor tom rattle that’s just bloody epic. Hell, we’re only halfway through this epic journey and it’s head and shoulders the most fun the band has ever offered up and it’s a party we’re all invited to. ‘Camouflage’ has even got dive bombs on the guitar licks or should that be the Axe Attax?
To close this album off Death By Unga Bunga rage like a beast with their first native language song ‘Ring meg hvis du trenger en venn’ (“Call me if you need a friend” – an appeal to take care of the people around you. Do you need a friend? Or five friends, even? Death By Unga Bunga is there for you, and everyone’s invited now I’m getting the beers in and ringing round for the ladies we’ll pick you up in the fun bus in 15 minutes be there or be square this party will be the thing of legend. Death By Unga Bunga kick ass in 2025 and this is the ten-track proof simply epic now go buy it and join the party. Arena Rock meets dirty punk rock and chugs a beer before diving in the gene pool to fuck with us all. Top Notch as Lemmy would say.
Pittsburgh Action Rock heroes, The Cheats, return with their long awaited 6th studio album, “Old Rats On A New Ship.”
After departure of guitarist Rob Senomar in 2023, the band decided to scrap most of the songs they had written with Rob and start fresh with new guitarist/producer, Johnny Razorblade. Johnny produced The Cheats’ 5th album, “Cussin, Crying N Carrying On” (2020) as well as their Action Rock Jukebox single, “Rock N Roll Love Letter.” (2021) and the cover album “XXI” (2022). Johnny also remastered and recorded the live tracks on the “Cheap Pills” 20th Anniversary reissue (2023) The band continued to play live and work on new music. Finally ready, the band entered the studio in 2024 and began recording their strongest material in years, “Old Rats On A New Ship.”
Tracklisting…
Side 1 1. Blood From A Stone 2. I Wanna… 3. The Only Thing I’m Fucking… Is Up 4. I Want You 5. Time To Leave 6. For You (Anti-Nowhere League)
Side 2 7. Control 8. Stuck On You 9. Lie To Me 10. Everything You Love Will Die 11. The Price I Pay
The first single will be the over the top, alcohol infused, rager, “Fucking Up.” Also, the band is currently recording acoustic versions of “No Time” and “Day After Day” off their 2006 “Life’s Short” album. These two tracks will only be available on the CD version.
This Episode of the Podcast begins with possibly the finest intro ever, the one used by The Ramones from The Good, the Bad, And The Ugly. Then, we delve into another bumper episode of rock’ n roll. Infamous Stiffs kick off with their new single, ‘No Static,’ out on Golden Robot Records.
Tip of the hat to Da Bruders from Taste Testors with the happy and sprightly ‘Don’t Fall In Love With Me’ quickly followed by the majestic tones of Cyanide Pills who just happen to be Yorkshires finest and a band who certainly don’t get the recognition they deserve for serving up album after album of top quality punk rock n roll.
Before we drop The Nasty Rumours track from the EP ‘Bury Me In My Leather Jacket’ we drop the epic Dictators and the classic title track from ‘DFFD’ ‘Who Will Save Rock And Roll’
Neurotic Outsiders have their one and only album out on Vinyl for RSD 2025 so why not play the epic opener ‘Nasty Ho’.
We don’t feature too much Fuzzed out Stoner Rock Infused Rock but Caboose hit the mat of RPM Online HQ. Think Dessert Rock think Hellacopters think Wah Wah and trucker caps and wonderful drawing artwork of hotrods and the such like.
From the mean streets of New York City The Men release ‘Buyer Beware’ on Fuzz Club so what better time than to play the opening track off the album from this New York bunch of rockers ‘Pony’ it’s anything but. We love ourselves some swampy Urban Voodoo Machine style Rock tapping into the darker side of Rock n Roll owned by the likes of The Cramps and Gun Club so when we heard Sloks and their album ‘Viper we had to offer you ‘Do The Slok’ and swampy rock n roll banger I’m sure you’ll agree.
A band we’ve long since banged on about – Ravagers have a brand new album on the way ‘On The Loose’ released on Wanda In Europe and Spaghetty Town in The USA it features a track ‘Dogs’ which came out this past week so get an ear full of this and place a pre order and if yo happen to be in Mainland Europe you can catch them live as they visit in a few short months and have also been added to Michael Monroe when he hit the States Would be awesome if they had the whole tour but it might just be a one shot date.
Heading back to the UK for one of the finest bands currently treading the boards and making fine records, Continental Lovers released their debut album and seven-inch single which we played a few Episodes ago so we bring you the other track on the 7″ ‘Wedding Song’ awesome band and album and one we highly recommend.
Next is our Connections and Three interlinked tracks firstly New York Dolls released their third album in 2006 that featured Steve Conte and Sami Yaffa as well as Sylvain Sylvain and of course, David Johansen and the opening track was the rather splendid ‘We’re All In Love’ followed by ‘Taxi Driver’ courtesy of Hanoi Rocks then finally Teenage Fanclub with their take on ‘Personality Crisis’. We dedicate these connections to David Johansen who went public with his health issues this past week. You can donate at Sweet Relief or buy one of their rather fetching David J T-Shirts Here
Rum Bar Records consistently churns out good records and CDs and always lets a little ray of sunshine through the often murky waters we sail in and this offering is no exception. 20th Century Boys have a track entitled ‘Suzy’ released on the label and a new band on us so we thought we’d share it with you.
Hastings is the place and Haest released a new track on TNS Records ‘Did They Ever Find Out Who Let The Dogs Out’ and what a heart warming slice of punk rock this is too. Awesome song and another awesome label knocking out music for the underground but God knows why these bands are not household names.
Punk Rockers The Pegs from the West Coast have a track called ‘Nature Wants Us Dead’ which fits in with this fine episode .
Nottingham’s finest TV Crime have been quiet for a while but returned on Valentine’s Day with something of a Rock n Roll love letter to anyone who has a heart which is us so it was a no-brainer that it goes in this week’s playlist and what a fine slab of music it is too.
Soul Asylum had a short visit to these shores recently so we’ve been playing them at HQ for a while and whilst looking through the songs I have on the big computer I came across this banger from a while back when they did a rather good take of the DKs classic ‘Nazi Punks Fuck Off’.
The most excellent Speedways have released a digital single and Matt was kind enough to send this slice of New Wave, Power Pop perfection for our perusal and boy what an earworm this one is. Infectious Rock n Roll of the highest order and to think Matt and Joe from Continental Lovers used to do this together in The Breakdowns who also had a record released by Rum Bar Records. What a small world it is but I wouldn’t like to paint it.
The penultimate track this week had to be the closing track off the brand new album from Australians Punter and ‘It Ain’t Pretty’ should be on everyone’s want list. A stonking track of hardcore Australian punk with added saxophone (of course it has) if you haven’t already got your hands on this one then don’t waste time you’ll regret it.
To wind up the Episode we bring you the brand new track from Black Spiders ‘Never Enough’ from the album ‘Cvrses’. This brings Episode 58 to an end and once again I don’t think it’s being to big-headed but an absolute avalanche of top tuneage once again from all corners of the globe. Bringing great music to the masses call it a community service because it’s a crime that more people don’t tune in and love these bands like we do. Same place next week? With another show bursting with new songs and some olden but golden bangers. Thanks for joining us on this journey ta ta for now.
Swedish punk rockers City Saints are on album number six. formed in Gothenburg in 2012 they’ve toured all over Europe several times people in the UK will have no doubt seen them grace the stage at Rebellion Festival with their punchy street punk mixed with a bit of OI and some hard rock thrown in for good measure. The band have always played hard and turned in songs with attitude and always had a good sense of melody with catchy choruses, and terrace anthems if you like.
City Saints grew up with the Gothenburg punk scene in the late 70’s and early 80’s. “Explosiv!” kicks off with a surprise in the Ennio Morricone-inspired “Göta Älv”. A moody intro to lull you into a false sense of security before the high-paced anthems take you away. Sort of their own Derango 95 before songs like ‘Majorna’ and ‘På G’ are great examples of where they mix the rapid Ramones punk rock with a more dirty Rock n Roll and even though I don’t understand the lyrics I understand Punk Rock n Roll alright and this greasy punk n roll is right on the money. Sure if you mix some Sparrer with early Backyard Babies and Demons’ you might be with me in the very right place at the right time. ‘Smaken Av Blod’ just rocks out. they’re not taking prisoners and just get the foot on the monitor and go for it. ‘Stadden Brimmer’ has the gang vocal of Rancid and is a great example of that mix with a grunting bass run with some top-slashing riffage. Side one take a bow your work here is done.
Flip it over and it’s heads down for some boogie rock with the title track kicking out the twelve-bar rock n roll. Love the bridge with its thumping Bass solo and groove on the drums before some tasty harmonica honkin for good measure. It’s down and dirty rock’n’roll for sure and done really well. ‘Blod & Bly’ starts off with a measured Angus lick before it’s called to arms and rocks like fuck. Heads down the finish line is getting near so ‘Nitad’ cuts loose and just rock out before ‘Kranarnas Stad’ continues the party. The final song is something of an outro “Fan Ta Er” which is a short live cut done with vocals and harmonica like were stood around an open fire near the sea as we all stomp our feet but a great way to catch our breath before we dive back in and do it all again. Great effort from Swedoens City Saints ‘Explosiv’ by name explosive by nature. Get involved it is a cracker.
Having seen Richard put in a pretty impressive shift slinging his six strings with Marc Valentine it has been something of a pleasure to have this album on heavy rotation for the past few weeks. It’s the second offering from Richard and this is another step in the right direction offering a gritty real-life view on the world be it through an acoustic guitar or the wheeze of a harmonica or some laid-back telecaster rock n roll its an album filled with twists and turns in a world just off the beaten track where everything polished and sanitised this is real campfire rock n roll with its big beating heart worn proudly on its collective sleeve. from the opening mid-tempo stroll of ‘Keep Your Fire Burning’ it breaks of moonshine Rock n roll with a chorus that digs in and refused to leave until you’ve chased that dragon one more time.
There’s a feeling of yesteryear as the guiding lights of Mott The Hoople and The South of France Stones collide with Thunders and Perrett. ‘Soldiers Of Fortune’ is a marvellously crafted song that’s pumping blood around the speakers with the likes of Thunders whispering melodies into Davies’s ear for inspiration without ever sounding like his heroes in a copycat way but leaning on their rich catalogues for inspiration.
I love the swagger of ‘Human On The Inside’ and the arrangement is excellent as the song soars toward the chorus you feel like you’ve been on a journey with the band and it was the best of times real roots rock n roll. Theres a lot to admire on ‘Born To Drown’ with its subtle keys sounding like a song Stuart and Prophet would have loved to have written in their Green On Red heyday.
‘Born To Drown’ is another unassuming earworm from the melody to the arrangement it’s not at all overcrowded even though there is a lot going on a great tune from what is unquestionably a talented band. ‘Lead Me Out Of The Wilderness’ is more laid back with a hint of Dylan and a great vocal. ‘Age Of The Blade’ is a sharp riff and ‘Higher Station’ has a hint of Americana in there and some great backing vocals to light up the Chorus. The album closes out with the Surprise cover of ‘Live For Today’ and what a pleasant surprise it is too. I always get a little worried when I hear people covering a Stiv Bator song because of the high regard I hold him in but this is spot on. Richard hasn’t tried to copy or mimic note for note rather he’s interpreted and handled it with kid gloves and paid respect to a classic in the interpretation and delivery and to be fair it just about caps off one of the strongest albums I’ve had the pleasure of in quite a while. Great effort all round and an album I highly recommend, While the world might be heading to hell in a handcart it’s reassuring to know that I can have an awesome soundtrack as I go down in flames and ‘High Times And Misdemeanours’ is right at the top of the playlist playing loud and proud. Simple one this – go Buy It!
ME TOO // SINGLE & VIDEO – CHOOSE THE BEAR TOUR // SPRING 2025
MILLIE MANDERS AND THE SHUTUP have released their new single Me Too, taken from their acclaimed second album Wake Up, Shut Up, Work. The single is the fourth and final to be taken from the album and comes with an acoustic version on the B-side and an intensely powerful and emotional video directed by Ell Bobin. The release comes ahead of the band’s Choose The Bear Tour in the spring, which includes their biggest headline London show to date at Camden Dingwalls and will raise money for Sexual and Domestic Abuse charities along with a new Angry Ted Plushie bear. The bear will be strictly limited to 500 with £6 from each one being donated to The Survivors Trust, Refuge UK and Beyond The Streets with the aim of raising £1000 for each charity.
Pic: Tina K
The video features members of Ramona’s Tea Party, who supported Millie Manders and The Shutup on their headline UK tour in the autumn of last year, and members of the audience on those shows.
Speaking about the video, Millie says:
“Thank you to Ramona’s Tea Party for the excellent acting and for spending hours on set with us, and especially to Ramona for deeply immersing herself in the moment, making us all emotional. And thank you to the literally hundreds of people across our shows who chose to be filmed for this video. We are so sorry we couldn’t fit more in. It was staggering the number of you who wanted to be involved with this.Thank you so much for watching and for your support.”
Wake Up, Shut Up Work reached #2 in the UK Rock & Metal album chart and #6 in the UK Independent album chart upon its release in August, and is the follow up to their Telling Truths, Breaking Ties debut. The album is available on CD and vinyl from https://linktr.ee/milliemanders and a host of independent record stores alongside all major streaming and download platforms.
Recent Comments