American Jetset – ‘Saloon Rock Whiskey Pop’ (Self Release)

American Jetset – ‘Saloon Rock Whiskey Pop’ (Self Release)

American Jetset arrived in the world a little over a year ago and immediately impressed me on their debut EP ‘Live Love Die on Main.’ It quickly became a fixture in my rotation for the rest of the year. This release I suppose could fall in the mini-album category at six songs plus an intro. If you rewind 35 years, these songs would now be lodged into your brain by being played over and over again over the years as they would have been stars on the Sunset Strip, but the nice thing is American Jetset injects a healthy dose of a modern feel into their sound.

‘Welcome to Devil’s Canyon’ serves as a brief intro track that takes across the desert and into town as the train passes by. Drums rise in the background until we hear a woman scream that takes us into the sleazy awesome ‘Walking Contradiction.’ I love the bass intro by Kevin Harrington as it really sets up the entire song. With a sleazy groove that reminds me of early Faster Pussycat with some Junkyard added into the mix, this one contains a great hook in the chorus both vocally and musically. Ian Kaine MacGregor (also guitar) possesses a voice that can be really smooth but can also carry a slight sleazy whine when it is needed.  ‘Gold and Nines’ keeps up the excellence with a commercial feel, huge chorus, and plenty of guitar licks throughout the song to make you break out the air guitar. They even add in a part totally designed for a crowd to sing the chorus with them which makes it extremely contagious on even a first listen.

Lance Reeder and MacGregor have loaded these songs with plenty of guitar riffs and solos so even the mid-tempo ‘One More Time Around’ features an excellent riff and a vibe that just screams celebrating life, this moment, and blocking out whatever wall reality may be ready to throw at you. It makes me wish I had the ability to play guitar. They take a slight turn on ‘Getaway Car’ which adds the slightest of twangs to the music but is in no way a country song as it is still clearly a rock song, just more subdued. The backing vocals give it some nice depth, and the guitar solo works perfectly.

‘1000 Ghosts’ features a quick riff that provides an immediate hook to the song that sticks to you like maple syrup on your feet. They then lay into a catchy chorus that will likely find you singing along as you’re bouncing around the room, car, etc. The final song ‘Never Be Goodbye’ provides that acoustic campfire kind of send off that works perfectly for this release. As the band’s stature grows, this could turn into one of those moments where it is just the crowd singing and clapping as the band prepares for an encore.

At just about 20 minutes, there are no wasted moments here. It is over way too fast and leaves you wanting more. The solution is, of course, to play the whole thing over again, and, if you don’t have them yet, I recommend adding the first EP and the ‘This Ain’t Hollywood’ single to your mix for more of a full album experience. American Jetset crashed into my world over a year ago because of their great songs, and this release shows that they were not a one-trick pony. Pick up this album and prepare to sing your butt off while these songs remind you of how good music can make you feel.

‘Saloon Rock Whiskey Pop’ is available now.

Bandcamp

Website

Facebook

Author: Gerald Stansbury

 

 

 

 

Deathtraps – ‘Stole Your Rock ‘n’ Roll’ (Spirit Of Disaster Records)

Deathtraps – ‘Stole Your Rock ‘n’ Roll’ (Spirit Of Disaster Records)

Album #3 from Newport’s finest exponents of gutter-level rock ‘n’ roll is finally here and it’s worth the wait bruthas and sistas! Deathtraps formed after a chance meeting between two ex Sick Livers and a Flyscreen at a Dwarves gig in the summer of 2016, and Veej(vocals/guitar), Matty (drums) and Fraser (vocals/bass) haven’t looked back since.

Riding on two killer albums, namely 2017’s ‘Justice For The Risca One’ and 2018’s sophomore ‘Gotta Get Some’ the scuzzy three-piece offer up their new long player ‘Stole Your Rock ‘n’ Roll’ and what a glorious slab of filthy noise it is too!

 

“Deathtraps stole your rock ‘n’ roll and they play it much better than you” they scream in the title track. “But who did they steal it from?” I hear you cry. Well, maybe they stole the beat from the lord or they sold their souls to the devil at Risca junction, but whatever happened, they sound like Turbonegro dry-humping The Hellacopters with their middle finger shoved so far up Motorhead’s ass it’ll come out bleeding, yeah they’re that good! Think Zeke, think MC5 or ‘Total 13’era Backyard Babies, think turbo-charged rock ‘n’ roll of the highest order and you’ll be getting close muthafuckers!

It starts with a brutal assault on the senses with their anti-love song ‘Let’s Fall Out Of Love’ and doesn’t let up for the following 35 minutes or so. An earful of dirty guitars, a mouthful of blood, spit & beers and catchy hooks aplenty. This is the sound of Motorhead jamming with the finest rock ‘n’ roll bands that Scandanavia has to offer.

With songs about killing, self-destruction and unfortunate oral encounters delivered at breakneck speed, ‘Stole Your Rock ‘n’ Roll’ is not for the faint-hearted. It’s for those who like their music hard, fast and loud.

The cool kids will love ‘Fuck The Cool Kids’, with its bass rumble, AC/DC riffage and high energy delivery. The punks will dig ‘Too Fast To Last’ a song that has ‘em coming on like a Welsh Hip Priests. And anyone who has ever donned a biker jacket in the name of rock ‘n’ roll will get down to any song that name-checks Runaways members and the band’s own deprived introduction to the queen of the Blackhearts herself. Yes, ‘Joan Jett’ has a chorus so simple yet effective, you’ll be humming it all week, while scouring Ebay for a copy of ‘I Hate Myself For Loving You’ on 7” vinyl. And that’s a mighty fine place to be in my book. What’s not to like here?

Top track for me has to be ‘Tastes Like Blood’. It sounds like Turbonegro ripping off The Wildhearts (again), a glorious gang vocal chorus and riffs to matchmakes this an album highlight any day of the week.

 

The thing that sets Deathtraps apart from the gazillions of trashy punk bands, is their use of melody. They have the fine art of a catchy chorus nailed. Yeah, they are raw and fast, but the sing-ability of the likes of ‘Backstabbing For Beginners’  and ‘The Devil and Me’ will keep you singing and banging the head that doesn’t bang for days.

‘Stole Your Rock ‘n’ Roll’ is a shot of adrenaline straight to the jugular. It’s a high energy, euphoric collection of songs and fucking enjoyable from start to finish, job done.

 

Facebook

Author: Ben Hughes

 

 

Stone Temple Pilots – ‘Perdida’ (Rhino)

Stone Temple Pilots – ‘Perdida’ (Rhino)

After the tragic death of Scott Weiland, I (like many other STP fans) had no interest in new music from the band with a new singer, especially an X Factor contestant. The recruitment of Jeff Gutt just reeked of Rockstar INXS to me and it felt like a betrayal on the legacy of their enigmatic frontman. No one could replace Scott Weiland, surely?

But, look at it from their point of view. Dean and Robert Deleo, along with drummer  Eric Kretz have a hell of a back catalogue, one that took them to the top of the charts back in the ’90s, and why should they not continue to write, record and tour as that band? Let’s face it, many bands have continued and even become more successful after the loss of their singer (AC/DC anyone?).

That said, I gave their last album a wide birth and had no interest in the band until word filtered through of an acoustic album they had recorded. Ever since their famous MTV Unplugged session back in 1993, it seems STP were destined to release an acoustic album, it was just a matter of when.

 

‘Perdida’ was self-produced by the band and recorded at Eric Kretz’ Bomb Shelter studios. Using vintage instruments and exploring themes of loss, death and goodbyes, (Perdida literally means loss in Spanish) the band has crafted an introspective album that sees them bare their souls, as they come to terms with the grief and sadness that has filled their lives in recent years.

Opener ‘Fare Thee Well’ is an uplifting, monumental song. Lyrically about lost love, yet full of sentiment and hope. The ghost of Scott Weiland is all over this track, Jeff’s vocals bare an uncanny resemblance, and there is no denying it. And it sort of makes me feel uncomfortable like I shouldn’t really be liking it…but I do, I really do, the hairs standing up on the back of my neck don’t lie.

Dean’s folk-inspired guitar intro leads to a heartbreaking melody that builds and builds to a glorious chorus, with almost gospel-tinged backing. The drums are powerful yet understated, giving a solid base for the instruments to breathe life into a song that is utterly beautiful after just one listen. It sets the tone for the album and sets the bar very high indeed.

With a ‘less is more’ approach to this album, the sparse arrangements create space and the rustic instrumentation is added only where needed to accentuate the songs. Here, the addition of flute, alt sax and guitarrone add another dimension to the STP sound.

The likes of ‘She’s My Queen’ could easily be a bombastic rock song with different production and arrangement, yet here stripped back to bare bones with open chords and lush harmonies, it shines.

‘Three Wishes’ could have sat nicely on the more experimental third album ‘Tiny Music..’. Dean’s signature slide guitar and Robert’s bass runs certainly hark back to that era of the band. Similarly, ‘I Didn’t Know The Time’ with its flute solo and jazzy, lounge feel is something the band has toyed with in the past and here it sits remarkably well.

Nylon string guitar takes precedence over the Spanish influenced title track, it comes on a bit too Euro-folk for its own good for me, but ‘Years’ with its lazy, sun-drenched California vibes, has an almost Beach Boys meets Simon and Garfunkel feel.

Big mention for the folky ‘Miles Away’ that flows on a killer vocal melody and swathes of mournful violin, giving a rustic Parisian feel, more in line with The Urban Voodoo Machine. This is a glorious song – make no mistake.

 

Stone Temple Pilots have delivered the album they have always hinted at making. And while ‘Perdida’ is a departure for the band and something that has been brewing for years, it is still very much Stone Temple Pilots by name and by nature. There’s a newfound vulnerability to the band that brings to mind Alice In Chains classic ‘Jar Of Flies’ acoustic album.

Hauntingly, the ghost of Scott Weiland looms over every chord they play and every note that Jeff sings, it probably always will. Haters are gonna hate, but I for one think that these songs are too good to ignore and am totally surprised and grateful that Stone Temple Pilots have delivered an album I never thought I would hear, and to be honest it has made me fall in love with this band all over again.

Buy ‘Perdida’ Here 

Facebook

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas – Hot Nights In Saint Vandal (TNS Records)

Christmas – Hot Nights In Saint Vandal (TNS Records)

Everything was better in the old days. Everything but Christmas who became more unstoppable from year to year. While other bands pop up and quickly burn away, CHRISTMAS just gets better and better. More resilient, more brutal and more like the cockroach after a nuclear holocaust.  It was said that if Motorhead moved next door your lawn would wither and die unless the next-door neighbour happens to be Christmas.  They wouldn’t give a shit the lawn was dead because they were going on tour anyway

Christmas has spent the last ten-year making music with over thirteen releases in those ten years, playing a mammoth 500 gigs across countless countries and gone through a spinal tap amount of band members. Rock ‘n’ Roll is said to be on its last legs and hardcore punk is a dying genre, funnily enough, nobody sent Christmas the memo and if they did they’d use it to light the stick of dynamite they’re about to throw into your speakers.

This album is ignited when ‘Turn Me Lewd’ kicks off in your speakers with a really addictive brass line running alongside the vocals and those guitars are white-hot like a rabid ‘Nasty’. I might be mistaken here but this seems to have upped a gear or two from previous recordings from Christmas ‘Hey Mate’ is cheeky whilst the title track is an exercise in how to riff.

‘Waterloo’ has a brown noise rumbling low end on that bass guitar before sounding like its been fired out of a cannon. Great stuff – classic Christmas.  Hold the front page ‘Elvis Is Dead’ if only he had sounded like this or he sang a song like ‘Fuck It Up’. Brutal and uncompromising Christmas go full tilt on us on ‘Born To Booze’. As we raise a glass to yet another top record from Max and co and if you were in any doubt ‘Go Hard Or Go Home’ is a rocket ride of pure aggression and pounding hardcore that is done exceptionally well. Man, we’ve reached the end as there is only ‘Candy Me’ to play out. Max has got this down to a fine art now and he knows what it takes to pen a Christmas record and not a sleigh bell anywhere just hardcore punk rock done to perfection.  How long will it be before these guys are treated the same way as Bronx or Zugly for being as good as punk rock gets in the motherfuckin’ roaring ’20s.

Get on it people because they’re going to keep on regardless but Max needs to crowd surf and the more people who get into them the easier it will be to be carried around like royalty. It’ll be a ‘Hot Night’ anywhere if Christmas are playing any of these top tunes.

 

Buy ‘Hot Nights In Saint Vandal’ Here

Facebook

Red Arms – Critical State (Yeah Right!)

Red Arms – Critical State (Yeah Right!)

I can’t remember where or when I first heard Red Arms it might well have been one late night when I vanished down a Bandcamp wormhole and just happened across ‘Better Than Nothing’ the second track on ‘Critical State’. Maybe the first thing I noticed was they were Canadian and to be fair they throw up more than their fair share of great records in recent years.  Post punk, Power pop or alt rock  whatever you want to call it  Red Arms dish it up in spades and have made a most excellent long player.

I’ll level with you I don’t know anything about the band when I went looking for details and previous work I struggled to find anything  so it was a real discovery for me .I hear some Husker Du and The Who as well as more modern alternative bands like some Buffalo Tom and Anti Flag as well for good measure so a real melting pot but the production is bright and the songs sound well constructed and worked on. The album kicks off with ‘Post Punk’ which has something of a Stooges riff and rhythm about it and to be fair its more No Means No or Fugazi than anything else.  Its got energy for an opener and it’ll reel you in for sure. As the record unfolds the songs tend to settle down to mid paced efforts but with strong melodies and harmonies take ‘All This Noise’ as an example.

‘Midwinter’ builds around a bass rumble but a bit of an epic as the first minute takes its time to get going but by the second minute things get rockin’.  To be fair the second half of the album only gets stronger for me and I love the groove they get in on  ‘Pathetic Charms’. If you like a thumping bass rumble then ‘Huckster’ is for you before it starts thrashing around it ebbs and flows through some tempo changes.

To be fair I hear different influences on every play but they’ve managed to create a really listenable sound with a bunch of top tunes. Red Arms are another fine string to Canada’s impressive bow of Rock and Roll bands strutting their stuff this being immersed in the alternative underground but full to bursting with excellent melodies and tunes.  Go check em put but don’t hold me responsible for starting you off down that wormhole of discovery but it will be worth it.

Facebook

Buy Critical State Here

Author: Dom Daley

The Good The Bad And The Zugly – Algorithm & Blues (Fysisk Format)

The Good The Bad And The Zugly – Algorithm & Blues (Fysisk Format)

It’s always a good day when The Zuglys drop a new record of any description.  A bunch of Oslo natives kicking out the jams on their terms – dancing only to their own tune GBZ as we like to call them, are a force of nature and you need to let them into your life it must be pretty empty without them, that’s all I can assume? Besides I’m declaring right here right now that this is the finest Deathpunk album since ’98s ‘Apocalypse Dudes’ which is quite some gap.

Album number four (or five if you include the compilation of early releases) it would be fair to say that Zugly are one of the best-kept secrets in all of punk rock land.  How? Fuck knows is often a few words we use to describe the phenomena or just that people generally haven’t got a clue what’s good for them.  Over the next few paragraphs, I’m hoping to either put you off music for life or help persuade you to click the red words below and go investigate this band of maverick noisemakers.

Right, let’s do this. ‘Algorithm & Blues’ contains thirteen songs of varying levels of intensity mostly stressful full-on in your face punk rock Oslo style without compromise or a hint of wanting to conform to reach a wide audience of nodding dogs who wouldn’t know a good tune from a puddle of piss. The opening track is ‘Welcome To The Great Indoors’ which is nice. It begins with some Angus like scales working out up the fretboard before the rhythm section joins in building up to the crunch point then bosch! We’re off as the guitars pin you to the back of your seat and we’re careering downhill at a frantic rate of knots.  Fuck this is how to kick off your album. Ivar Nikolaisen leads the charge with his uncompromising vocals and what a thrilling four minutes that was.

 

Forget Turbonegro and Kvelertak this is how to rock out 2020 style.  this is where the bar gets set, these are the leaders and others will just have to follow, simples. ‘Fake Noose’ is intense and has a really haunting melody through the vocals it’s like audio crack it’s that addictive but then when you tackle the subject of elected dying and going to Switzerland to do it its gotta be a little intense right?.  The quality charge continues as ‘Staying With The Trouble’ is up next with its triumphant guitars and pop-savvy melody on those backing vocals its a lighter side of The Zuglys for sure. Have they finally decided to sell a little of their soul for success and chart acceptance?

 

After the slight interlude of ‘Follow Your Dreams’ were right back at it hammering away on ‘Kings Of Inconvenience’. ‘The Man Behind The (Oxygene) Mask’ is the Zuglys on top of their game it’s bold, it’s grand, it’s epic. It gallops from the off (no great shock there to be fair) but the melodies happening are fantastic and the more you play these songs the more things jump out you didn’t notice on the last play and this song is one of the best examples of that. Remember what you thought when you first heard Turbo knock out ‘Apocolpse Dudes’ well, this is like that.

 

‘Fuck Life…But How To Live It’ is hardcore heaven. Uncompromising and just full of boundless energy like the Beastie Boys tackling early Black Flag. The second single off the album ‘Corporate Rock’ is anything but.  Hounding out fake bands with a huge riff that belted out like a 30lb hammer landing on your temple. I’m standing firm behind these boys they know the score!

 

‘The Kids Are Alt-Right’ is tackling the hot potato of today’s global politics but I hope they’re wrong on this one I hope that Hope Not Hate prevails and the Kids are alright and our children don’t head down a wormhole of Trump and tory hate for anyone and everything except money and not 90% are nihilists.  C’mon Oslo’s finest offer us some hope?  whilst there is a darkness I have to believe the kids are generally all right.

 

Blimey, for some light relief from the last one ‘Fuck The Police’ raises the alarm, Doh! bollocks lets go with them. Use the intro to inhale then prepare to enter the pit as the intensity escalates. “Fuck, Fuck Fuck the Police” if you can’t beat them join them. That my friends is pretty much where we get off this trip except for ‘Requiem’ and its one last hurrah!  Rounding off an absolute belter to kick-off 2020.  The Good The Bad And The Zugly are everything you want them to be they make you think, Smile, Laugh, break things, give yourself over to the noise they make, be grateful you have them in your life and you also have impeccable taste in hardcore punk rock and roll Oslo style.

 

As they said it themselves on this record “Don’t tell me that the sky is the limit when there are footprints on the moon” Go The Zuglys I’m rootin’ for you to break on through.  Let’s make this go overground! Just go Buy it! it’s because you’re worth it!

Buy Algorithm & Blues Here

Facebook

Author: Dom Daley

Hard Wax – ‘This Is The Sound’ (Rebellion Records)

Hard Wax – ‘This Is The Sound’ (Rebellion Records)

There’s something gloriously familiar about this second long-player from UK bovver rockers Hard Wax, something that I can’t quite put my finger on, but it’s something that right from the very first spin has me beaming from ear to ear, so it must be something good right?

They say the make of any band is the strength of their tunes…and here on ‘This Is The Sound’ Wax main man Tom Boutwood (ably assisted by Paul Bond on drums, Tom Murphy on lead guitar and Matt Colton on bass) has penned some of the finest Oi! infused terrace anthems you’ll hear anywhere this year. Just like the recently released Michael Monroe album it’s not exactly groundbreaking or genre-bending stuff but sometimes I just need my punk rock music to be just that, straight ahead and no-frills, and right here on ‘This Is The Sound’ what you get for your entry money are ten premium cuts of bovver boy rock ‘n’ roll.

Kicking off with ‘Welcome To Bovver Rock City’ this just shy of two-minute long intro bears all the hallmarks of Hard Wax’s upcoming UK tour partners Giuda, albeit a Giuda fronted by someone who sounds a hell of a lot like Ginge Knievel.  And that right there is the familiar thing I couldn’t quite put my finger on at the top, because at times during ‘This Is The Sound’ it’s just like Mr Knievel has returned from his self-imposed exile and is finally fronting the band he’s always wanted to front. The similarity really is uncanny, but trust me, there’s a whole lot more to this record that the singer sounding a hell of a lot like the ex-Sick Livers/Nicotine Pretty frontman.

Things really kick off in style on ‘Living The Dream’, a proper piece of punk rock argy bargy designed to get your oxblood a-stomping. Elsewhere ‘This is The Sound’, ‘Days Of Glory’ (ooh hello Sailor) and ‘Razor Part Rebels’ (complete with an otherworldly Ace Frehley guitar riff) all steam out the blocks full of cock-sure 70s glam rock swagger and just a few spins later you’ll be singing along like you’ve had this album in your life since your childhood.
When the world outside your window is slowly turning to shit ‘This Is The Sound’ is the perfect pick me up record with tracks like ‘Have A Good Time’ and ‘Not Just a Pin-Up Girl’ guaranteed to make you smile once again, and in ‘Boys Of A Saturday Night’ and ‘Stomp All Over The World’ you have the near perfect soundtrack for a right proper tear up…on the dancefloor of course.

Which just leaves ‘In For a Penny’, a track I went straight to when I first got my copy of ‘This Is The Sound’ simply because I initially thought “wow a Slade cover that’s gonna take some balls”. Well, it’s actually not a cover, although the guitar riff is equal parts Hill and Holder and it’s the kind of glorious call to arms tune that would have seen Hard Wax on Top Of The Pops had it been released back in the 70s.
With a whole raft of great new punk rock records released by UK bands in 2019 (if you think otherwise then you really do need to read RPM more) I’m delighted to say that ‘This Is The Sound’ is right up there with the very best of them.

Now go get your boots on and get down your record shop and get yourself a copy.

Buy this is the sound Here

Facebook

Author: Johnny Hayward

The Good The Bad And The Zugly is back with a new album ‘ Algorithm & Blues’

The Good The Bad And The Zugly is back with a new album ‘ Algorithm & Blues’

Pre-sales are up for one of our favourite Norweigan bands.  The Good The Bad And The Zugly will release their new album ‘Algorithm & Blues’ in January and pre-sales are already up for grabs. Available in Transparent blue vinyl (limited to 250 copies) Transparent yellow vinyl (limited to 250 copies) Standard black vinyl (limited to 800 copies)
and Digipack CD.

Artwork is done by Flu Hartberg as always and it’ll come out on Fysisk Format and as a taster, the single ‘Staying With The Trouble’ is released.

 

Diamond Dogs – ‘Recall Rock ‘n’ Roll And The Magic Soul’ (Wild Kingdom Records)

Diamond Dogs – ‘Recall Rock ‘n’ Roll And The Magic Soul’ (Wild Kingdom Records)

Following the recent news of an upcoming ‘best of’ package and vinyl re-issues of four classic albums, Sweden’s finest purveyors of glam slam boogie the Diamond Dogs are back with a new long-player of brand new music to whet the appetite.

It seems you can’t keep a good band down, and four years after they called it quits, following the tragic death of saxophonist Magic Gunnarsson, original members Sulo and keyboard player Henrik “Honk” Widen decided it was time to get the band back together. Joining the duo are long-serving guitarist Lars Karlsson, fellow guitarist Martin Thomander, bassist Stefan Bellnas and Thomas Broman on the drums.

While a revolving door of band members has come and gone over the years, the sound remains the same. Let’s just say, if you dig the cool as you like vintage rock ‘n’ roll of The Faces meets The Stones, then grab a Jack & Coke, drop the needle and sit back and enjoy!

 

Now, when I say new music, all is not quite as it seems. If you were to purchase this album on vinyl then you could say side A is Diamond Dogs originals; recalling their rock ‘n’ roll roots. And then side B is their own tribute to Soul legend Sam Cooke; six cover versions of classic cuts from the Soul singer, reinterpreted in their own classic style.

While their last few studio albums have been a bit patchy, this is a banger of an album from start to finish. Their trademark rock ‘n’ roll shuffles bring to mind a golden age of early 70’s British rock. Anyone from The Stones, Slade and Quo comes to mind at any given moment. You know the score.

 

Opening song ‘Recall Rock ‘n’ Roll’ sets the bar high from the off and sees singer Sulo in introspective mood as the band fire on all cylinders behind him. “Let’s turn back time and make it roll!” he suggests before blasting into a euphoric chorus. The likes of ‘Valentina (Queen Of Broken Hearts)’ and ‘Heavy Swing’ have that classic Sulo chorus refrains in abundance. High energy rock ‘n’ roll, with a tinkling of the ivories and key changes that takes it up nicely to the climax. No one does Mott meets The Faces better.

There’s a hint of sadness to the soulful balladry that ‘Singin’ With Elvis’ brings to the table. Sulo reminisces about times gone by and the ghosts of the past. “I walk down the street where we all used to meet, but it was all dark and quiet” he sings in an almost broken rasp. Swathes of Hammond organ and great, Stones inspired backing harmonies make this essential Dogs material.

The uber-cool ‘There Is A Fire Down There’ has a Black Crowes swagger, with trademark killer backing vocals and a wild n’ crazy slide guitar solo. No one does rock ‘n’ roll rapture quite like the Diamond Dogs do these days.

 

The album is split down the middle by ‘Soul Folks’, a re-recording of a Sulo original that first appeared on his album ‘Hear Me Out’. Sulo’s own tribute to his soul hero that actually comes across like an Exile-era Stones outtake. Cracking stuff indeed.

Now, the Sam Cooke side of things includes a bunch of guests. First up, we have Quireboys frontman Spike lending his gravelly tones to the good time rock ‘n’ roll of ‘Good Times’. Handclaps, sax and heavenly, female backing vocals bring the soul and help get the party started.

The good time boogie of ‘Don’t Fight it, Feel It’ and the 12 bar blues stomp of ‘Somebody Have Mercy’ are delivered in fine Diamond Dogs style, you wouldn’t even guess they were old Soul songs on first listen.

They breathe new life into ‘Keep Movin’ On’. Faster and more uplifting, that killer chorus introduces a song that sounds like it has always been in your head. Hellacopters main man Nicke Andersson adds his dulcet tones to this banger.

Thunder frontman Danny Bowes duets with Sulo on ‘Nothing Can Change This Love’. With the lyrical sentiment and the sparse musicianship, it retains the soulful feel of the original, but it’s given the Diamond Dogs treatment.  A rendition that sounds like it was recorded 50 years ago, not six months ago.

‘Sugar Dumpling’ closes the album and is my favourite of these cover versions. Featuring Swedish rapper Papa Dee, they take to another level entirely. To me, it comes on like The Dave Clarke Five meets The Archies, classic 60’s pop and a surprise finale. What a tune!

 

‘Recall Rock ‘n’ Roll And The Magic Soul’ will not only satisfy Diamond Dogs fan who have been craving more material, it will also remind those who forgot exactly why we missed them in the first place.

Ok, so it may not be an album full of original material. But as the title suggests, this new album is a throwback to the roots and the influences of what made Diamond Dogs one of Sweden’s greatest musical exports. And that is something we should all celebrate.

Facebook

Buy The Album Here

Author: Ben Hughes

Subhumans – Crisis Point (Pirates Press)

Subhumans – Crisis Point (Pirates Press)

The first new record from Lucas and his Subhumans in a while (Twelve Years?) and with the current global situation its not like Lucas has had writers block or lacking the inspiration.  Everywhere you look there’s a meltdown – climate change, government leaders lying, despots taking over, smiling, lying and cheating yet it seems OK to the public. Nobody loses their jobs its all fair game. Summed up nicely on ‘Fear & Confusion’. A more polished sounding record that their last outing ‘Internal Riot’ but it every bit as sharp and relevant.

To be fair Subhumans have always released intelligent records their Anarcho leanings have always been dressed really well in big riffs, tight time changes and some sharp as fuck punk rock. ‘Crisis Point’ seems apt as Lucas starts the war cry with the flurry of opening punches on ‘Terrorist In Waiting’ great lyrics (as usual) thunderous drumming and riffs raining down on the listener with an energy and excitement that sets the album up really well.

throughout the albums eleven tracks the ebb and flow is excellent.  I love the attitude on ‘Atom Screen War’ emanating from the riff as it pounds away but it’s nicely pinned by the bass thats rumbling away underneath.  To be fair the sound is reminiscent of the last few UK Subs albums. ‘Follow The Leader’ takes that edginess up a notch as the album has warmed up and is really taking flight. Strange land has the feel and sound the band had back in the ’80s with that flange riff and repetitive beat its a really good tune and one that shows how bloody good a band Subhumans are.

Its no good looking for a weakness because there isn’t one.  Its a really consistent album its focused and as you’d imagine thought provoking with excellent lyrics and a great production. ‘Crisis Point’ is ticking all the boxes whats not to like? If you want fast no nonsense heads down punk rock then Subhumans do that ‘Poison’ if you want intricate musicianship Subhumans can do that for you, if you want lyrics that are well constructed and thought provoking to prick your conscience subhumans can do that. They were a big part of that early ’80s punk explosion and are still going strong along with the Subs,  they always turned in better records than Crass and Conflict in my humble opinion and this record is proof that they are as relevant now as they always were. ‘Crisis Point’ can cover all your modern punk rock needs as well as you old school punks wondering if Dick has still got it.  Of course he has. My advice is get hold of ‘Crisis Point’ now and get on board its never too late. Buy it!

Pick up a Copy Here 

Author: Dom Daley