A year ago  Ardo from Dead Furies had an idea to compile a tribute album for New Bomb Turks, perhaps his favorite band. He reached out to some of the best up-and-coming rock bands and some rock mainstays to see if they would be interested. The response he got was overwhelmingly positive. The tracks started coming in, they were even better than he had hoped for.  In the end, he got 14 different incredible artists from Europe and North America.

Newish label on the block, Dragstrip Riot Records collaborated with seasoned labels Ghost Highway Recordings from Spain and Spaghetty Town Records from the US to bring you “No Heroes No Leaders No Artists No Gods”. Every label released a different limited colored vinyl and also the regular black version.

I love me some New Bomb Turks back in the day and like many, they were one of those underground bands who didn’t make bad records yet never copped the break to take them overground say in a way that Rocket From The Crypt did for a little while and had their fifteen minutes.  I’ll admit I’ve not played a Turks record in a while but with recent represses of bands like The Dragons I did delve into the 90s mob of Zeke, Street walking Cheetahs and of course New Bomb Turks.  Then this compilation album of some of the finest bands currently making the earth move popped up on my radar featuring fourteen takes on NBT tracks.  what a great idea that man.  But wait. Not one but two tribute albums come out around the same time as ‘Defiled’ A Heavy Medication Tribute To The New Bomb Turks also gets released. with a bumper eighteen covers featuring eighteen different bands but that’s for another review.

First up is Professional Againsters who do a rather splendid take on ‘Bolans Crash’ which sets the tone to be fair. With some harmonica honking added for good measure, it’s a really solid start to proceedings from a band who clearly gets it.   Some of our favourite noisemakers are present and plugged in and its great to hear how bands put a twist on someone else’s song and take ownership like “Demons” who knock out an eventful ‘Pretty Lightning’.

Having knocked out this year’s frontrunner to the best album of the year The Boatsmen electrify ‘Wine And Depression’ and take it downtown for a night on the tiles and maybe a street fight before giving it an Iggy and the stooges twist  – great stuff.

The Chuck Norris Experiment add some muscle with their take on ‘End Of The Great Credibility Race’ which appeared on the Turks ‘Nightmare Scenario’ album back in 2000. The quality of these bands is evident for all to hear and the respect for one of the bands that helped define a scene is clearly a labour of love as the bands do such a sterling job here none more so than plague Islands finest The Hip Priests who take ownership of ‘Jukebox Lean’ and close off a rather impressive side one as Von Cruz leads the boys on a scuzzed up fuzzed up noise fest and I love it.

Flipping over its time for Estonias finest combo Dead Furies to get their groove on as they kick back and just get on the groove of ‘Your Beaten Heart’ which is one of the records best numbers to give credit where its due. This really is a league of nations as Scumbag Millionaire turn up the bass rumble as they’re ‘Tryin’ To Get By’.

If I were to pick my favouite Turks album it might well be ‘Scared Straight’ and its a joy to hear The Drippers kick the shit out of that albums opener ‘Hammerless Nail’. Staying on ‘Scared Straight those purveyors of filth Jonesy knock out a fistful of dynamite on ‘Jeers Of A Clown’.  Kicking it back they really use the harmonies well and give the track plenty of swing as they delve right back to the bands beginnings.

As we head into the home straight it’s the time for those punk rock n rollin Killer Hearts ‘Spanish Fly By Night’ that’s a lo-fi attack before Londons Randy Savages blast through ‘We Give A Rats Ass’ with gusto and a swagger that sums up what we have here and proof that there are plenty of great bands out there making loud rock and roll that you really should check out from the labels who’ve pulled this together to the bands who contriubte its always a real joy and pleasure to review some records when they’re as good as this.

with Scandi Rock legends the Hellacopters closing off this mighty fine tribute with ‘Veronicas Lake’ its an exceptional way to call time on this tribute.  If you’ve never heard of the New Bomb turks or any of these bands then this a fantastic introduction but hurry before they are all gone!

Available through:
Spaghetty Town Records- USA / Dragstrip Riot Records – Estonia / Ghost Highway Recordings – Spain

Author: Dom Daley