Iron Lizards – Hungry For Action’ (The Sign Records)

Iron Lizards – Hungry For Action’ (The Sign Records)

There is a lot to be angry with in the world today, particularly the last 14 months, 2 weeks, and 6 days…… But hey! Who’s counting? Although, saying that, sometimes the things that you really want might actually be there if you just reach out and grab them (no this isn’t pyramided selling). Do you want Raw Power? You got it! Do you want something Young, Loud & Snotty? You got it! Do you need something raging with the strength of a bag of amphetimin to keep you up with Lemmy on a weekend binge? You got that too! If Iron Lizards are ‘Hungry For Action’, all I can say is that it must be a pandemic in itself as I too have picked the metallic reptile’s insatiable appetite.

The record kicks off with lead single ‘It’s About Time’; I don’t know what the speed limit is in France but the pace of the tracklisting is relentless and I am here for every breakneck second of it! The seamless, relentless, and hi-octane from song to song with powerful garage punk laced riffs, the pneumatic rhythm section, all combined with the vocal delivery of James William Oesterburg giving a sermon on the mount. This rock’n’roll Jim, but not as we know it.
Four songs in we’re finally given the chance to catch our collective breath in the form of the incendiary breakdown towards the end of the ironically titled ‘no escape’. Effortlessly guiding us into the next track ‘obey/annihilate’; the band really displays its chops here in the form of their songwriting sensibilities, showing the fire and intensity of previous material but with an overall more grandiose setting and effects. From this, we’re lead even further down the genre rabbit hole with ‘death ride’, Cramped to the rafters with Lux Interior swagger.
‘Confusion blues’ takes us back on the straight and narrow of speed laced Punk’n’Roll, barely giving the punters a chance to recoup their cognitive thoughts of a world that doesn’t beat to the drum of Iron Lizard’s brutal yet beautiful onslaught.
You may have gathered whilst reading that I’m quite fond of this record, do yourselves, your friends, and your family a favour; buy this record, keep your eye on potential tour dates, and basically spend your time and money on this band. They definitely deserve it.
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Author: Dan Kasm

Guttercats – ‘Eternal Life’ (Take The City Records (Spain), Sweet Grooves Records (Spain) & Wishing Well Records (France))

Guttercats – ‘Eternal Life’ (Take The City Records (Spain), Sweet Grooves Records (Spain) & Wishing Well Records (France))

Parisian Rock and Rollers Guttercats continue on their pursuit of the Rock and Roll dream of making music they clearly love and live.

Constantly gigging in France, Guttercats released their first album “Pandora’s Box” in 2009. They took their laid-back Stonesy, Thunders gypsy-like tones around Europe living it as they played it – carefree and doing just what they wanted like fellow soul mates Kusworth, Sudden and Honest John Plain who they shared the road with. through France, Spain, Germany & Belgium.

‘Eternal Life’ was recorded in Paris & continues in the band’s vein of acoustic and electric Rock and Roll lovely dreamy balladeering and from the heart Rock n Roll.  The opener ‘Wild Animal’ begins with some atmospheric slide layered guitar fading in and out over some gentle acoustic guitars as the song builds as it ebbs and flows. adding more textures with various strings its got a cool feel to it.  

 

It’s fair to say the band stick to the mantra of if it’s not broken don’t fix it and plow on just writing songs they trust will carry them forwards.  The more uptempo and traditional rocker of ‘Keep The Flame’. There’s no point in taking big risks or adding textures to your music for the sake of it so do what you do but do it well has served Guttercats and its that dedication to their style that will indeed keep pushing the band forwards and it also means that they will continue to release quality records like ‘Eternal Life’.  the balladeering is and has always been excellent and tracks like the of beat and poetic ‘Farewell’ are excellent and mystical as the song wafts into the ether creating a twisted melody that is engaging and beautiful.

 

‘Dark Room’ is a brooding darker number with a throbbing bassline is a sidestep and a great addition to the flow of the album. ‘End Of Times’ has a romantic edge to it with the violin adding yet more texture to the record. ‘Know Your Roots’ is something of a twisted blues as the pace speeds up and falls back its a trip of a song with the screaming slide lurking in the mix rather than in your face.

As we head off into the tail end of the album ‘If I Had A Loaded Gun’ is a heaving five-plus minute epic that flys by and a real high point of the record with its layered acoustic backbone and the piano stabs and electric guitar jabbing away creating a really good song with Guts vocals making the listener lean in and hang off his every word – excellent song.

 

Closing the album off with the title track is another five-minute plus beast of a song. Encapsulating everything that Guttercats do to perfection like some gothic-tinged slice of ragged Rock and Roll Guttercats carry the torch forward for all the fallen like Thunders, Kusworth, Bators, Sudden.  If you want a record to accompany the late-night red wine sessions that you crave then look no further than Guttercats they still do Rock and Roll and do it very well.  ‘Eternal Life’ is a mighty fine record that deserves to be heard and loved buy it!

 

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Author: Dom Daley

Stiv – A fantastic new Documentary get screening date – ticket details

Stiv – A fantastic new Documentary get screening date – ticket details

A new documentary on legendary DEAD BOYS frontman STIV BATORS is to get its UK premiere next month.

Born 70 years ago, the charismatic singer was the original embodiment of the self-destructive punk frontman with Cleveland, Ohio’s DEAD BOYS before embarking on a solo career. He went on to team up with members of SHAM 69 in THE WANDERERS. His greatest success came in the mid-80s with THE LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH alongside The Damned founder Brian James, Dave Tregunna from Sham 69 and ex-Barracudas drummer Nicky Turner.

The succinctly-titled Stiv, which features heaps of rare and unseen footage, as well as new interviews with all the major players in the singer’s life, is to receive its UK premiere on 24 March at the Regent Street Cinema, London as part of the Soundscreen Festival, presented in conjunction with Vive Le Rock! The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the film’s director Danny Garcia.

Tickets are available here.