Valhalla Awaits – ‘Reckoning EP’ (Self Release)

Valhalla Awaits – ‘Reckoning EP’ (Self Release)

South Wales has always been well known for producing serious talent. If you think back to the 90s, bands like Dub War, Flyscreen, 60-foot dolls, and of course Stereophonics and the Manics put South Wales on the musical map. We then had the likes of the Blackout, the Guns, Ruby Cruiser, Kids in Glass Houses etc who were also very successful.  Now we have established acts like Bullet For My Valentine, Skindred, Phil Campbell & the Bastard Sons, and brand-new talent such as Florence Black and Those Damn Crows flying the Welsh flag around the world.

The latest of the Welsh dragons climbing the ladder are Valhalla Awaits. The band consists of ex members of The Blackout, Revoker, and the considerable vocal talents of Buffalo Summer frontman Andrew Hunt.

They have been gracing the stages of the summer festivals in recent months and they really are a force to be reckoned with live. After seeing the guys open proceedings at this year’s Steelhouse festival, I can confirm that Valhalla Awaits are the real deal. No egos or drama or fancy stage shows, just full-on heads down, stripped back riffage with a wonderful sense of melody that sets them apart from many of their contemporaries.

The guys are ready to drop their second EP Reckoning on an unprepared audience. I really hope you are ready to immerse yourself in the experience of this short, sharp collection of crushing tunes. Grab a cuppa, maybe a round of toast, put your headphones on and crank it up. The EP opens up with the first single Skin & Bone, a grungy, greasy, groovy number with a Machine Head tinged riff. Drummer ‘Snoz’ Lawrence plays a blinder here with some tasteful fills and he grooves along like a freight train.

Next up we have Rolling Thunder which is a more up-tempo affair with a massive chorus, I get a definite Alter Bridge vibe from this track. Some tasty guitar work helps to build the song along with Hunt’s velvety tones. The songs are more than heavy enough to satisfy the most hardened headbanger while never compromising melody. Where Do We Go? has an Alice In Chains feel to the vocal arrangement with another ear worm of a chorus. Guitarists Rhys Carter and Chris Green work incredibly well together, and there’s an air of confidence within the band that manifests strongly in the material found here on this EP.

The final of the four tracks Inside the Sun is my favourite by far, more crunchy riffs and superb soaring vocals melt into an extremely catchy chorus. The songs are well crafted, and the production is superb. The only downside is that there are only four tracks! Hurry up with an album boys!

If you haven’t already, check out Valhalla Awaits. If you’re a fan of any of the bands that I’ve mentioned above, you won’t be disappointed.

Reckoning is available on all streaming services on October 28th. You know what to do!

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Author: Kenny Kendrick

Skid Row – ‘The Gangs All Here’ (Absolute Records)

Skid Row – ‘The Gangs All Here’ (Absolute Records)

We all know about Skid Row’s past. I’m not going over old roads that’s been run over a million times because there are way too many potholes to avoid. All we need to focus on is the fact that Skid Row have put out their strongest album since the Slave to the Grind days. New vocalist Erik Gronwall has stamped himself all over the album and this means that there is a huge step up in quality. I really can’t emphasise enough how good he is.

This new opus is called The Gang’s All Here and the album cover with the five band members sporting matching stars and stripes leather jackets, shows a united front (well, back actually) and it really feels that Skid Row will at last lose the Sebastian Bach shaped shadow that has loomed over them for so long. The current line up of Dave Sabo, Rachel Bolan, Scotti Hill, Gronwall, and drummer Rob Hammersmith really are a juggernaut of classic metal. The album really gels as a whole and the crystal-clear production from Nick Raskulinecz ensures that the songs leap from the speakers with a newfound energy that the other incarnations of Skid Row have struggled to achieve.

The album opens with Hell or Highwater, it’s a perfect introduction with ex H.E.A.T. man Gronwall spitting out the lyrics and hitting some incredible high notes. The band really seem to have a new lease of life, there are crunchy, heavy riffs everywhere with more hooks than Leatherface’s butchering room. The title track gives a cheeky nod to Tricky Little Vicky who first appeared in the band’s 1989 song Rattlesnake Shake. Not Dead Yet is an up-tempo affair with another ear worm of a chorus, the band sound like they are having the time of their lives here, a real highlight of the album. I can imagine beaming smiles all round during the recording process.

Time Bomb is a down tuned monster with an absolute beast of a riff that Iommi would be proud of. Resurrected sounds like a band that have been just that. They really have been born again with this line up, strong songs, superb performances, and a real throwback to when the band were at their best. Nowhere Fast is another barnstormer with some great guitar work from Sabo and Hill. The album closes with World on Fire which is no doubt a hint to the last few years we have all experienced, as well as the environmental disasters that seem to be more and more frequent.

I really think that this incarnation of the band will be the most successful since the Bach heydays. Miss this album at your peril. The band are touring the UK and Europe from Oct 19th and judging by a few YouTube punters videos that I checked out before sitting down to review this album, they will be a force to be reckoned with live.

Sebastian who?

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Author: Kenny Kendrick

Kid Kapichi – ‘Here’s What You Could Have Won’ (Spinefarm Records)

Kid Kapichi – ‘Here’s What You Could Have Won’ (Spinefarm Records)

A subtle variation on the title of this sophomore release from Hastings four-piece Kid Kapichi (made up of Ben Beetham on guitars, vocals, Eddie Lewis on bass, George Macdonald on drums and Jack Wilson on vocals, guitars) will already be known by some of us of a certain age as the catchphrase from an 80s gameshow called Bullseye. Said gameshow would end with the pair reaching the show’s finale asked if they would like to keep the prizes they had already won or risk it all on a six dart 101 or more shit or bust scenario, for a super, (smashing, great,) star prize that would only be revealed once the outcome of the challenge was known.  As you can probably guess (if you’ve never actually seen the show) said catchphrase was uttered more than it wasn’t and as such it left the failing contestants open to humiliation by TV as they saw their dream of a new car, caravan or new kitchen hauled off in front of their tear-filled eyes. Not unlike maybe, a few of those who voted Tory at the last UK general election must now be feeling.

Yes, I just mentioned politics folks, so if you prefer your music devoid of conscience you best look away now.

I actually first heard Kid Kapichi at the start of 2022 via the single and lead track here ‘New England’, largely because it features a mid-song rap tirade from the highly respected Bob Vylan, and after that opening blow to the senses, I was well and truly hooked and couldn’t wait to hear the full album. Bouncing in like a ‘We Care A Lot’ for the 2020s ‘New England’ is indeed a righteous sound. Punk as fuck yet not in your normally gnarly guitar driven sense. Nah, this bad boy swaggers around full of electro rap attitude and dares to tell those who campaigned for Britain to leave the EU what they have actually achieved. I’ll leave the rest for you to figure out.

After this explosive opener the remaining ten tracks that make up the album could have actually  been something of an anti-climax, but fear not folks, its only when the almost Oasis-like ‘Party At Number 10’ (an acoustic ode to the Partygate farce that basically saw the UK government laughing in the face of the entire country) pops up at track five that you actually get to draw breath, as the likes of ‘I.N.V.U’, ‘5 Days On (2 Days Off), ‘Rob The Supermarket’ and the immense ‘Super Soaker’ are all fist in the air anthems, delivered in vicious bite sized chunks of hook laden electro-beat punk.

‘Cops & Robbers’, which crops up mid album is perhaps my favourite track here, fusing the spirit of Tone Loc with the dancefloor anarchy of The Prodigy, it actually also reminds me of The Howling the band Towers Of London guitarist Rev formed after he left them and then guested on guitar with the twisted firestarters. 

It’s not all-party anthems though as the once again Oasis-like ‘Never Really Had You’ proves and if it were 1997 this track would have been instantly labelled Britpop rather than simply a top tune, and hats exactly what ‘Here’s What You Could Have Won’ is jam packed full of, as the closing one-two suckerpunch of the heavy as hell ‘Smash The Gaff’ and the ballad about working class poverty and its impact on mental health ‘Special’ (a song which has flashes of the 60s psych pop-end of early Blur) prove.

Expertly produced by Dom Craik from Nothing But Thieves ‘Here’s What You Could Have Won’ is indeed the musical equivalent of the 101 in six darts being hit during an episode of Bullseye. A middle finger to the establishment that so wants us all to fail, and a wakeup call for a music scene seemingly devoid of soul.

So, save up all your bus fare home and snap up a copy of ‘Here’s What You Could Have Won’ NOW!

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Author: Johnny Hayward

Lorne Behrman – ‘A Little Midnight’ (Spaghetty Town Records)

Lorne Behrman – ‘A Little Midnight’ (Spaghetty Town Records)

Take a bite of some dirty and catchy rock n’ roll scrapped off of the streets of the Bowery, images come rushing through of Richard Hell and the Voidoids and a whole assortment of legendry names who paved the way for others to absorb and follow dishing up their own tasty treats.

Songs about life, love, loss booze, women what you’ve had and what you want Lorne Behrman has been there and done that and now he’s released his own record stuffed full of rock n roll. Lets take a trip.

LORNE, previously played in The Dimestore Haloes, L.E.S. Stitches, The Dead Tricks and most recently The Sweet Things, This long player follows LORNE’s acclaimed 2021 four-song EP ‘When I Hit The Floor’,

‘A LITTLE MIDNIGHT’ reaks of Noo Yawk cool from the album’s opener through the cocksure strut of ‘Harlem River Serenade’ with its johnny B Goode licks and Lou style narrated vocals on the verse its a real earworm that has you craving more and more.

The story-like delivery of the lyrics is cool and none more so than ‘I Can Burn You Down’ that draws Soprano-like imagery of Lorne driving by the Hudson with a thumping from the trunk of his Cadillac with some nasty punk rock tunes bursting out of the stereo. The bass rumble laying down the groove on top of the solid drum beat it’s a top tune.

‘Monday Morning’ has a keyboard wheeze as the beat skips on with some excellent power pop storytelling its a burst of carefree rock n roll like a throwback to when Rod the mod was Atlantic Crossing but if Lou Reed was doing the vocals. As we reach the midpoint the mood drops to a crawl as the smokey ‘Well, I Can’t Hold You’ punches through as the backing vocals punch you in the guts on this slow burner – a fantastic change of gears and another side of the same coin is flipped.

As we head into side two ‘A Little Midnight’ has us back on the Rock n roll it’s like a slab of dark pop with a underpayed melody right up to the guitar solo and we drop back into the chorus and everything’s ok its hustling and just getting by with a heap of cool and not a single fuck given.

‘You won’t Live In The Past’ is a ballad that got some excellent arranging from the liquid shape-shifting guitar soloing to the hushed vocals and the cool BV’s taking you away to some dreamy place from the past. The record takes a more laid-back approach for a few tunes taking me back to some Green On Red comparisons especially on ‘Black Cars’ which is an epic smoldering journey that paints some great images with the lyrics that worked really well with the whole feel of the song. The album then closes out on a dreamy laid back ‘Further On Down The Road’ I get the same vibes when I heard Lou Reeds ‘New York’ album a great way to end a really enjoyable walk on the wild side where the soundtrack is provided by Lorne Behrman and his pocketbook of Rock n Roll stories. My advice would be to pick this up and enjoy it because songs of redemption and reclamation might be personal, but the messages in Rock n Roll are for everyone and its a universal language we can all understand and appreciate and this is a fantastic soundtrack to help you further on down that rocky road.

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Author: Dom Daley

Ash – ‘Free All Angels’ (The Echo Label Limited/BMG)

Ash – ‘Free All Angels’ (The Echo Label Limited/BMG)

Free All Angels was the third album from Ash. The album reached No.1 in the UK and has since gone platinum. The punk rock pop album contains the smash hits like the Ivor Novello winning ‘Shining Light’, the NME single of the year ‘Burn Baby Burn’, ‘Sometimes’, ‘There’s A Star’, ‘Candy’ and ‘Walking Barefoot’.

Ash and BMG are proud to reissue Ash’s third LP ‘Free All Angels’ for the first time on vivid yellow and clear splatter vinyl. This album has not been issued since its release over twenty years ago, This new vinyl release on Splatter wax is a welcome addition to anyone’s collection. Its their most rounded and wide appealing release after the youthful exuberance and promise of the magnificent debut ‘1977’ through ‘Nu-Clear Sounds’ to the record they’d been threatening to make in ‘Free All Angels’ I’ve no idea why they reissued the debut and this and didn’t give the same kudos to ‘Nu-Clear Sounds’ but we’re here for the Free All Angels review and what a well-rounded album it is from the magnificent opening of of ‘Walking Barefoot’ was the indication that the band had indeed risen to the next level they weren’t now just writing great catchy alternative songs they were smashing the pop charts with anthems that had mass appeal and how can you argue with an opening trio of hits like ‘Walking Barefoot’, followed by ‘Shining Light’ and then total wipeout with the thumping ‘Burn Baby Burn’ simply magnificent!

They were so confident of their abilities that a song like ‘Candy’ could then follow ‘Burn’ with its strings and grandiose and exuberant backing track Ash were indeed freeing all kinds of Angels. the record moves at warp speed from the strings back to a grungy yet lush melodic song like ‘Cherry Bomb’.

If it’s an album you’ve not played in a while then this is your chance to hit it up and revisit it with fresh ears songs like ‘Pacific Palisades’ and the thumping ‘Sharks’ deserve their new lease of life. Its a rollercoaster of an album with its ups and downs and fast then slow songs – always melodic and always excellent Ash were at the top of their game around this time and making records that obtained a wealth of critical acclaim and deservedly so and its great to see them back on wax and back in the front of the music world shouting from the mountain tops that Ash made great records now go get em and fill those gaps in your collection. If you are new to the band then strap yourself in for an absolute treat. A must-own record no question about it.

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Author: Dom Daley

Noose – ‘Life’ (Self Release)

Noose – ‘Life’ (Self Release)

East Midlands-based punks Noose are here with a new record that’s full of life and energy that’s got a whole bunch of appeal from the sprightly opener with sing-along gang vocals on the chorus ‘Taking The Piss’ is direct and punchy. It’s got a great warm production and a fine introduction.

The energy is something that continues through the songs on offer as are the sing a long choruses. There’s a familiarity about the chorus of ‘Julie Andrews’ it’s got a similar structure to Dirtbox Disco with the join-in after only a few plays. Gotta love a handclap and on the ‘Weekend’ they kick things off. Its got some foot stomping glam rock going on in the melody but good glam rock (old school not the 80s kind).

The band signs off with ‘Monstrocity’ and then they’re gone. All round a very impressive introduction to the work of Noose and their catchy, hook heavy hard rockin punk rock n roll. Get some and join the cool kids!

There’s a great feel good vibe happening on this record its certainly got some bounce and energy in the uptempo tunes ‘She Gets Me’ being a great example. These guys would have made for good sparring partners for a Wildhearts tour with their energy and style it’s certainyl got the Rock factor wrapped up with a bit of added edge and there are sing a long choruses everywhere. ‘Bet She’s Thinking’ is bright and rapid with a cool breakdown on the verse before everyone joins in on the chorus. Andrew Cragg does a splendid job on songwriting and being the vocalist and guitar player he has his hands full getting a band together to keep up with him.

I particularly like ‘Gotta Gun’ for the attitude and a punch from the rhythm section that makes for a really good tune. Before the band signs off they have ‘Heartbreaker’ that pretty much carries the flag for the album and one they’ve made the lyric video for its not my favourite track on the album but it certainly gives you an insight as to what to expect.

The vibrant ‘Monstrocity’ rattles along at pace firing off all that is left in the tank and their work here is done. Punchy, hook-laden, punk rock n roll motherfuckers! now go get some and join the cool kids rockin out like their life depends on it.

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Author: Dom Daley

Ginger Wildheart & The Sinners – ‘Ginger Wildheart & The Sinners’ (Wicked Cool Records)

Ginger Wildheart & The Sinners – ‘Ginger Wildheart & The Sinners’ (Wicked Cool Records)

The long-awaited Ginger Wildheart & The Sinners debut album is finally here, 3 years after The Wildhearts main man formed the country-tinged project with guitarist Neil Ivison and bassist Nick Lyndon of Stone Mountain Sinners. Picking up drummer Shane Dixon along the way, the band retreated to Mwnci studios in the heart of West Wales with Dave Draper at the helm and recorded an album that finally sees the light of day, 2 years after it was mixed.

With a release on Little Steven’s Wicked Cool Records label, the home of RPM faves such as Jesse Malin, Ryan Hamilton and Prima Donna, we expect very good things from Ginger and his boys.

This self-titled, debut long player is a 10-track affair that takes a trip down a dusty, country road, taking in a choice cover or two along the way. Opening track and first single ‘Wasted Times’ is a perfect introduction to the good time, southern rock n’ roll that The Sinners deliver. There are catchy melodies aplenty, lush harmonies for miles and a killer chorus that refuses to leave your brain. It instantly sounds like an old time classic. You wanted the boys to start big? Well, they delivered!

It seems trading his Les Paul for a Telecaster and sharing lead vocals was exactly the therapy Ginger needed after the headfuck that The Wildhearts has been for him the past few years. There’s a sense of camaraderie here, and the immediate reaction I get from this album is how remarkably upbeat, positive and fun it is. I mean, 3 songs into this album there is a tune called ‘Footprints In The Sand’ that is so uplifting it gave me goosebumps by the first chorus. I presumed it was a cover, but it’s not. With Neil taking lead vocals over dampened chords, it sounds like a classic Springsteen track, or a John Cougar Mellencamp tune, but it’s not. With a rousing, building chorus over ringing chords, you will swear you know it already. It’s the sort of anthemic, Americana I adore, and I think you will too.

‘Work In Progress’ has more southern boogie than a Georgia Satellites album, but with that certain Ginger trademark song structure. And just when you think you have the song sussed, in comes some crazy-ass female vocals that take us into Black Oak Arkansas territory. But who is the mysterious Ruby Starr impersonator? We need to know.

With no press blurb or details I have no idea who writes what regarding the original tunes, but Wildheart and Ivison wear their influences on their sleeves and covers-wise they give us a couple of classic album tracks you may or may not be aware of. The band tackle the aforementioned Georgia Satellites ‘Six Years Gone’. The faithful reworking is perfectly executed and they make it their own. But with Neil taking lead vocals again, Status Quo’s ‘Dirty Water’ is turned into the euphoric, country rock classic you never knew you needed in your life.

Elsewhere, the beautiful, acoustic balladry of ‘Breakout’ is up there with some of the frontman’s finest reflective moments. The likes of ‘If You Find Yourself In London Town’ and ‘Geordie In Wonderland’ come to mind. Full of lush harmonies and a sense of longing and regret that could well bring a tear to your eye by the end.

They finish the album with a tongue-in-cheek comedy tune that nods its head to The Wurzels. There’s a ‘live in the studio’ feel that sees all the albums’ singers take a verse. With a great gang vocal sing-a-long, and a fade out to raucous clapping and cheering, it seems the perfect way for The Sinners to bow out.

With a good deal of country twang, a whole heap of glorious melody and an overall sense of fun, Ginger Wildheart & The Sinners have delivered a debut album that is a much-needed ray of sunshine in these strange and dark times. Guaranteed to leave a smile on your face and a sense of contentment within, this album is proof that music is the greatest mood changer out there.

With the follow-up album already recorded and the band touring in October, it seems the future of the UK Americana/roots music scene is firmly in their hands.

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Author: Ben Hughes

GARAGE ROCKERS NOSEBLEED ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM ‘DANCE WITH THE DEVIL’

GARAGE ROCKERS NOSEBLEED ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM ‘DANCE WITH THE DEVIL’

TO BE RELEASED NOVEMBER 11TH VIA TNSRECORDS – PRE-ORDER HERE:

Leeds garage rock ‘n rollers Nosebleed are setting up for the release of their second album ‘Dance with the Devil’, the follow up to 2018’s ‘Scratching Circles on Dancefloor’. Due for release this coming November 11th via TNSrecords, the album has been a long time coming, held back by lockdowns and delays, but they guarantee that the wait has been worth it.

Having already released the first single from the album ‘Make Up Your Mind’  to much acclaim in January 2021, the band have returned with a second offering from the album; the title track ‘Dance with the Devil’, alongside a new video to go with it.

“Like a lot of the album, the single is about breakups,” explains guitarist and vocalist Eliott Verity. “Between recording the music and the lyrics my life fell apart a little and I ended up re-writing the words to a lot of the songs. This one’s about that post breakup feeling of being torn about everything and wanting to give up and go feral, making some bad decisions for a little bit. We still wanted people to be able to dance to it though, despite what it was written about.”

‘Dance With The Devil’ wastes no time in getting to the root of what Nosebleed are all about, charging in with a pounding drum kick before the spluttering guitars explode into life and Nosebleed begin their sermon, fusing 50’s rock n’roll and 60s garage with a modern indie crunch.

The band will be on tour to promote the album in November 2022, heading to the length and breadth of Britain alongside their pals Janus Stark amongst others.

Nosebleed are a garage rock, three-piece from Leeds, England. Playing frantic rock n roll inspired anthems the band have toured non-stop since 2014 hitting venues and festivals across the UK and Europe. Known for their suited and booted stage presence, their live show has made waves, being discovered as “the best live band in the UK” by Shout Louder, taking them from sweaty toilet venues to the stages of Kendal Calling, Boomtown Fair, Bestival, Camp Bestival, Beatherder, Rebellion and Manchester Punk Festival and is a real sight to behold.

Pre-order the ‘Dance With The Devil’ album HERE:

Catch Nosebleed live at the following dates:

16TH SEPT – CONROYS BASEMENT – DUNDEE

17TH SEPT – RETRO BAR – MANCHESTER 

22ND SEPT – THE LADY LUCK – CANTERBURY

14TH OCT – MATCHSTICK PIEHOUSE – TILL THE FEST 2

22ND OCT – THE LOFT – SOUTHSEA 

17TH NOV – THE CROFTERS RIGHTS – BRISTOL

18TH NOV – THE OSTRICH INN PETERBOROUGH

19TH NOV – TAPESTRY ARTS – BRADFORD

20TH NOV – LITTLE BUILDINGS – NEWCASTLE

10TH DEC – THE ESCAPE BAR – SHEPHERDS BUSH

16TH DEC – THE FULFORD ARMS – YORK

Find Nosebleed online at:

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RUTS DC – ‘COUNTERCULTURE?’ TO BE RELEASED NOVEMBER 11TH

RUTS DC – ‘COUNTERCULTURE?’ TO BE RELEASED NOVEMBER 11TH

RUTS DC ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM ‘COUNTERCULTURE?’ TO BE RELEASED NOVEMBER 11TH VIA SOSUMI RECORDINGS

PRE-ORDER THE ALBUM HERE:

UK TOUR CONFIRMED FOR NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

What do you know about Ruts DC? What do you want to know about Ruts DC? It’s nearly fifty years since the two sevens clashed. In a little over fifty more years, they will clash again. Roughly around the time they last clashed the Ruts were hot wiring barbed wire guitar, passionate poetry and rhythm weaponry together somewhere in a London that probably does not exist anymore. Splicing heat haze dub thinking to the energy flash of punk close to the big bang of late twentieth century culture. Open to ideas. Committed to ideals.

Some band’s sound punk. Some look punk. Some even look and sound punk. And some, simply, are punk. Without turning this into a game or statistics, Ruts DC were early challengers to the misunderstood notion that punk was a somewhat luddite dogma wherein complexity, creative exploration and musical prowess were considered a shameful affectation. Ruts DC songs moved with a precise muscularity and carried lyrics of eloquent and graceful rage. No two-chord thrash with shouting over the top. Go back. Listen to everything. From the very beginning to now, with the forthcoming release of new album ‘Counterculture?’, the much-anticipated follow-up to 2016’s incendiary ‘Music Must Destroy’ album, due this November 11th via their own Sosumi Recordings.

Counterculture. Now is the time. Was there ever an age with more reason to rebel? Counterculture. Do not think you can simply buy a way in. To Counter; to push against, to oppose and redress. By being a spectator, you are NOT a part of the counterculture.

“Counterculture? For us, it never went away,” says bassist and vocalist John ‘Segs’ Jennings. “We’ve always been on the outside and still are. It’s ok to be a freak. That’s why The Ruts started in the first place. If it’s still inside you, it’s time to light that flame again. Get to know what you don’t know. Come and borrow my lighter.”

Today, we get to hear the first taste of the new album in the title track and new single ‘Counterculture’. Drums and Bass building the defence wall. Guitar and whatever else lobbed in stun/attack mode. That is Ruts DC. That is all you really need to know.

See Ruts DC live in the UK November & December 2022 on the ‘Faces In The Sky / Counterculture’ tour at the following dates:

18/11- Exeter Phoenix

19/11- Southampton Brook

20/11- Cardiff Globe 

21/11- Oxford O2 Academy

22/11- Stoke Sugarmill 

23/11- Glasgow St Lukes

26/11- Liverpool Arts Club

28/11- Sheffield O2 Academy 

29/11- Bristol Thekla

30/11- Nottingham Rescue Rooms

02/12- Birmingham Institute 

03/12- London Islington O2 Academy

Find Ruts DC online:

WEBSITE /FACEBOOK / TWITTER / INSTAGRAM

Diamond Head Release ‘Lightning To The Nation'(The White Album) [REMASTERED 2021]

Diamond Head Release ‘Lightning To The Nation'(The White Album) [REMASTERED 2021]

                                                 Pre-orders available Here

Diamond Head are of seminal importance to heavy metal music, and their debut album Lightning To The Nations is a key influence on the genre. 
“We wrote instinctively,” explains co-founding member and riff lord Brian Tatler “we had an undeniably unique sound. Four young lads, each with an element that, when combined, produced an alloy that was our own heavy metal sound.”

Lightning To The Nations (The White Album) [Remastered 2021] is the ultimate version of this ultimate album, which is set for release via Silver Lining Music on 30th September 2022.  The release will feature not only the original album from ¼ inch master tapes which Lars Ulrich helped Brian Tatler retrieve back in 1990, but also alternative mixes of classic cuts “Lightning To The Nations”, “The Prince”, “Sucking My Love”, “Am I Evil?” and “Sweet And Innocent” never publicly released (or heard) before. There is also brand-new cover artwork based on an idea Brian Tatler had, to show a character referred to as ‘The Lightning God’.

“In 1990 as a celebration of the tenth anniversary of the NWOBHM, Lars Ulrich and Geoff Barton compiled the double album ‘New Wave of British Heavy Metal ‘79 Revisited’ which came out on Phonogram Records. It was Lars who made it his business to track down wherever possible the original master tapes because all he had were the old, often scratched singles,” recalls Brian. “He told me that he would often call up members of the bands they wanted to feature on the album and the confused guy on the other end of the phone would assume it was wind-up. ‘Who? Lars Ulrich? From Metallica? Fuck off!’ When Lars called me, I explained that the original ¼ inch masters for ‘Lightning To The Nations’ hadn’t been seen since they were sent by our old manager to a guy called Horgi at Woolfe Records years back. Apparently Horgi didn’t return the tapes, so Lars dispatched someone from Metallica’s German label to pay the guy a visit… The tapes were duly returned and after Phonogram had finished with them, Lars made sure they came home to me. I still have them stored safely.” 



The original tapes were first quite literally baked (a process which allows degraded tape to be returned to playable quality), then restored and digitized before Diamond Head frontman Rasmus ‘Ras’ BomAndersen remastered the tracks, ending up with a pristine edition of the original recordings and the recently discovered alternative mixes.  Pure treasure for all fans of both Diamond Head and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, the restored masters are supplemented by a set of bonus tracks originally recorded in 1980s. Rounding-out this ultimate edition are a set of deep and detailed notes on both the era and each song by Brian Tatler.



“I don’t really know what inspired ‘Lightning to the Nations’, says Tatler in his notes. “I can’t think of any other song by any other band that sounds like it and that’s a hell of a claim. Sean got the title from a painting he had seen in an art book somewhere and thought it would make a good title for a song. Once we had the song and it became track one, side one, it seemed like a good album title too. It’s still in the live set after forty-years.”


Lightning To The Nations (The White Album) [Remastered 2021], will be released as a double CD, a deluxe 180 gms gatefold triple-vinyl edition containing the original album remastered, the lost mixes and the bonus tracks. There will also be a single vinyl edition of just the remastered album, also on 180 gms. The complete recordings will also be available to stream and download.  A 24-hour exclusive pre-sale is available now via the band’s D2C record store at this location; general retail pre-orders will be available from Friday, August 12th via the same link.



Later this year, Diamond Head will embark on a string of shows when they will be joining Saxon as special guests for the European and UK dates on their Seize The Day world tour.

EUROPE:
2 October – FRANCE – Paris, Trianon
3 October – NETHERLANDS – Tilburg, 013
4 October – GERMANY – Hannover, Capitol
6 October – GERMANY – Berlin, Admiralspalast
7 October – GERMANY – Munich, Muffathalle
8 October – GERMANY – Offenbach, Capitol
10 October – ITALY – Milan, Alcatraz
11 October – SWITZERLAND – Pratteln Z7
12 October – BELGIUM – Antwerp, Trix
13 October – NETHERLANDS – Haarlem, Patronaat
15 October – DENMARK – Aarhus, Train
17 October – SWEDEN – Gothenburg, Pustervik
18 October – NORWAY – Oslo, Rockefeller
19 October – DENMARK – Copenhagen, Amager Bio
21 October – NETHERLANDS – Zwolle, Hedon
22 October – FRANCE – Metz, La Bam
23 October – SWITZERLAND – Lausanne, Les Docks

UK:
11 November – Ipswich, Regent Theatre
12 November – Southampton O2 Guildhall
13 November – Bexhill, De La Warr Pavilion
14 November – Cardiff, St. David’s Hall
15 November – Bath, Forum
16 November – Cambridge, Corn Exchange
18 November – Newcastle, O2 City Hall
19 November – Blackburn, King George’s Hall
20 November – Aberdeen, Music Hall
21 November – Glasgow, Barrowland
22 November – Hull, City Hall
23 November – York, Barbican
25 November – Leicester, De Montfort Hall
26 November – London, Roundhouse
For EU tickets visit: https://www.saxon747.com/tour
For UK tickets visit: https://myticket.co.uk/artists/saxon

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