Richard Davies & The Dissidents – ‘High Times And Misdemeanours’ (Gard du Nord Records)

Richard Davies & The Dissidents – ‘High Times And Misdemeanours’ (Gard du Nord Records)

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!

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MILLIE MANDERS AND THE SHUTUP – ‘Me Too’

MILLIE MANDERS AND THE SHUTUP – ‘Me Too’

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.

CHOOSE THE BEAR TOUR

FEBRUARY

Thu 13 LONDON Camden Dingwalls

Sat 22 LEEDS A Fistful Of Ska

MARCH

Thu 27 BLACKPOOL Bootleg Social

Fri 28 GLASGOW Audio

Sat 29 SCARBOROUGH Punk Festival

Sun 30 YORK Crescent

APRIL

Fri 18 MANCHESTER Punk Festival

Wed 23 MILTON KEYNES Craufurd Arms

Thu 24 ALDERSHOT West End Centre

Fri 25 HITCHIN Club 85

Sat 26 SWANSEA Sin City

MAY

Thu 01 HUDDERSFIELD Parish

Fri 02 BIRKENHEAD Future Yard

Sat 03 LEICESTER Musician

Sun 04 DERBY Hairy Dog

Tickets from www.millie-manders.com and the venues.

THE WiLDHEARTS – ‘Troubadour Moon’

THE WiLDHEARTS – ‘Troubadour Moon’

‘Satanic Rites of The Wildhearts’ 

       +

Headline UK Tour, March 2025

TheWildhearts.lnk.to/SROTW

The Wildhearts release new single / video, ‘Troubadour Moon’, from their forthcoming studio album, ‘Satanic Rites of The Wildhearts’, out on March 7thvia Snakefarm. 

“I was reading an interview with a well-known musician recently, and he was talking about how there aren’t any troubadours anymore – people who play music purely for the love of it. I thought it was an interesting observation, so I’ve addressed it here, along with the idea of being yourself and not being swayed by trend or fashion, by the latest thing. If you allow that to happen, there’s the danger that you’ll always be one step behind or in someone else’s shadow…” – Ginger Wildheart 

“With the new ‘Satanic Rites…’ album reflecting both the spirit and the energy of the classic ‘Earth vs…’ debut, both musically and visually, it made sense for the video for ‘Troubadour Moon’ to contain a host of references – some very subtle and obscure – to the glorious early days of the band. Plus, acknowledging the past in this way will hopefully put a smile on the faces of longstanding fans, and underline the fact that those creating the videos, the artwork and the photos, all of the imagery, are true fans of the band with a passion for detail. And if anyone knows why there’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it nod to former Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan in the clip, then you really are a serious fan! Please take a bow!” – Dante Bonutto, Snakefarm

To purchase / stream ‘Troubadour Moon’ go to: https://thewildhearts.lnk.to/TroubadourMoon

The creatively brilliant Ginger Wildheart is arguably amongst the UK’s best and most prolific songwriters, and his band, The Wildhearts, recently signed a worldwide deal with Snakefarm / Integral. 

“The songs on ‘Satanic Rites…’ were written during a period of transition, from extremely negative to positive,” reflects Ginger. “I realised how much control I have over my mental health, and the songs came from that understanding. There’s everything here – catchy choruses, proper fuck-off riffs, anger, frustration, acceptance and revelation, with plenty of insane detours. The album starts pessimistic then ends up like ‘Ah, so I CAN turn my life around?’ It’s a hard rock album for people who love hard rock!” 

‘Satanic Rites of The Wildhearts’, their 11th studio album, was produced by Jim Pinder (Bring Me The Horizon, While She Sleeps, Bullet For My Valentine) and mixed by Jim Pinder & Carl Bown (Trivium, Machine Head, Bring Me The Horizon, While She Sleeps, Bullet For My Valentine), and the record is conceived as a belated follow-up to their classic debut, ‘Earth vs The Wildhearts’ (1993).

Along with the singles, ‘Failure Is The Mother Of Success’ and ‘Troubadour Moon’, the album features a further eight tracks, including glam stomper ‘I’ll Be Your Monster’ (featuring Shining / Emperor member Jørgen Munkeby on guest saxophone).

To pre-order / pre save ‘Satanic Rites of The Wildhearts’ go to: TheWildhearts.lnk.to/SROTW 

‘Satanic Rites of The Wildhearts’ will be available on coloured vinyl LP, CD (with exclusive bonus track) and cassette. The LP & CD formats contain lyrics hand-written by Ginger, a painting by Ginger, plus other Ginger-related graphics.

To celebrate this release, The Wildhearts will be undertaking four in stores and playing eight headline UK shows in March, starting on March 7that the Leadmill in Sheffield and concluding on March 16th at the 1865 in Southampton. 

“We’ll be taking a full evening’s entertainment on tour, kicking off with party-punks Dirt Box Disco, going to rock ‘n’ roll church with Jim Jones, then being flayed alive with The Wildhearts. The party starts when the doors open, so get a buzz on and get down early. Come join the Wildhearts’ community gathering. We guarantee you’ll leave with the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll firmly restored” – Ginger Wildheart

For three decades, The Wildhearts have remained at the forefront of the UK rock scene, and their incendiary live shows have cemented their reputation and legacy as one of the best band’s their homeland has produced, so miss these shows at your peril.

The Wildhearts dates in full 

March in stores 

8th Relevant Records – Cambridge – Live acoustic performance and signing

9th HMV Manchester – Live Acoustic Performance and signing

10th Liverpool – Jacaranda – Acoustic performance and signing

12th HMV Newcastle – Signing

The Wildhearts UK Tour, March 2025

07thLeadmill, Sheffield

08th  Junction, Cambridge

09th  O2 Ritz, Manchester

11th  Epic, Norwich

13th  Garage, Glasgow

14th  KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton

15th  Rock City, Nottingham

16th  1865, Southampton

May

04th Bonfest, Kirriemuir, Scotland 

07th  Wolf, Barcelona, Spain

08th Loco Club, Valencia, Spain

09th Nazca, Madrid, Spain

10th Psilocybenea, Hondarribia, Spain

24th The Big Yard Party, Old Woollen, Leeds

July 

07th Time To Rock Festival, Knislinge, Sweden

25th Steelhouse Festival, Ebbw Vale, Wales

Tickets for the UK tour (7th March – 16th March)  can be ordered here: https://www.gigantic.com/enter-code?c=9BC111E6-FDCB-4B8C-AAE3-94BA07CF575D

http://www.thewildhearts.com/

https://www.facebook.com/TheWildhearts

First In Line – ‘Connect The Dots’ (Lövely Records)

First In Line – ‘Connect The Dots’ (Lövely Records)

Swedish hardcore outfit First In Line celebrates their 30th anniversary with the new album “Connect the Dots” with 19 frantic, raw, and energetic tracks showcasing the finest of the Linköping HC scene. First In Line has been flying the flag of fast, melodic hardcore since 1994, so maybe now is as good a time as any to catch up and admit this is my first – an introduction if you like and in time-honoured scandi hardcore the guys kicked my backside. Like Zugly before them, they remain true to the roots of the sound and scene and deliver an album that captures the spirit of Harcore and also delivers some exceptional playing and to be fair some great songs.

If you want loud in-your-face, gritty unrelenting energy then First In Line bang em out.

“Connect the Dots” kicks off in style with the brutal ‘What’ that sets the tone with a full frontal assault on your senses. They do mix it up but dive straight into the pit for ‘Cookies And Cream’ thrashing like motherfuckers.

F.I.L are so pissed off at all injustice and stupidity, we have to get it out of their heads and into the songs that they hope will hit right in the heart of you the listener, who can turn up the will to fight and maybe also be a tiny cog in a machinery that can change the world.” which is an admirable stance indeed.

Nineteen track of Hardcore is a lot to absorb in one take but this is the stuff that makes your day go by quicker and puts a spring in your step. It’s not a long album by any means and of course some of the songs are sub one minute so not exactly taxing. Songs like ‘Inbred’ is the sound of the walls collapsing in on you whilst your listening but you’d rather get through the song than worry about your house caving in.

I love it when an album comes out of the blue and asks you to review it and you just put it on in the background but soon enough you find yourself leaning in and paying attention well, First In Line just did that and this stands shoulder to shoulder with any Hardcore released in a decade and I’ll take that all day long. By the time you get to the uncompromising ‘Black And White’ and ‘Good Friends’ you will be nodding in approval these guys have a fire burning in their collective bellies and who doesn’t like that? It’s fast, furious and on fuckin fire. Get involved, you can thank me later Hardcore as fuck!

Connect with First In Line:
https://firstinline-fil.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/fil_lkpg
https://www.facebook.com/fillkpg
https://x.com/fil_lkpg

Author: Dom Daley

Split Dogs new Single has plenty of bark

Split Dogs new Single has plenty of bark

Bristol Punk Rock ‘n Rollers Split Dogs bite back with new single ‘Lafayette’ out now via Venn Records

New album ‘Here To Destroy’ set for release on February 28th – pre-order HERE:

Listen/Buy HERE:

UK headline tour confirmed for Feb/March 

Primed to grab 2025 by the scruff of the neck and give it a damn good shaking, high-octane boogie woogie punk rock ‘n rollers Split Dogs are set to embark on their first UK headline tour as they approach the release of their ‘Here To Destroy’ album, due for release on February 28th via Venn Records.

Today, Split Dogs offer up another cut with their new single ‘Lafayette’ which is, says guitarist Mil Martinez “a love letter to our families and the influence they’ve had on our love for music.

At a glance it tells the story of (singer) Harry’s mother growing up in Wolverhampton during the height of the 1970s/80s northern soul scene and the characters she encountered. It also tips a hat to my older brother that passed away in 2023, he played a major role in my song writing growing up.”

The video was shot by drummer Chris Hugall who admits that on the actual day of filming they had no real plan as all of their other ideas had fallen through, but they worked on the fly and the end result compliments the song perfectly.

“It takes you on a journey through the cobbled streets and back bars of the Black Country, Harry’s hometown Wolverhampton,” explains Mil. “From Chewing gum-stained carpets and pints of mild to stone faced locals and tar-stained fingertips. If you fancy a dance? Come out to the club and feel alive!”

Born from the frustration of seeing music become commodified and soulless, vocalist Harry Atkins and guitarist Mil Martinez had the idea to form a band as far back as 2015, with the name ‘Split Dogs’ pulled from the classic zombie film ‘Return of the Living Dead’.

In South London, a young Martinez would hear Status Quo, Bachman Turner Overdrive and Dire Straits on the car radio while his father drove him to school. At home he would invade his older brother’s record collection which leaned towards the harder sounds of punk and heavy metal. Meanwhile in the Black Country, Harry’s mother instilled a love of Northern Soul, Slade and rock’n’roll, with stories of nights out at Club Lafayette and family singalongs at home. According to Martinez, “Our sound is a culmination of all those early influences and, to be honest, it really shows.”

It wasn’t until 2022 that Split Dogs officially arrived on the scene with bass player Suez Boyle joining the band in 2023. Already a prominent figure in the queer punk scene, Suez played the first ever Rebellion Festival at the tender age of 16 with her band The Walking Abortions. Up until that point, drummer Chris Hugall, an old friend of Martinez and former member of ska punks Mouthwash (signed to Rancid’s label Hellcat back in the day), was only on hand to help design artwork. It wasn’t until 2024 that Hugall joined the band full-time cementing the current line-up.

The raucous live shows and infectious lyrics saw the four-piece make a name for themselves among the punks of Bristol, a scene that has always welcomed LGBTQ+ and marginalised people. As word spread, so did the gigging, and soon enough Split Dogs were playing to sold out rooms in mainland Europe, eventually grabbing the attention of UK label Venn Records (Gallows, Bob Vylan, High Vis).

‘Here to Destroy’ was recorded over three days at Middle Farm Studios by producer Peter Miles. All tracks were laid straight to a 16-track reel-to-reel tape machine, no autotune, no effects pedals, no computers. To add to the music’s authenticity, the album was recorded live, with Harry singing along in a vocal booth. No cutting and pasting, just nailing takes. According to Martinez, “It was a blast! We fully immersed ourselves, sleeping in a small apartment below the studio, cooking meals and listening to Pete’s extensive record collection”.

As the album title makes clear, Split Dogs are here to destroy, but they’re also here to rebuild and remind us of music’s essence. “We’re not beholden to the digital age, we don’t want to get famous on social media, we just want to show the world that rock’n’roll is alive and well”.

Heads down, see you at the end. 

Catch Split Dogs live at the following dates:

2/2 Incider Festival, North Somerset

7/2 Milton Arms, Portsmouth 

26/2 Hug and Pint, Glasgow

27/2 Gullivers, Manchester

28/2 Billy Bootleggers, Nottingham 

1/3 The Grace, London 

2/3 Daltons, Brighton 

7/3 Rough Trade, Bristol

Europe

18/3 Supersonic, Paris. France

20/ Cafe Central, Brussels, Belgium 

21/3 La Zone leige. Belgium 

22/3 cafe The Jack, Eindhoven. Netherlands 

23/3 Poppodium Volt, sittard. Netherlands 

26/3 Monkeys Music club, Hamburg. Germany 

27/3 Dreikonigskeller, Frankfurt. Germany

28/3 Museumskeller, Erfurt. Germany

29/3 Freak Show, Essen. Germany

Festivals

23/5 Bearded Theory

24/5 Sneister, Netherlands

9-12/7 2000 Trees

9/8 Rebellion, Blackpool

Find Split Dogs online HERE:

Clean Lines – ‘Nuisance’ (Spaghetty Town Records, Ghost Highway Records, Wanda Records)

Clean Lines – ‘Nuisance’ (Spaghetty Town Records, Ghost Highway Records, Wanda Records)

Clean Lines – when Steve E Nix says he wants to join your band you know you must be onto something right? Right Clean Lines are something of a supergroup in underground power pop punk rock circles and in a perfect world, they would be fuckin huge. From the opening slam dance of ‘Nuisance’ through its chaotic party on the patio vibes through the sloppy Thunders soloing it’s a joy to your eardrums. Described as Brat Rock is just about the perfect description for this ensemble of seasoned Rock n Rollas it’s a snotty, confident, joyful romp through four awesome tunes. Sure I’d have loved to hear a whole LP full of this shit but like the old adage says keep it lean and keep em keen and less is more and all of that.

The opener sets the tone and rattling out of the gate hot on the heels is ‘So Sharp’ which is exactly what it is. Sharp in name sharp in nature. You wanna pogo on the spot and you’ll be singing the chorus before the “ooh ahs” are done and the floor tom rattles that backbeat. Majestic stuff. The retro clock is turned back to the mid-70s for some Glitter band handclapping foot stomping thumb in yer jean loop dancing whilst the likes of Sweet n Rockpile fill yer stereo speakers.

We manoeuvre from the sub-two-minute burst of energy in the title track opener to this uber-cool groover that clocks in at over four minutes. Before we sign off with another burst of frantic bratty rock  ‘In The Way’ which is a song that gives you a swift clump around the ear as it flys out the door from the frantic twelve bar to the Chuck Berry licks and one-finger piano plonking its breathtaking stuff and exactly what you need to shake off the cobwebs from Christmas and new years and welcome to 2025 and hopefully, the first of many tunes from Clean Lines.  Just buy it!

Spaghetty Town Records Ghost Highway Records Wanda Records

Author: Dom Daley

THE HARD-ONS – NEW VIDEO FOR  “RIDE TO THE STATION” AND US TOUR – WITH POISON IDEA’S JERRY A ON LEAD VOCALS! 

THE HARD-ONS – NEW VIDEO FOR  “RIDE TO THE STATION” AND US TOUR – WITH POISON IDEA’S JERRY A ON LEAD VOCALS! 

THE HARD-ONS RELEASE NEW VIDEO FOR SINGLE “RIDE TO THE STATION” AND ANNOUNCE US TOUR – WITH POISON IDEA’S JERRY A ON LEAD VOCALS! 

NEWS FOLLOWS MASSIVE 40TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR AND ‘BEST DOCUMENTARY’ PRIZE FOR
THE MOST AUSTRALIAN BAND EVER AT THE LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL PUNK FILM FESTIVAL

The Hard-Ons have followed a massive 2024 with the release of the new video for “Ride To The Station” – the single take from their new album I Like You A Lot Getting Older – and the announcement a May/June US tour with old friend Jerry A of legendary Portland punks Poison Idea!

The “Ride To The Station” video was produced by Sydney based studio Kapow Pictures. Director Mark Gravas has said, “I have been a fan of the band for almost 40 years. We have produced several videos in the past for The Hard-Ons and were very happy to produce this one for their 40th anniversary. I was inspired by my favourite zombie film ‘Train to Busan’ and my own experiences on public transport. We animated the video using Quill a software primarily used in VR.”

Kapow has also produced a poster of the video which is available to purchase on their website.

The US tour with Jerry A from Poison Idea on guest lead vocals will see The Hard-Ons joining the heavy weight double bill of Napalm Death and the Melvins for shows across the Mid-West and Western states in the USA. The complete run of dates is listed below.

The Hard-Ons first toured with Poison Idea back in the late ’80s, and first recorded with Jerry A as guest vocalist back in 1993 – Jerry wrote and sung the track “The Blade” on their Too Far Gone album. The track recently resurfaced on Jerry’s solo album From The Fire Into The Water. The Hard-Ons are set to release an album with Jerry on vocals later in 2025.   

In addition to the new album, 2024 saw The Hard-Ons celebrating their 40th anniversary with extensive European and Australian tours and enjoying numerous screenings of (and international acclaim – including the ‘Best Documentary’ prize at the International LA Punk Film Festival 2024 – for) their feature length documentary, The Most Australian Band Ever, directed by Jonathan J. Sequeira for production companies Living Eyes and Play Vintage.

I Like You A Lot Getting Older was the third album by the band’s current line-up of Blackie, Murray, Ray and Tim, and follows 2021’s ARIA top 5 debuting I’m Sorry Sir, That Riff’s Been Taken and 2023’s the Top 30 debuting Ripper ’23. 



The Hard-Ons’ first two shows for 2025 are February 8 at Selinas in Sydney with the Hoodoo Gurus and February 14 at Mary’s Underground in Sydney with NZ’s rocking The D4.

Buy I Like You A Lot Getting Older via Cheersquad Bandcamp 
https://cheersquadrecordstapes.bandcamp.com/album/i-like-you-a-lot-getting-older

Buy/stream via digital providers
https://bfan.link/i-like-you-a-lot-getting-older

For more info on the feature documentary, The Most Australian Band Ever, go to
www.livingeyes.com.au

The Hard-Ons (with Jerry A) appear as guests of Napalm Death and the Melvins as part of their Savage Imperial Death March Part II tour at the following shows:
May 22 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue 
May 23 – Des Moines, IA @ Wooly’s
May 24 – Kansas City, MO @ Madrid Theatre
May 25 – Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
May 27 – Denver, CO @ Summit
May 29 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Music Hall
May 31 – Bozeman, MT @ The ELM
June 1 – Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory Spokane
June 2 Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
June 3 – Portland, OR @ Revolution Hall
June 4 – Eugene, OR @ McDonald Theatre
June 6 – Reno, NV @ Virginia Street Brewhouse
June 7 – Berkeley, CA @ Cornerstone Berkeley

The Electric Shakes – ‘Ten Years In Overdrive’ (Self Release)

The Electric Shakes – ‘Ten Years In Overdrive’ (Self Release)

An EP always slips through the cracks, and goes undetected on the RPM radar and The Electric Shakes certainly falls into that category so the time has come to put it right. Released in 2024 the ‘Ten Years In Overdrive’ EP is here to testify that the UK can shake its shit up there with the best garage rock available anywhere on the planet.

From the off, your groove is on mofos ‘Breaking Me Loose’ is a sub-five-minute exhibition that what the mighty Thee Hypnotics didn’t fall on deaf ears with its strutting riff giving it large in time-honoured fashion is a smart and precise opener that sets the tone for some pretty impressive ROCK!

Riding on a groove that swings like billy big bollocks ‘Make It Last’ demands you turn up the stereo then when it’s loud enough to hear the windows rattle you’re good to go. With a spot-on production that embraces the old but also sounds modern and fresh it’s a toe-tapper for sure. Clocking in at a smudge over seven minutes won’t put you off once the guitars lock in and we have take off the mid-song breakdown with sing a long made for the live shows vocal is the signal to build into a whig ou frenzy that you can feel brooding. It reminds me in places of the early Datsuns records it’s certainly got elements of that in its DNA which is never a bad thing. ‘White Wine Psychosis’ is the real high point of the EP with an intro to rival some Bon era DC with the lick on that fuzzed-out geetah but it veers off with a psychedelic melody that is far removed from DC and into some pretty wicked MC5 territory and that’s always a good place to be. It’s got an attitude that compliments the music on offer and that’s what should raise it above other contenders.

The EP finishes with another bruising six-minute plus romp, ‘Take The Lid Off My Darkness,’ a song that doesn’t feel almost seven minutes long. I do like the split of the guitars, with one hypnotizing the listener while the other constantly jabs at your eardrums. Get your groove on, kids, and let some Electric Shakes into your collection. I can promise you won’t regret it—buy It!

Buy Here

Author: Dom Daley

Midlife Crisis – ’45 to 33′ (Wild Kingdom Records)

Midlife Crisis – ’45 to 33′ (Wild Kingdom Records)

You might well be sitting there wondering why is he getting his knickers in a twist over this Midlife Crisis album well, let me take you back to the previous website I wrote for where I did the singles club round-ups, when a certain 45 landed featuring members from iconic bands such as The Hellacopters, Maryslim, Backyard Babies, Crimson Shadows, and Mike Monroe Band, offering a unique blend of punk rock n roll outta Sweden I got very interested. When the needle dropped I got a little bit more excited at what I heard. The bands complete output was a smattering of limited edition 7″ vinyl EPs, making this a highly anticipated album indeed fo anyone who indulges in some dark underground punk rock n roll like Moir.

It also Includes guest backing vocals by Danny Furious from the legendary punk band The Avengers and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, adding further punk credibility. Theres even time for a UK Subs classic ‘Same Thing’, titled ‘Samma Sak’. Oh now you’re interested. The album kicks off in style with the anthemic ‘Sick Of You’ which had me thinking was it really twenty years ago they recorded this? My God how time flies.

The band went on to release three more EPs (the latest one in 2018). Now, everything is being released on a most welcome long-playing 12″ via Wild Kingdom Records. ‘The American In Me’ lashes its flag to the mast of Turbonegro and MC5 and thunders along but then so does ‘Cranked Up Really High’ What a fuckin barn burner.

The album flows really well and considering its twenty twenty-plus years old you’d never tell, it sounds like it could have been written and recorded yesterday, simply the energy they capture is awesome. I’d love to think we’d get the chance to see a live show over here on shit island UK but I won’t hold my breath. Covering the Subs in their native tongue is cool and fits right in. It’s all pretty uptempo and sleazy none more so than the groovy ‘Here I Go And Here I Am’ complete with handclaps. The band absolutely nails the sound on the guitars it’s the perfect Steve Jones crunch with the Keith swagger while the production leans towards the classic MC5 production, especially in the vocals, which is never a bad thing.

‘Shitty Shitty Bang Bang’ is the penultimate whig out with that warm fuzz on the guitar waiting for the chorus to throw some beers around and sing along with more than a hint toward Ron Ashton and his TV Eye on you. Leaving only ‘Bye Bye Hey Hey Hey’ to kick this mother home in style. Every ones a banger with the energy of the national grid Midlife Crisis has finally delivered the album they always promised. Don’t hesitate, don’t sleep on this one get out there and pre-order with your nans Christmas record tokens if you buy one album in 2025 already then make it ’45 to 33′ you simply have to. Buy It!

PRE-ORDER links (feel free to spread):
 https://orcd.co/midlife-crisis-album

Author: Dom Daley

Spiders – ‘Sharp Objects’ (Wild Kingdom Records)

Spiders – ‘Sharp Objects’ (Wild Kingdom Records)

Founded in 2012, Spiders quickly made their mark with their debut album Flash Point and continued to build their reputation with follow-ups Shake Electric (2014) and Killer Machine (2018). So not an overnight success by any means these glam rockers hark back to the classic 70s sound with everything being larger than life, bombastic, big time and grande Glam. the solos are retro and full-on. Having Chips Kiesbye
(The Hellacopters, Sator, The Nomads) on board to produce is inspired and it adds another level of kudos to proceedings.

Vocalist Ann-Sofie Hoyles lays down the line in the sand on opener ‘Rock n Roll Band’ and they don’t look back from there. ‘Sweet Boy’ is a dirty riff that is a down n dirty slowed down Ramones groove with the velvet touch of Debbie Harry. The melody is addictive and the groove is classic. In contrast they turn up the dial for an all out rocker on ‘Whats Your Game (Miss Insane)’. The album meanders from street tough classic Alice Cooper (‘Fun In The Sun’) with huge chorus’ and cool groove to the Stonesy ‘Schizoid’ where they dabble with some darker rock n roll with a hint of ‘Gimme Shelter’.

There’s a familiarity with the songs like a well worn pair of stack boots they are stomping all over the turntable and throwing the best party in town. they can kick back as well like on the wall of sound. Soft song for tough guys in ‘Valentines’ before heading off into a galaxy far far away with ‘Life Mission’ baby it’s totally groovy baby and I like it, I like it a lot.

Having enjoyed this album so much its time to dive in to their back catalogue to see how we got here. what a fantastic way to start 2025 with an album packed with tunes, top tunes arranged magnificently kissing the past and kicking it into the 21st century. Get into ‘Sharp Objects’ but be careful not to cut yourself these tunes are razor sharp. Check em out.

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Author: Dom Daley


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