Scene Killers – ‘Bare Hands And Bayonets’ (Brassneck Records)

Scene Killers – ‘Bare Hands And Bayonets’ (Brassneck Records)

As my Mate Hotshot would say, “Punk as Fuck” and he would be spot on here. Scene Killers release a lean mean punk as fuck machine with just your eight tracks on offer this is short, sharp and right to the fucking point set of tunes. Catchy as fuck, Loose, in your face racket that burrows down into your ear and refuses to leave.  

This is the 3rd record from Nottingham’s Scene Killers, a relentless onslaught of awesome tunes. It’s catchy, and the melodies and choruses stick with you. You can old school slam dance to this, evoking memories of the likes of prime Black Flag, Circle Jerks, Fugazi, they’re all in the DNA of the music and a whole host of greats condensed into these eight tracks. It’s a veritable feast of tunes that draw you in and have you wanting more from the crackle of ‘Pulling Teeth’, it’s a sweaty, heaving mass of underground rooms filled with like-minded punks having the best time listening to the best punk rock has to offer anywhere, anytime.

For those new to the band, Scene Killers is Austin (Hip Priests, Reduced) Jesse (Blatz, The Criminals), John (TV Crime, Lindow Moss) & Luke (TV Crime, The Headchecks) a bunch of bands you should check out but another time maybe, make a list for now its Scene Kilelrs that need your attention.

The rapid blast of ‘One Foot’ is breathtaking. Whilst my only complaint is that it’s only eight tracks. Flip it over and ‘Grab A Mop’ will wipe the floor with you (sorry, couldn’t resist it), the methodical thump of ‘Mind Waste’ is aggressive without having to shout about it – its intense as fuck but in the best possible way. hidden in the mix of side two, ‘Do The Math’ is a beast and possibly the highlight of this outstanding record.

‘Bare Hands And Bayonets’ catches a moment and sounds like it was recorded in one massive rush of energy, with all the bells and whistles put to one side and the honesty and energy taking this one home and capturing everything you want to hear from a modern punk rock band. Great tunes played with passion and excitement. I haven’t stopped playing it this past week since I had my copy and can honestly say I wont be far from it when I want to play some loud no bullshit Rock n Roll wrapped up with great lyrics wrapped up in awesome music with cover art that tells you everything about the music contained within. Buy this record, don’t think about it, and you can thank me later.

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Author: Dom Daley

Scene Killers – ‘Beat, Beat, Beat’ (Brassneck Records UK & Lavasocks Records USA)

Scene Killers – ‘Beat, Beat, Beat’ (Brassneck Records UK & Lavasocks Records USA)

Members of The Hip Priests, TV CRIME and Blatz/The Criminals follow up the 2020s ‘Rev It Up’ mini album with yet more loud, rough round the edges, fast as fuck punk/metal. singer Jesse Luscious (Blatz, The Criminals) barks out the vocals to a backdrop of paint-peeling hack-and-slash guitar riffs and a chest-smashing rhythm section. The USA offers up plenty of hardcore punk bordering on metal bands that write succinct drops of pure noise so why can’t this side of the pond dish up something similar? The answer is simple because they can and Scene Killers do. They don’t fuck about never have, never will not in their day job bands and not as the collective that is Scene Killers.

The Album kicks off with the twisted intro that signals ‘Gimme Gimme’ has begun guitars slash and the vocals are barked out its got a tonne of energy and its pace is purposeful and confident great opener. ‘Immigrant Eyes’ takes the whole old school HC and runs with it like OFF! and the forefathers like Bad Brains it’s direct and uncompromising but a whole lot of fun to boot – get in the pit ya rascals.

As the band shift through the gears ‘One Way Street’ turns up the heat and Jesse delivers a great vocal but the guitars are on fire with Austin trying to tame the wild licks sparking off his six-string. If I was forced to pick a favourite track apart from the song ‘Big City’ with its slower more menacing tempo and thuggish gang vocals on the chorus I’d plum for ‘They’re Wrong’ for its hypnotic riff and perfecting everything on the album in one song. As the album opens up the MO is simple, play hard, play fast don’t compromise, and knock these songs out of the park with passion and power. So the band meets their brief as songs like ‘Antennas’ is raw as fuck whereas the title track sounds like a modern-day Dead Kennedys in style but I’d guess that it’s part of the band’s DNA but they certainly don’t sound like a West Coast surf punk band there are equal amounts of NYHC happening here as well absorbing all sides of uncompromising punk rock from all over this spinning rock and making it their own you hear bits of Bad Brains and Black Flag as the music pours over you but there’s more going on here – much more.

If you’re not convinced ‘They’re Wrong’ rocks up and will smash you over the head with some cracking riff-a-rama swirling around the uncompromising vocals. Keeping it short and sweet the band closes the album on track number nine with ‘We’re All Decay’ and you should feel suitably pulverised by the end of it. An excellent album that’s brutal and uncompromising with no time for light and shade just a forboding attack, attack, attack but it is addictive and beautiful all at the same time to fuck with you. Another day another top record from the collective minds of people who love punk rock but being in bands like TV Crime and The Hip Priests what else would you expect? Buy It!

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Scene Killers – ‘Rev It Up’ (No Front Teeth Records)

Scene Killers – ‘Rev It Up’ (No Front Teeth Records)

2020 has been a bit of a musical shit stain. It began well and thanks to Nottingham’s Scene Killers it’ll at least end in style.

 

Scene Killers are kind of a punk rock supergroup made up of Jesse Luscious from Blatz, Hip Priests guitar hero Austin Rocket along with TV Crime’s rhythm section John G Warrior and Luke J Moss.

 

Their debut EP, ‘Rev it Up’ is a six song fifteen minute manic joy ride lovingly brought to you by those very nice people at No Front Teeth Records.

 

Join me on a magical journey of discovery as we step into this lovely slab of toxic snot splatter vinyl

 

On first play, I’m hearing bits of Circle jerks, Germs, OFF!, Poison Idea, and moreover a Wednesday 13 fronted Misfits. On the second, third, and fourth play I’m liking it more and more…..

 

Opener ‘Rev it Up’ is full-on face shredding stuff with some off-kilter guitar harmonics and even some Scott Ian like backing vocals at the end.

 

The second tune ‘Not So Working Class’ is no let up, full bore fist in the air stuff.

 

‘Divided”s crushing bass intro gives way to a more mid-pace menacing tune. A moment to catch your breath but no less as skull pounding as the other tunes on offer.

 

‘Eyes and Ears’ is a horror fuelled classic- “war peace ignorance strength” it screams in equal measures punk rawk and hardcore.

 

Next up is Scene Killer’s take on The Replacements ‘Colour Me Impressed’. Can the original really be 37 years old???  A mighty fine take on a mighty fine tune with Jesse’s Wednesday 13 like delivery adding a perfect degree of menace.

 

‘Death’ somewhat aptly brings the EP to a close and it’s full on Misfits-inspired Horror Punk anthem. It’s probably the most immediate tune on the record and the one that’ll grind it’s way into the memory first.

 

The cool thing about this record is the way it grows on you more and more with every play. It’s certainly a record that’ll stay with you for a while rather than scratching that itch before it joins it’s 12” friends in the great record pile.

 

Find your way to their Bandcamp page and give them 15 quid for the prettiest angry slice of vinyl this side of Satan’s tea shop –  Here and then send dick pics to their Facebook page – Here