Album #3 from Newport’s finest exponents of gutter-level rock ‘n’ roll is finally here and it’s worth the wait bruthas and sistas! Deathtraps formed after a chance meeting between two ex Sick Livers and a Flyscreen at a Dwarves gig in the summer of 2016, and Veej(vocals/guitar), Matty (drums) and Fraser (vocals/bass) haven’t looked back since.
Riding on two killer albums, namely 2017’s ‘Justice For The Risca One’ and 2018’s sophomore ‘Gotta Get Some’ the scuzzy three-piece offer up their new long player ‘Stole Your Rock ‘n’ Roll’ and what a glorious slab of filthy noise it is too!
“Deathtraps stole your rock ‘n’ roll and they play it much better than you” they scream in the title track. “But who did they steal it from?” I hear you cry. Well, maybe they stole the beat from the lord or they sold their souls to the devil at Risca junction, but whatever happened, they sound like Turbonegro dry-humping The Hellacopters with their middle finger shoved so far up Motorhead’s ass it’ll come out bleeding, yeah they’re that good! Think Zeke, think MC5 or ‘Total 13’era Backyard Babies, think turbo-charged rock ‘n’ roll of the highest order and you’ll be getting close muthafuckers!
It starts with a brutal assault on the senses with their anti-love song ‘Let’s Fall Out Of Love’ and doesn’t let up for the following 35 minutes or so. An earful of dirty guitars, a mouthful of blood, spit & beers and catchy hooks aplenty. This is the sound of Motorhead jamming with the finest rock ‘n’ roll bands that Scandanavia has to offer.
With songs about killing, self-destruction and unfortunate oral encounters delivered at breakneck speed, ‘Stole Your Rock ‘n’ Roll’ is not for the faint-hearted. It’s for those who like their music hard, fast and loud.
The cool kids will love ‘Fuck The Cool Kids’, with its bass rumble, AC/DC riffage and high energy delivery. The punks will dig ‘Too Fast To Last’ a song that has ‘em coming on like a Welsh Hip Priests. And anyone who has ever donned a biker jacket in the name of rock ‘n’ roll will get down to any song that name-checks Runaways members and the band’s own deprived introduction to the queen of the Blackhearts herself. Yes, ‘Joan Jett’ has a chorus so simple yet effective, you’ll be humming it all week, while scouring Ebay for a copy of ‘I Hate Myself For Loving You’ on 7” vinyl. And that’s a mighty fine place to be in my book. What’s not to like here?
Top track for me has to be ‘Tastes Like Blood’. It sounds like Turbonegro ripping off The Wildhearts (again), a glorious gang vocal chorus and riffs to matchmakes this an album highlight any day of the week.
The thing that sets Deathtraps apart from the gazillions of trashy punk bands, is their use of melody. They have the fine art of a catchy chorus nailed. Yeah, they are raw and fast, but the sing-ability of the likes of ‘Backstabbing For Beginners’ and ‘The Devil and Me’ will keep you singing and banging the head that doesn’t bang for days.
‘Stole Your Rock ‘n’ Roll’ is a shot of adrenaline straight to the jugular. It’s a high energy, euphoric collection of songs and fucking enjoyable from start to finish, job done.
Author: Ben Hughes
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