Rebellion Festival – Blackpool, Winter Gardens – 4th-7th August 2022

Rebellion Festival – Blackpool, Winter Gardens – 4th-7th August 2022

Friday

We’ve now entered the alternate virtual reality that is Rebellion Festival where the world outside no longer has any bearing on us and the searing heatwave is only a mirror of what we experience when entering the Empress every year as the greenhouse effect takes place.

We take our usual leisurely pace of getting up for the exceptional breakfast in the relatively palatial and calm setting of our temporary home just down the seafront before our leisurely stroll through the tourists looking like extras from the Walking Dead before we enter the rabbit warren of the Winter Gardens for round two of Rebellion 2022. Its a quick two-step to the bar for some light refreshments as we enter the Casbah venue to catch some of the garage rock noise that has been recommended to us – known as Tiger Sex – this three-piece female garage punk ensemble churns out a Stooges zero fucks given noise but in the vast surroundings of the Casbah it’s missing the low end of a bass guitar that would turn these tunes into a real tour de force and nail your feet to the floor. I guess it doesn’t help not being familiar with any of the songs but the Stooges vibe hits home and I wanted to like what I was seeing and hearing so will have to investigate more. A decent opener for what was going to be a very interesting lineup as we dig deeper into this years festival.

Now, next up for us is a visit to the venue that used to house the acoustic sessions for what has become a Rebellion institution following Bingo with Max which in the past has given away some wonderful prizes such as the ironing board from his hotel room to name but one treasure (eat your heart out bullseye) none other than the surreal universe that is Ratboys Magic Show. Now I don’t want to give away any of the secrets as to what goes on because I’ve never been able to unravel what it is that I’m truly watching but on the quieter more reflective moments I have of weeks after the festival has faded I hear Rat Boy singing karaoke or his chant of “Rat Boy Rat Boys magic Show” and my head does a wobble and I have a flashback. If you’ve never seen him at the festival then give yourself a slap and take in one of his performances it’ll reaffirm your faith in all things alternative in entertainment and punk rock… We’ll leave it at that. Brilliant comedy light entertainment genius!

Next up was a return to the Casbah for the final performance of Spunk Volcano & The Eruptions who have pulled in a big crowd to say farewell to their heroes and their punk rockin’ party anthems such as ‘DNA Failure’, ‘Crossfire’, and the classic ‘Knobhead’. Spunk takes the mic and leaves the guitars to others as he prowls the stage punching the air to his everyday tales of growing up in Britain and most relatable. The heart and soul of Spunks performances are infectious and when they are punched out with as much anthemic gusto as you could muster it’s always an enjoyable singalong spectacle. Expect the best from the Showaddywaddy of punk rock and they always deliver thanks to the tunesmith that is Spunk Volcano, who deserves every bit of praise he ever gets, the guy pens top tunes and everyone around us has a beaming smile as they debate if crossfire is indeed better than Subbutteo (just for the record it isn’t) which is a testiment to his quality songwriting ability that is undeniable. They bid farewell and sign off with a maybe one day we’ll meet again who knows. Top set as usual.

We then enter the oven that is The Empress ballroom for a dose of Oi! streetpunk courtesy of Booze And Glory who dish up a slick sing-a-long that is lapped up by the bulging audience. These ‘appy ‘Ammers sing songs about West Ham, Booze and Glory with a bit of a jig in their step. Songs like ‘Days, Months and Years’ mix elements of The Pogues through to Cock Sparrer and all the street punk like the Dropkick Murphys for good measure. Personally, I can take it or leave it but there is a decent audience who clearly loves it and a good time is being had by all as the steam is rising from the pit.

We then decide to take in Suede Razors in the goldfish bowl that is the Pavillion stage in the middle of the sweeping walk around where the bands merch tables are set up where the sun beats down through the glass roof creating an absolute greenhouse heat effect where the only remedy is to take on some fluids and get in amongst it as the band knock out their tunes with gusto. Plying the street punk mixed with some good traditional time honored hard rock handed down from the likes of classic DC or some Thin Lizzy it helps to have former Harrington Saint frontman Darrel Wojick delivering the vocals with his passionate style that is like a sledgehammer to the chest.

One of the better mixes around the festival site The Pavillion is delivering the good once again. As the punters pack the room (Which always helps) the band’s tunes are what really deliver the good – ‘TV175’, ‘Bovver Girl’ raise the heat off their debut EP but its ‘Vive Le Rock’ that elevates this set to one of the best so far at the festival, the sheer energy is fantastic and the title of their new release says it all – ‘No Mess, No Fuss, Just Rock ‘n’ Roll’! message delivered and understood!

Its a hop skip and jump out of the Winter Gardens for some much-needed grub before we dust ourselves down and re-enter for some Bite Back in the Empress as Slaughter fronted by the superb Edwina Banger delivers some mighty fine old-school New York Dolls inspired Rock n Roll with the VU cover ‘White Light White Heat’, aptly describing the feeling in the Empress Ballrooms palatial surroundings. The band’s guitarist Mick Rossi is the perfect foil, knocking out the licks to some top tunes. It was a fantastic performance showing that the old school still had the chops to deliver the goods on the biggest stages and judging by the swelling audience we were not alone in knowing this was the place to be and the band to be watching. ‘Boston Babies’, ‘Where Have All The Boot Boys Gone’ and ‘Cranked Up Really High’ always were and still are some of the finest songs to come out of the whole seventies scene. Tonight they were dusted down and given a new lease of life for what will be one of the festival’s best performances, no question about it Bite Back 2022 was a real treat. Rossi, Garrity, Bates and Rowland showed why they are the real deal and Rock and Roll is alive and healthy when in the hands of professionals who most certainly Bite Back.

It’s time for us to venture outside to the new R Fest stage. Perched right on the seafront, pretty much beneath the Blackpool Tower (which to be fair as the sun sets is an impressive sight) to catch The Undertones. Having recently reviewed the new compilation of their last two studio albums ‘Dig What You Need’ I was ready to catch this lineup for the first time and even with some swirling PA moments the set was fantastic delivering exactly what the people wanted to hear. hit after hit after awesome album track. Derry’s answer to the Ramones has got more top tunes than most and tonight they managed to play twenty-four of them! How about that then?

The set reminded me of Buzzcocks from half a dozen years ago when they played I think it was a late night Thursday set and in an hour they managed to play pretty much every single they released one after the other without any bull shit and it was simply stunning. Undertones did pretty much the same tonight in the searing heat as the sun subsided over the sea it was a cool breeze that swept the site being the perfect environment for such a good set. Paul McLoone is energetic and delivers the songs perfectly for what has to be said is a headline-worthy set and a great introduction to what R Fest had to deliver from the smooth entry and exit from the site to the view, and amenities, and a welcome break from the Winter Gardens. Tied in with hearing ‘Billy’s Third’, ‘Male Model’ and ‘My Perfect Cousin’ was memorable hattrick from a superb band.

Being described as one half of the Goldfish Brothers due to the inability to remember pretty much anything since arriving in Vegas for scum I had to use my phone to record where I’d been and who I’d seen and in what venue as I would never have been able to remember everything as its a full-on weekend by anyone’s standard. I didn’t need my digital reminder to tell me I had to go to the Acoustic venue to witness The Boys performance which was well attended and a full band set up as the dusted-off versions of classic Boys ‘TCP’, ‘Weekend’, ‘Terminal Love’ and the superb sing-a-long that is ‘Brickfield Nights’ it was great to be able to sit back and relax and witness something different from one of my favourite bands. It flew by way to quickly and before I knew it ‘First Time’ signaled the end of the set and it was already time for this scribe to meander back into the Empress to catch some Sham 69 to bring the curtain down on another full-on yet thoroughly entertaining Rebellion experience. It was band after band and venue after venue yet it had flown by and we were halfway through.

Now Sham 69 knows exactly how to play at these festivals. Knock out exactly what people want to hear don’t preach, don’t pfaff about just count em in and bash em out with the energy and verve those classic punk anthems deserve. fifteen songs plus a two-song encore of ‘Hersham Boys’ and ‘Hurry Up Harry’ that the pit can throw themselves around to. to be fair Sham are a great festival band and right from the off you get ‘I Don’t Wanna’, ‘Ulster Boy’ and ‘Borstal Breakout’ but these days it comes without all the bullshit and bollocks of when they first burst onto the scene with all the violence and politics going on in the audience these days it’s as it should be and people just getting on with enjoying what are top punk rock anthems (and plenty of em). Pursey plays the villain perfectly well throwing round his drinks and sneering at the audience whilst introducing most songs with a pun but once the songs are counted in how can you not smile at ‘Angels With Dirty Faces’ and sing along to ‘Questions and Answers’? by the time the band had reached ‘If The Kids Are United’ I’m exhausted even looking at the flair of Robin Guy as he adds his hefty thump to proceedings. Again worthy of headlining a festival like Rebellion Sham deliver the goods pretty much exactly as you’d expect. With most of the stages now closed it was waiting in the Empress for an hour and a half for Desperate Measures or nick off and get some much-needed shut-eye for what was going to be a grueling second half and we didn’t want to get subbed so we made the mature and responsible choice and bowled down the seafront to our residence whilst trying not to make eye contact with the scallys looking for a fight or the ladies looking for a good time that walk was getting exhausting. Night folk it’s been a pleasure thus far, bring on Saturday!

Cock Sparrer/Spunk Volcano & The Eruptions – Bristol, The Fleece – 24th September 2021

Cock Sparrer/Spunk Volcano & The Eruptions – Bristol, The Fleece – 24th September 2021

Whilst the rest of the UK seems to be going batshit crazy, the Fleece really is the place to be tonight if you want to feel any degree of post-lockdown normality. There’s even one of those much hated 10pm curfews in place and arriving early for a pre-gig catch up with some old mates it’s almost like the last 18 months haven’t happened at all. Especially as the “sold out” flashes had been up on tonight’s gig posters long before anyone had ever heard of Covid-19. That’s right folks Cock Sparrer are finally back in Bristol for what was originally going to be their 2020 Not The Albert Hall Tour of smaller venues and boy does it feel good to be back inside a packed out and sweaty club. That’s not to say that the Fleece hasn’t had to make some changes to deal with the ever evolving post-lockdown situation though.

 

The most immediately obvious of these changes is perhaps the venue’s turbocharged air-con system, which is cranked up high enough to make the early evening air positively ice-box. So much so that Spunk Volcano has even ditched his trademark on stage action pants for tonight’s show. Then again, this is probably the least of the band’s concerns as having a guitarist walk out just prior to going out on tour and then having to quickly rework your set as a four piece (with the aforementioned Mr Volcano now also taking up second guitarist role as well as being singer) must have been a much more serious matter for them to deal with.

 

Not that you’d really notice the line-up change though, as the likes of ‘Death Or Glory’, ‘Cellotape’ and ‘Crossfire’ all blast out of the PA at maximum volume and velocity much to the joy of those eager enough to get in early doors. The Eruptions’ excellent lockdown released album ‘Barry Milner Is Thick’ gets an early look in too via the awesome ‘Only Got Eyes for You, and I can’t help thinking the misfits might never have sounded better.

 

Whether its cruising in his ‘XR3’ or standing on ‘Platform 3’ the ability of Spunk Volcano to turn everyday situations into memorable rock anthems is what really draws people in, and be it a metal or punk audience the band are playing to if you can’t relate to the likes of ‘I Can’t Stop Thinking About You’ then you’ve obviously led a very sheltered life indeed. By almost direct contrast though tonight’s closing track ‘DNA Failure’ stubs a finger in the chest of the crazy world outside the Fleece and screams “fuck you” in its face, seemingly much to the delight of everyone around me.

 

It’s all over way too quickly, but with an eleven date tour booked for early 2022, if the Eruptions can just slot in a Welsh/Bristol date into their already busy itinerary that would make the ideal early Spunkmas pressie for yours truly and many others here tonight.

 

Cock Sparrer will also be looking forward to a busy 2022 as they look to celebrate their 50th anniversary, with their recently announced one off “two set” show at London’s Roundhouse close to selling out at the time of writing. It’s their 49th anniversary we’re all finally celebrating tonight though, and as the ‘Overture’ intro segues seamlessly into ‘Riot Squad’ and the inevitable mosh pit follows swiftly kicking any social distancing well into touch, for the next 90 minutes at least we are back to the “old normal”, something I openly admit I’d had my own reservations about. However, once we’re into ‘Watch Your Back’ and the frenzied boogie of ‘Working’ it is impossible not to be a part of it all.

 

Throwing in a few setlist curveballs is always something Sparrer enjoy doing, largely to keep it fresh for everyone, and tonight we get a searing ‘Sussed’ from the ‘Here We Stand’ album to put everyone’s memories to the test. Meanwhile, three tracks from their 2017 released ‘Forever’ album sees ‘One By One’ emerging to stand shoulder to shoulder with the likes of ‘Argy Bargy’ and ‘Take Em All’ as a real fan favourite. For yours truly I’ll never tire of hearing the likes of ‘AU’ and ‘Tough Guys’ or in fact (Colin McFaull’s very own favourite Sparrer song) ‘Because You’re Young’.  These songs all proving without a doubt that the band has always been more than just their seminal ‘Shock Troops’ record in the songwriting department. Although granted it’s the likes of ‘Take ‘Em All’ and ‘Where Are They Now? that really get the Doc Martins moving on the dancefloor and the previously mentioned ice-cold air con is seriously struggling to keep up by the time the band has ripped through the three song encore of ‘Suicide Girls’, ‘England Belongs To Me’ and We’re Coming Back’.

Along with a grin stretching from ear to ear the overriding thought I’m left with leaving the Fleece tonight is the songs that Sparrer didn’t play. You know the ones that you hear people around you shouting for at all Sparrer gigs, songs like ‘Sunday Stripper’, ‘Chip On My Shoulder’ ‘Bird Trouble’ and ‘Bats Out’ (granted that one was me), songs that would make the “two set” Roundhouse show seem even more essential than your usual Sparrer gig. There’s only a year to wait to find out if they will get played again folks, and trust me that time will fly by.

 

Hit the ticket link below to make sure you don’t miss out on this once in a band’s lifetime event. You can thank me later.

 

Roundhouse Tickets Here

Author: Johnny Hayward

 

 

 

 

 

Spunk Volcano & The Eruptions – ‘Barry Milner Is Thick’ (Avenue Recordz)

Spunk Volcano & The Eruptions – ‘Barry Milner Is Thick’ (Avenue Recordz)

If songwriters really do think of their songs as being like their children Spunk Volcano must have to keep a beady one eyed watch over every song he writes for the Eruptions, simply because they are the type of tunes that would hang around the shops looking to nick your XR3 whilst flicking you the vees out the back window as they speed off into the night looking for a little road rage.

 

Hot on heels of 2019’s expansive and belligerent ‘Double Bastard’ set, the wonderfully monikered ‘Barry Milner Is Thick’ is a collection of fourteen of Spunk’s new children that not only continue with his wry life observations but also in places sees the masked menace move the Eruptions sound into (dare I say it?) what some might call a more commercial direction.

 

From the opening “woah ohs” of the hook-laden ‘Broken Hearts Make Better Songs You See’ through the thunderous bass driven lead single ‘Football In The Sun (Ossie Ardiles)’ to the chugging ‘Soldier On’, the opening 1-2-3 are perhaps the most melodic tracks Spunk has ever penned for the Eruptions, and in doing so I think he’s going to perhaps draw more than just the odd comparison with his other band – Dirt Box Disco. I really do not mean that as any form of criticism, especially as that band’s last album (‘TV Sex Show’) is easily one of their strongest in years, but when you have the same singer in both bands these things are perhaps going to be inevitable.

 

‘Hard As Nails’ quickly brings things very much back onto more familiar Eruptions turf though and as a song it does exactly what it says on the tin, leaving me feeling like I just received a sonic boot in the bollocks from the masked man and his Eruptions.  Likewise, ‘Swiss Army Dick Head’ continues the sideways look at local bellends whilst ‘Little Red Buggy’ perfectly criss-crosses the metal/punk tightrope the band have always chosen to traverse.

 

‘Magic Manakin’ and ‘I Should Have Seen It Coming’ once again move proceedings into singalong territory with the former containing one of the most infectious opening riffs the band have ever written. ‘Council Pop’ miraculously turns water into a 1 minute 43 second thrasher and in current single ‘Only Got Eyes For You’ Spunk and the boys might have written their greatest song yet. However, when you also add into the mix the anthemic ‘Looking For Something’ (which reminds me of Argy Bargy jamming with Misfits!) and the brutal ‘It’s Fucking Shit’ (a song I would love to think has been influenced in some way by The Hip Priests’ Austin Rocket’s infamous online music reviews) it feels kind of wrong to pick out single tracks for a special mention.

 

A new Spunk Volcano & The Eruptions album wouldn’t be complete without a couple of musical curveballs and here it’s the album’s second single ‘Tomorrows Promises’ that has a pounding later day Living End kind of vibe to it plus the emotionally charged album closer ‘Caving In’ which really do push the Eruptions sound into a whole new dimension.

 

Written and recorded by the ‘Double Bastard’ line up of Spunk on vocals, Maff on drums, Joey on bass, and Tom and Scott on guitars a long time before the current Covid-19 pandemic, whilst ‘Barry Milner Is Thick’ once again dabbles in the darker sides of life it’s still guaranteed to put a smile on everyone’s face and for me  it once again reaffirms the fact that if degrees were awarded for songwriting social commentary, Spunk Volcano would have a masters in it.

 

Released on vinyl and CD on 4th December 2020 via Avenue Recordz, you can pre-order your copy of ‘Barry Milner Is Thick’ now by clicking the link below.

Buy ‘Barry Milner Is Thick’ –   Here

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Author: Johnny Hayward

 

Singles Club – (Punk)Rocktober

Singles Club – (Punk)Rocktober

Stiff Richards – ‘Got It To Go’ (Legless Records via Bandcamp) New music from Australias Stiff Richards is always going to get our attention.  Got It To Go isn’t the wild unleashed wreckless drunken ride but a more measured confident groove.  It was mentioned it had the same vibe as Bronx and that’s a decent shout both bands are top-notch and when they cut loose their brimming with urgency and when they kick back (as it were) they sound like this.  One song is fantastic but we want more so when you’re ready chaps we’ll have that long-player, thanks. and the good news there is its coming out soonish from legless in Australia and its getting a European release from Drunken Sailor Records.  In the meantime check out the single here

 

 

Spunk Volcano & The Eruptions – ‘Only Got Eyes For You’ (Avenue Recordz) You want anthems for singles? fuckin’ right you do.  In these tough times how about bands release singles ahead of an album and make it a bloody good un or else.  SV & The Eruptions have only gone and done that twice before now with this being the last un before the album hits us in December. This one might just be the biggest sounding of the lot with a confident mid-paced number and judging by the lyrics maybe SV has softened and penned a love song (of sorts) its certainly his best vocal delivery yet with a fantastic melody and one that burrows down into the ear and sets up camp and you find yourself singing hours later.  The sign of a good single?  I think so. It also features ‘Snap Backbone’ from the ‘Ramraid’ EP  & ‘Together Forever As Ghosts’ from ‘Shit Generation’.  SV & The Eruptions are prolific and they seem to be getting better and better at this songwriting lark  – long may it continue. Oh and that artwork is creepy as fuck. Buy it Here    check em out – Facebook / Website 

 

 

Matty James Cassidy – ‘Old Souls’ (Pirate Heart Records)  taken from the album of the same name Matty infuses his folk and rock and roll roots to create a great song mixing electric with acoustic but then takes it to the next level with some welcome and excellent saxophone.  There’s a bit of the Clash in here and some.  Matty has expanded the troubadour tag and turned in a really impressive song to showcase his new album Website

 

 

Gob Patrol – ‘Sin City’ (Riot Records) Of course its punk rock.  With a name like Gob Patrol, it wasn’t ever not going to sound like The Exploited doing Rancid doing GBH.  Nothing wrong with that either.  ‘Sin City’ is easy on the ear and dumb and full of fun.  These Vegas punks kick-off ‘Anarchy’ as if to solidify their punk rock credentials.  It’s pretty decent if the UK82 scene was your thing.  It not original but then why should it be they’re just kicking the can down the road and pogoing for fun with their mates.  Good on ’em I say and get down to sin city and pogo pogo! Pre-order/pre-save Sin City HERE

The Urethras ‘Patronized’ (Pirates Press Records) Pissed off teenagers from California writing punk rock songs in 2020 who’d have thought it?  Raw, unapologetic, and raging against the machine. Throw in a global pandemic, raging fires in their backyards and you’ve got a ticking time bomb of angst and it sounds like it.  Imagine a rough house Rancid,  Some 82 punk and the usual suspects like Dead Kennedys or Germs and a heap of Straight edge bands who used to turn CBGB into a frothing mess The Urethras are kickings it.  ‘Patronized’ is that sound.  Good on you kids and I mean that in a non patronising way.  As for the name stop giggling you nutters.  Facebook

Kids Of Skids – ‘Trapped’  (Riot Records) Sydney-based hardcore punk band KIDS OF SKIDS recently released their debut single and subsequent video Army Store via Riot Records. Now they are set to drop their second single Trapped on October 19th. Trapped is about being Trapped in Iso during fu**ing Corona.   In your face rapid hardcore punk rock oz style.  Brutal shit from down under that will pummel your brain – get on the VB and throw yourself about its like Chesty Malone & The Slice EM Ups have Australian blood brothers.
Pre-order/save Trapped HERE 

Antagonizers ATL – ‘Black Clouds’ (Pirates Press Records)  Oi, Oi Now rounded out as a 6 piece, Antagonizers ATL has this single out as a glimpse of the future as these street punks get ready to release the long-player with a Celtic tinge it’s not as oirish as say a Dropkick Murphys but it’s cut from a similar cloth.

The song features some extra vocals from labelmate Matt Henson (NOi!SE)as if these street punks needed help on those gang vocals.

Antagonizers ATL’s brand of dirty rock n’ roll is on full display, and these Atlanta working class street punks have carved their teeth in the scene with a relentless work ethic and a commanding live show for the better part of a decade.  Fill yer glass and get a jig on street punks are in the room.

Atomic Zeros – ‘Dirty Game’ (Ghost Highway Records) A cool sleazy slab of garage rock with a great hook on the chorus.  A really well-written song with some fine crunchy guitars borrowing a lick or two from the likes of Gluecifer and knocking out a cover of The Lord’s classic ‘Russian Roulette’ on the B side is never going to end badly with us.  Curiously the second cover of the same song in a month. Once again the do the track proud with a killer version.  Super limited numbers available from the best label in Spain Here or from the band Here

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The Slackers – ‘Blue’ (Pirates Press Records) Normally, in the months leading up to arguably the biggest election, you wouldn’t want to go about releasing a new record for your band… Unless of course, that song was a taste of the color and voice you want to lend to the dialogue.

NYC legends trumpet tooting mellow bit of Ska.  Harking back to some classic first wave The Slackers turn in a chilled out ‘Blue’ before the storm of what might follow.  It’s not heading to the top of the charts any day soon but who cares this is great especially the Dub version (like it needed a Dub Version) Facebook

 

 

The Imbeciles – ‘Yes I Am’  Scuzzy mysterious punk rockers release the first video from their EP that’s released later this month containing 6-tracks the EP ‘Dissolution Sessions’ will be out at the end of October. Until then this amusing video deals with the band’s lineup changes as well as showcasing their wonderful talent for penning garage rock and roll the song has a great hook and who doesn’t love a riff like that?

Spunk Volcano And The Eruptions – ‘Double Bastard’ (Avenue Records)

Spunk Volcano And The Eruptions – ‘Double Bastard’ (Avenue Records)

What could be better than a new Spunk Volcano album to help cheer us all up during this rain-drenched summer we’re having here in the UK? Well, how about two Spunk Volcano albums?

That’s right folks ‘Double Bastard’ is not only Spunk Volcano And The Eruptions fourth studio album to date but it’s also a double (bastard) album.

Containing twenty five tracks of pure Spunk Rock ‘Double Bastard’ flips effortlessly from punk to metal to Oi! to some good old mondo bongo rock ‘n’ roll (more of this later) whilst never once straying too far from the semi-legendary SAW (Spunk’s Anthem Writing) formula we have all come to revere the masked madman for.

Of course, a lot has happened in the Eruptions camp since 2017’s excellent (and Ginger Wildheart endorsed) ‘Not Wired Up Right’ album, for starters they’ve changed record labels, then came the shortening of their name (to S.V. And The Eruptions) after some venues refused to book them, and most recently the acquisition of both ex-FDC Joey Strange on bass and rabid Faxe drinker Scott Russell on guitar – makes this line up perhaps the band’s most insanely perfect yet.

‘Double Bastard’ then is the larger than life sound of this loveable bunch of antiheroes captured in the studio, and before I delve into the nitty gritty of the album I’d just like to say “if there’s anyone out there right now who is writing more memorable punk rock hymns dedicated to this disaffected country of ours I’d certainly like you to point them in my direction.”

Away from the constraints of Dirtbox Disco’s “swing your pants” feelgood punk rock the darker more introverted side of Spunk Volcano has always been where I’ve found some of his most interesting work and here tracks like ‘Road Rage’, ‘You Think Your Rock N Roll But You’re Not’, ‘Independent Fire’ and ‘Personality Black Hole’ turn the noise levels up way past critical with the first three tunes having more than just a hint of Motorhead about them and the latter thrashing away like an in their prime Slayer.

Ole Spunk chops has certainly not forgotten his punk rock roots though and tracks like the Pistols meets Sparrer riot that is ‘Sucking Up’, the whoa-oh-waddytastic ‘TCP’ ‘and the infectious genius of ‘Scared Of Needles’ are some of the very best tunes the masked marauder and his mob of misfits have ever committed to CD.

Elsewhere the dissonantly melancholic pop of ‘Red Rings’, ‘99%’ and ‘Shit Excuse’ provide an almost sugar free alternative to the full on assault of their surroundings and in ‘Old Wives Tales’ you have the band’s most bongo-bonkers tune to date somewhere where the true genius of what makes Spunk Volcano such an amazingly prolific songwriter is condensed into 2 minutes of 30 seconds of….well, you have to hear it for yourselves.

At 25 tracks long ‘Double Bastard’ could perhaps be accused of being Spunk Volcano’s very own ‘(Ab)Use Your Illusion’, however unlike those overblown pieces of GN’R released stadium rock bollocks where you could have made one decent album out of the two, nothing could be further from the truth here. Although I must admit the idea of the Eruptions spunking a ‘November Rain’ sized budget on a video for the stupendously silly ‘Sooper Dooper’ (a song with one of the very best opening lines of all time) certainly wouldn’t be without its charms.

Released on 21st of June 2019 ‘Double Bastard’ is an expansive (not expensive) celebration of gloriously catchy potty-mouthed punk rock ‘n’ roll, providing the perfect pick me up to our depressing UK summer.

Author: Johnny Hayward

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Buy Double Bastard Here

Hot Sauce From Your Dirtbox

Hot Sauce From Your Dirtbox

Hot on the heels of the release of their ‘Spunk Volcano Bastard BBQ Sauce’ a few months ago, (200+ bottles sold and counting!) those rock and roll freaks in Dirt Box Disco are now preparing to launch yet another hot sauce!

In association with the legendary Chilli Pepper Pete, Dirt Box Disco is proud to announce the release of their ‘Freaks Hot Green Salsa’.

Drummer Maff Fazzo says “Our Bastard BBQ Sauce was received incredibly well and I don’t think that any of us expected it to be quite so popular. The only criticism we heard was that it wasn’t hot enough, so we thought we’d best come up a hotter version. In my favourite colour green!”

Clocking in at 5/10 on the heat scale, ‘Freaks Hot Green Salsa’ is a delicious green sauce with a bit of a bite and a whole lot of zing! Perfect as a dipping sauce with nachos and vegetables, or as a salad dressing. Or just poured all over your chips! The sauce was created using all natural ingredients, is suitable for vegans and is wheat, dairy and GM-free.

The sauce was officially launched at this year’s Rebellion Festival in Blackpool and is now available to order online from the Dirt Box Disco/Spunk Volcano website.

 

After another awesome weekend at the Great British Alternative Music Festival and before SV & the Eruptions head out on the road with Wolfsbane Europe can catch them at these dates throughout Rocktober and the by fans for fans video for ‘My Life Is Shit’ – Enjoy!