Singles Club – About Bloody Time Eh?

Singles Club – About Bloody Time Eh?

After some time since the last singles club, enough banging singles have come through the door of Daley Towers to warrant having a singles club get-together so let’s get it on. Oh, you bands pull yer fingers out and press some 45s we love em and miss them very much so, without further ado…

Zeke – ‘Snake Eyes’ (Hound Gawd! Records) No shock that the mighty Zeke have found a home on Hound Gawd! Records seeing as they both share other projects and a love of all things outside the box and underground. Zeke lies dormant and without prior warning strike. First the single then the tour followed by the album – fuckin’ hell yeah! No, you can’t stream it or download it this is Zeke motherfuckers. ‘Snake Eyes’ is pure 100% proof Zeke with pounding reckless drums, howling solos riff after riff after riff and a melody that Lemmy would approve of ‘Snake Eyes’ is a majestical thing. Like prime DC cutting up a Motorhead song whilst out raising hell – Flip it over and ‘The Knife’ is cutting up the dance floor like a bat out of Hell. I had to check that I didn’t have it on 78bpm such was the ferocity hurtling out of the speakers like Slayer doing Discharge but faster – Buy it!

Dirt Box Disco / Aerial Salad (Safety Pins Magazine) Always a good read and the fact they give away a fine slab of wax with every issue is always a welcome bonus and this one is particularly special. Firstly Those scamps in Dirt Box Disco have broken the Babs Woodhouse tombstone and there wouldn’t be a tipper Sticker big enough to cover their side of this split and its fair to say I almost spat my cornflakes over my turntable when I dropped the needle on this 7 inches (oh ere mrs) absolute potty mouth from Spunk Volcano and the boys but what a banging tune it is easily one of their finest songs for a long long time. Inspired by a true story no doubt and it’s not every day you hear the words Dong, a fair sprinkling of C Bombs and the line one in the pink and one in the stink just about finished me off (Cough Cough). It’s a rip-snorter of a track, and it’s well worth picking up the Mag for this bad boy. Flip it over (sorry that the last one) Aerial Salad hail from oop North and this track ‘Fever Dream’ is a down n dirty chugging slab of snotty punk n roll. If you’ve never heard them then this is a smart introduction right here. Top melody on a top tune what a split this is truly magnificent stuff – congrats to Safety Pin and these fine pair of bands.

Stiff Richards – ‘GFC’ / Empty Barrels’ (Legless Drunken Sailor Records) It’s fair to say Stiff Richards do a fine line in intros. ‘GFC’ kicks off with a snare roll like a warning bell for what’s to come then all hell breaks loose and a thunderous song kicks in. Fuckin majestic stuff indeed. Of all the amazing bands falling over themselves in Australia Stiff Richards might well be the finest of the lot and ‘GLC’ is another in a long line of barking bonkers tunes from Australia’s finest. Their first new material in 4 years and the B side is a rapid, frantic manic slaughterhouse of a song for its entire one minute and fifteen seconds its pure bliss on wax. Get this new album out asap the world needs it as of yesterday. Record of the week? absolutely, Record of the month? fuckin right it is. Melbournes finest do it again – buy it!

Sister Morphine – ‘Werewolves Of Suburbia’ Big Egg Records) Having reformed after an eternity to finally get around to recording and releasing songs from a lost moment in time Sister Morphine didn’t stop there and not wanting to be pigeonholed as one of those there heritage bands, Sister Morphine couldn’t stop the momentum and wrote some new songs and bloody well recorded them onto wax via their label, who purchased one of those there Lathe cutting machines so it seemed only fair that the band would cut a two-track single and the lead track is a rockin’ number. With sleazy riffs and a thumping bass line, it’s a dark and dangerous opener and a howling good time too. The other track on offer is ‘I’m Up For Letting You Down’ which is my pick of the two tracks on offer and a classic snotty low-slung rocka. An impressive double A-side single in the classic time-honoured tradition and hopefully enough of a driver for the band to not stop there and follow up this single with more recordings and not leave it for another couple of decades. Great stuff and one of the summer’s finest offerings. Go get one, they’re cutting them up one at a time so before they run out of ice white wax get involved. oh, I have to say the solo on this second track is a belter.

Head Hunters – ‘Hour x Hour’ / ‘You Go tMe Hummin’ (Head Hunter Records) If the opening singles aren’t enough how about this bad boy from earlier this summer Birminghams Head Hunters put out a single on their own label and what an impressive pair of tunes they were too. Jez Miller on guitar and vocals, Ray Birch on bass, Ozzie on drums and Martyn “Nelsta” Nelson on lead guitar. (ex King Adora )are names that should be familiar to RPM Online regulars so it comes as no shock how bloody good these songs are. From the jungle drum intro and the feedback howl to Birchys floor trembling bass lines, this is a beast of a song ‘Hour x Hour’ is a no-nonsense high-quality offering along the lines of classic Gunfire Dance but so much more to boot and the guitar soloing is a most welcome wall of chaos and a maelstrom of proto-punk goodness.

‘You Got Me Hummin’ is like a throwback to a beatnik 60s pill party with a dancefloor full of beauties all shaking their shit to the sound of the day which just happens to be a head fuck of a groove from Head Hunters. love the vocals and the gang vocal callback makes for a fantastic song. Man, I want more of this from Head Hunters its a beautiful noise and a pair of tunes you shouldn’t pass by. Go pick it up as it’s a single that will sit pride of place in any self-respecting rock n rollas collection. Buy It!

M*arx – ‘Teenage Prayer’ (Wrecking Ball Sounds) After taking fifteen Years to pu this record together and released former Sisters Of Mercy guitarist Gary Marx goes back to his roots and cranks out an album Bolan would have boogied to and Bowie would have flown to Mars to be involved in. Well, the twelve track album was reviewed a while ago and the CD had more tracks than the LP but hidden in the sleeve of the record is a 7″ banger. Free ffs not something every band is racing to do I can tell you. Well, those who are rewarded with the purchase of the initial copies of the aforementioned LP can get this retro tastic Glam slammin ‘Teenage Prayer’ and ‘Chain Store Mascara’ are worthy of nestling right into the track list of the record. Super fun and totally authentic Mark and his friends nail the style and the songs every time and this 7″ bonus is most welcome. Easily one of the best record released over the summer. Get on it kids it top pop pickers innit!

Stiff Richards – ‘State of Mind’ (Legless Records/Drunken Sailor Records)

Stiff Richards – ‘State of Mind’ (Legless Records/Drunken Sailor Records)

Volunteering when you are 4 double Jameson’s into a double-figure session down the Pub to review an album is probably not the way to do things. However, yours truly did just that with regards to Stiff Richards’ “State of Mind” album. Two days after my drunken endeavours the WeTransfer file arrived. “Please be good” I hoped. Have you ever, from the opening notes of a record from a band you have absolutely no knowledge of, known instinctively that you’re gonna love every single one of the songs? Again, that’s what happened to yours truly. “Point of You” kicks in with top quality jangly guitar before the rest of the band cotton on and let rip. Almost immediately, I was singing along, all right shouting along, at the idiot box with “What’s the point of you?!” For those of you wondering why I had the Television on whilst listening to music, I have the subtitles on whilst using the home Gym, gotta burn those Jameson Calories off somehow and being annoyed at the News helps. It’s almost like the guitarist came into the rehearsal studio with a whole bunch of riffs, started playing them and the rest of the band automatically knew what was expected of them, with the bassist on “Glass” Peter Hooking things up in the manner of Joy Division’s “Dance To The Radio” but not. “Got It To Go” sounds like Rod Stewart and the Faces have rediscovered their swing or gin. The songs are loose, tight and explosive all at the same.  

The nine tracks on offer come and go in less than 30 minutes leaving me gasping for more, the fast pace does easy up towards the tail end of the album allowing me to catch my breath but not enough that I need to lie down. 

I resisted the temptation to discover more about Stiff Richards whilst writing this as I didn’t want to be influenced or swayed by anyone or anything else. I did get it into my mind that they must be Australasia as the singer sometimes hinted at Rob Younger, either that or he was a fan of Radio Birdman and The New Christs. Turns out that the band are Australian residing in Rye which is just outside of Melbourne and consist of Wolfgang Buckley on vocals with Arron Mawson and Tim Garrard on guitars, Raf Heale on Bass and finally Lochie Cavigan on drums.  

“State of Mind” from Stiff Richards is available right now from the aptly titled Legless Records. UK label Drunken Sailor Records will also have copies available in December/January.

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Author: Armitage Smith
 

 

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?

Singles Club – 45 RPM and more – keep on spinning

Singles Club – 45 RPM and more – keep on spinning

 

Another week comes to a crashing end and another week of pretty impressive singles get dumped on the RPM Singles Club dancefloor. The finest in wax, digital and video are here to tickle your taste buds and hopefully inspire you into finding your new favourite band.  From all corners and alleyways of the world we search

Jenny – ‘Same’ (Wanda Records) When we saw that this band was fronted by LA Drugz Justin Maurer we had to go and crack it open and crank up the volume and from the first clashing chords of the harmonious ‘Stupid Band’ we smiled knowing we were in the presence of a power pop genius. But with five tunes on this release, it could only get better as the dreamy ‘Rose City’ took us in an upwards trajectory as far as moods go towards that layered vocal chorus it was already a must-have new record. ‘Cockroach Tea’ is more power-pop goodies leaning more towards the pop and then the 60s infused acoustic Thunders melodic ‘Alright With Me’ it has a really early Who mod like quality if it’s possible to mash up some Thunders, meets The Who if it’s not possible then it has just been invented.

To round it off there’s the acoustic ‘Song For Sadie’ an old Suspect PArts track but redone here making this a more eclectic offering than Maurers LA Drugz or Suspect Parts but none the less desirable.  Don’t dilly dally as they say in the olden days  get it here or on one sided vinyl 12″ from Wanda Records Here

Stiff Richards – ‘Going Numb’ (Legless Records) With two albums in the bag Australias Stiff Richards are hot property.  If you managed to get a hold of their debut album first time around then you’re good if you managed to pick up a repress then, well-done pat yourself on the back.  Then came ‘Dig’ which was also pretty spectacular to be fair and seemingly unable to do any wrong they sneak out this digital single to let us all know they’re still alive and ready to go (hopefully) with album number three due in October it looks like a winter assault from Melbourne’s finest and we can’t get enough from the southern hemisphere who are leading the way with some awesome punk rock.

Buy Here  / Facebook

 

 

Death By Unga Bunga – ‘Trouble’ (Jansen Records) The second in a series of new singles set to be released in the coming months.  These Norweigan Nutters have got a slice of summer sunshine in the shape of ‘Trouble’ With a great hook over that steady beat its catchier than a global pandemic.  once this one lodges itself into your head it’s not coming out and you’ll be muttering the lyrics for days wondering just who the hell it is.  That’s Death By Unga Bunga that is and with the news of more to come there is light at the end of this pandemic that’s for sure and it’s coming from Norway and not some lab in England it might be power pop it might be death metal but one thing for sure it’ll have the DBUB logo on it.  Get it here

Killer Hearts – ‘Get Some’ (Spaghetty Town Records) Houston we have a problem.  We’re not getting enough Rock and Fucking Roll and that’s a problem.  What isn’t a problem is when Killer Hearts this is the first glimpse of what’s coming on their long player ‘Skintight Electric’.  Lots of loose riffs and oohs and arghs and some of the best sleazy Rock and Roll since Flash Boys and The Adjusters were about.  Go Get some high octane Rock and Roll if you know what’s good for you! Buy Here

 

 

 

 

Guerrilla Teens – ‘Tell Me What To Do’ (Self Release) Another day another Guerrilla Teens record gets released via Bandcamp.  This week’s offering is a right thumper by the name of ‘Tell Me What To Do’ backed by ‘Hurry Up’. One is in your face and bouncing on its toes like a young hooligan the other is a more laid back confident slow burner but both ooze quality and will make for awesome tracks when these weekly offerings finally get pressed by some awesome record label onto a slab of plastic to nestle alongside Those Humpers, Lovesores records you’ve got.  buy Here

 

 

 

 

14 Units – ‘Listen’ (Self Release) This is the lockdown-busting debut release from 14 Units who cram five tunes into this debut EP, Five songs about drinking, getting old, murder, regret, not drinking and Brexit (possibly). opening with a neat uptempo twelve-bar with melody and somewhere between Frank Turner vocally and a cowpunk Quo.  They get their jig on from a sprightly ‘Can’t Unlike You’ its melodic and uptempo and carries a decent melody.  They certainly like to boogie and then they turn down for a more mellow knocking on heavens door progression for ‘Looks Like Rain’ which heads off down a Buffalo Tom wormhole and its probably the best track on offer with the sparse verse with just percussion before the guitars rejoin for the build-up to the chorus which is a catchy sing-along. A decent EP and first offering from 14 Units.  Buy Here

 

Grindhouse – ‘Ramma Damma’ (Tuff Cuff Records) Melbourne must have something in the water because over the last couple of years its turning up some smoking hot records and this summer has seen that continue with those purveyors of pounding Rock and Roll Grindhouse are back in the room with some sweaty flesh pressing high octane Rock and Roll. in the shape of ‘Ramma Damma’ and ‘City High’ with its bruising riff-a-rama and moon the loon like drumming this is the dogs bollocks. If there ever was a sleeve that best described what was going on in the grooves before you ever played it then it’s this bad boy. or should that be bad girl? Rock and Roll can get you high so fuckin high and Grindhouse has the goods baby!

Relentlessly good band and with a new album on the way these are good times for fans of high octane Rock and Fuckin’ Roll Grindhouse Style.  Bring it on. Buy it here

 

Girls In Synthesis – ‘They’re Not Listening’ (Harbinger Sound) Taken from the debut album ‘Now Here’s An Echo From Your Future’ this video will guarantee you a head fuck from the Jesus and mary chain feedback and the repetitive pounding to the strobe on the video GIS are fucking with you and that’s always a good thing. turn it up and then some more and get lost in that caustic guitar riff before the bass rumble nails you to the floor.  Extreme music for extreme times uncompromising and uncomfortable just like punk rock should be.  Like crass for the 2020s the album is due the end of the month.  Let’s hope this isn’t the soundtrack to the apocalypse like my neighbours think it is.

Website /  Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

Cutters – ‘Cutters’ (Legless Records)   Another day another slice of punk rock from Down under.  This time labelmates of Stiff Richards Cutters are here with this tasty three-track EP.  With howls of feedback and a frantic hoof around your ears, this is relentless. ‘Chewed Up Fortune’ is first up and lead throat Al insists he wants to fuck and sleep in that order I guess.  Cutters aren’t fucking around either with their Lo-‘Fi take it to the edge of reason and give it a good fuckin’ thrashing.  If you think they would be spent after that opener then you’d obviously be wrong. ‘Robo Debt Blues’ is like Motorhead in their late 70s heyday knocking out some ANL and uk82 anthems and dragging through the Melbourne back streets before dropping them off at the studio. Nice!

But then they get all proggy on the five-minute headfuck frenzy of Twister’.  Only yanking your chain the intro is painless before they go fuckin’ ape-like Venom meets the Exploited. Its frantic, Nasty, out of control and fuckin’ champion – Buy it here

 

Zip Gun Bomber – ‘Paper Aeroplanes EP’ (Rum Bar Records) Outta Cambridge, Massachusetts Zip Gun Bombers have been a thing since 2011 and with this being a revisited yup, you guessed it its a new improved take on that EP. Sure its a Nostalgic trip for that early 90’s era Lookout! Records and all things Green Day.  ZipGun Bomber’s  ‘Paper Airplanes’ EP embraces and embodies all of that.  From the opening of ‘Chase That Feeling’ to the acoustic closing of ‘Paper Airplanes’, its easy on the ear pop-punk where the lyrics are easy to embrace and before you know it you’ll be singing the songs like they’ve always been on your playlist. Well worth checking out if any of the previous words ever meant anything to you jump in and lose yourself in the tunes.  Sure there is a familiarity here but it’s only pop-punk Rock and Roll and I like it! Oh and if you like you can download the EP for free or name your price.  Pick it up Here

 

Science Man – ‘Match Game’ (Swimming Faith Records)  Punk as fuck – a 7″ single with not 2 or 3 songs on it but nine slabs of uncompromising head mashing industrial hardcore. Science Man from Buffalo NY isn’t here to compromise he’s here to lay out his manifesto and from the opening repetitive thump of ‘Tiny Tower’ it’s game on through the frantic thirty-two seconds of ‘Steal The Street’. Don’t leave the fuckin room for gawds sake.

‘Surge’ sounds like the cassette on a Commadore 64 or finally, the aliens are coming. At times it sounds like out of control chaos but I suspect it’s far from that and the almost prog length of the final track ‘Cursed’ clocking in at almost two minutes is a challenge but industrial hardcore isn’t meant to be easy listening, I’m sure only the hearty punk amongst us will endure or even get this straight off.  But its certainly interesting as well as a challenging listen.

Pick it up here

 

S V & the Eruptions – ‘Tomorrows Promises’ (Avenue Recordz) An altogether more sombre and thoughtful SV & The Eruptions, It’s not all cheeky chappies and a bit of slap and tickle it can’t be. Here SV busts out a mid-paced thoughtful number with a big catchy chorus that drops back into the muted guitar work and into another tuneful verse.  A most excellent twist and shows how versatile and downright bloody good these gents are.  I have told him myself the tunes you aren’t expecting are some of his best work and this will grow and grow and in time will be one of those late in the set anthems you look forward to.  Excellent song with great vocals.

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Ryan Hamilton & Kay Hanley – ‘Oh No’  This dropped last minute so we thought we’d include it in the singles Club because we love some Ryan Hamilton.

The Fuzzstainz – ‘Sick! Sick! Sick!'(Beluga Records)  How could we sign off this week’s singles Club without dropping in on Scandinavia Again.  Always reliable, Always churning out quality Rock and Roll from all the corners of the world Beluga Records have released this banging 7″ platter with two tracks of sizzling Garage Punk courtesy of The Fuzzstainz. The lead track is sick – no it literally is sick! those guitars sound like razor blades trying to cut through some barbed wire.  But it’s catchy and easy to sing along to but the best is yet to come in the shape of ‘Thinkin’ ‘Bout Me’ again the same standards are set but with added floor tom and is that a buzzsaw? Gawd knows but its got swagger and I love it.  Pick it up here