Bob Vylan – ‘The Delicate Nature’ (Bandcamp) Heres a new remix that Bob played at his recent London show. God knows living on Shit Island we could all do with a pick me up and a cheeky smile here and there so why not turn it up and bounce around to this one. Bob had this to say abotu why this release –“When we played this remix at the end of our London headline show last year and the crowd was dancing and smiling I knew we had to share it with everybody. I love UK Garage and it’s ability to bring instant joy and movement to all that hear it. Enjoy – Love Bobby”

Chuck Norris Experiment – ‘Way Out Of Your League’ (Ghost Highway Records) What a banger this is. Great hook and some big rock from CNE. Something of an anthem the first track is a big guitar lick lapping around a catchy simple sing-a-long rocker. With guitar breaks galore from one of the finest exports outta Sweden. they also take on a suprise cover of Eagles ‘Trying’ and own it with an impressive vocal from Chuck Ransom with an impressive Screaaaam!

The also include a third song adding value for money with a punked up ‘Landslide’ complete with handclaps and a rollocking tempo The Chuck Norris Experiment never dissapoint. Buy it!

Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard – ‘Chew’ (Self Release) this is what Buzzard x 3 do best, sumptous harmonies with a dirty guitar lick all wrapped up in some dreamy twisted story. Lean in kids you need to hear this one. Whammo! rockin! ave it! Mad as a box of frogs but we love it! the Buzzard rock out with their lovely scary doggie – nice

V2 – ‘Johnny Rocco’ (Still Unbeatable Records) Hailing from Manchester but releasing on German label Still Unbeatable the catchy chorus of the rapid and jagged guitar-driven slice of punk rock old school style ‘Johnny Rocco’. it’s a bit of a banger and tells the tale of a larger-than-life character from Manchester. it ends as abruptly as it starts but for three minutes it’s a pure adrenaline blast – love it! Backed by the equally good ‘Car Crash’ that has the feel of a long lost UK Subs banger. an excellent single packaged and performed just how a 45 should.

The Empty Page – ‘Level Sedentary’ (Bandcamp) Manchesters’ finest exponents of alternative rock the Empty page recently dropped this subtle earworm that perfectly mixes some Sonic Youth with a bit of Pvement for a gentle roar about staying in. Maybe out of step and out of time, The Empty Page does this alt-rock as good as their heroes ever did and this is possibly their best offering to date as they get to grips with who and what they are and knock this one right out of the park.

Anyone who follows Kel on social media can see how in love with music and how it comes about can tell you her positivity in infectious as is her music – This an excellent insight into what’s coming on their new album and on this evidence it’s going to be a bloody marvellous listen – get on it!

It Man – ‘White Head’ (Sore Records) In a moving tribute new band IT MAN made a statement on their social media this week ahead of the release of debut single ‘White Heat’, which reads as follows,

“After much thought and consideration, we have decided that we will no longer perform or release music as The Jacques. Since the formation of the band 8 years ago, our line-up has changed, sometimes amicably but also in ways beyond our control. Four years ago, we lost our best friend and bassist Will. We had just completed our debut album ‘The Four Five Three’ after spending our early 20s living and touring together. These are precious memories of ours and we are grateful for all of the friendship, support and love we have received over the years. We are currently finishing an album that we feel marks a departure from our previous musical direction. It is for that reason that we have agreed to be known by a different name moving forward. Thank you all for your continued support.

‘White Heat’ was recorded by the legendary The Strokes producer Gordon Raphael and its a catchy little earworm bumbling along with its rolling melody and sumemry vibe its a fantastic slice of guitar pop.

Malibu Lou And The Attackers – ‘Teenage Kicks’ (Rum Bar Records) Its a classic IT’ll never ever be beaten by anyone taking it on but whilst its a sacred tune those who do honour it with a rendition have to do it with heart and soul and be able to understand it and have it in their heart beating in time with the rhythm. Malibu Lou just gets it. He is in tune with the spirit of such a great track and delivers a most respectful version. Hit it up on bandcamp and whilst your there check out some of the released Lou has put out. The man bleeds rock n roll and thats why he can do ‘Teenage Kicks’ in one take and make it sound like he wrote the bloody thing. Go get it!

Apotropaico – ‘Trapped’ Spanish thrashers Apotropaico have unleashed a lovely little ditty called Trapped and I bloody love it! Using a blend of old school Metallica, Exodus, Megadeth and Slayer the lads have a winning formula. You know when you start nodding along after only a few bars? Yeah, that. It really roped me in from the start.

Crunchy guitars, bright bass tones, clicky bass drums and barking vocals make for a great few minutes of metal. The artwork is brilliant too depicting an old school thrasher/skater dude trying to escape from a prison cell. I look forward to hearing more from Apotropaico. If, like me you love this kinda stuff, be sure to check this out. Mosh it up! Reviewed by Kenny Kendrick

Lucky Thief – ‘Silencer’ (Self Release) Silencer is the first single from the Debut Album coming out in August from the Bristol based multi-instrumentalist. Its a big Rolling riff and quite the statement for a debut single. Mixing elaments of grunge with big rock all done with attitude. The album is comign late summer and it promises to be quite the statement on this evidence.

The outro reminds me of Soundgarden and is a bit of a basher with that big riff being front and centre.

Tape Trash – ‘TT4 Ever’ (Banditt Media) TAPE TRASH is the new project of Anders Magnor Killerud (Ludvig Moon, Kyss På Halsen, Team Me) and Kristofer Mathias Staxrud (Spielbergs, Hilma Nikolaisen, Ludvig Moon). Indie rock incorporates infectious choruses, catchy jagged guitar riffs and big drums. Leaning on American alt-rock like Husker Du and the Pixies it isn’t a bad place to find yourself. This is the latest offering off their debut album set for release later this month.

With summer fading fast its time to cwtch u to your stereo or however you currently listen to your music and check out the RPM Spotify Playlist to hear who are the movers and shakers at RPM Towers.  From the albums, we’ve reviewed and are reviewing and the shows we’re attending to the interviews we have coming up.  Here is a playlist to accompany your reading.

 

This month we feature the following bands who have new albums or are playing live shows.

Hollywood Brats, Andy McCoy, The Bar Stool Preachers, Cock Sparrer, Jim Jones and the Righteous Minds, Duff McKagan, Jesse Malin, Queen Zee, Subhumans, Black Star Riders, Strung Out, Dead Shed Jokers, Pardon Us, Paradise Alley, Dead Furies, The Chuck Norris Experiment, TSAR, New Model Army, Ginger Wildheart

Distill – verb – to extract the essential meaning of or most important aspects of

On their eight studio “album” Gothenburg Hard Rock Motherfuckers, The Chuck Norris Experiment have managed to do just that.  Distill everything they’ve done to date into ten blistering rock work-outs in the space of twelve minutes.  With a statistic that would make you think you’ve stumbled across a long-lost Ramones release or a new Grindcore masterpiece, you really have got to hear Shortcuts to appreciate just what a Hard Rock masterstroke CNE have pulled.

As the sampled intro to “Back It Up” warns you to “fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy night” you can only sit back and let it all wash over you and wonder what the fuck has hit you as the last strains of “Begging For More” leave you doing just that.

Whether it’s the low slung swagger of “One Hand On The Hip”, the gnawing melody of the aforementioned “Begging For More” or the chest-beating singalong that is “Whatever You Say I Am” it’s like all the best bits of their debut album, Right Between The Eyes and Dead Central have had all the fat stripped off them (and lets be honest they were pretty fucking lean already) and been given a huge dose of steroids and a ton of adrenalin.  And you’d think an album with the longest track of 1:27 might be lacking in melody and intricacy, yeah?  Well, think again, because Chuck The Ripper’s leads are all over the likes of “All Your Bridges Are Burning” and “Little Demon II”. With the rest of the band on peak form and with production as crisp and punchy as you’d expect this is the best twelve minutes you’ll subject your ears to this year.

With a release as a 7 inch record (which as I write this has already sold out on pre-order), cassette and a CD in can (as well as the usual digital sources) you’ll hopefully have heeded the social media adverts and snapped up a physical copy already, but regardless, you need a copy of this in any form.  It’s a little piece of hard rock genius.

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No Balls Records

Author: Darrel Sutton

Dead Moon was formed in Portland, Oregon. They existed from 1987 to 2006, Featuring the talents of singer/guitarist Fred Cole,  bassist Kathleen “Toody” Cole, (Fred’s wife), and drummer Andrew Loomis. The Band toured Europe’s mainland which is where most of their support was to be fair.

They announced that they were breaking up with the last gig at the Vera club in Groningen late 2006. Fred and Toody owned and operated their own guitar shop, Tombstone Music, for 30 years and also ran the Tombstone General Store in Oregon for about eight years.

Sadly drummer, Andrew Loomis, died on March 8, 2016. at the young age of 54 then little over a year later Frontman Fred Cole died in the November 2017 at the age of 69 the band recorded just under a dozen albums as well as numerous live and compilation records and a heap of singles.

Nineteen of those tracks have lovingly been interpreted by the likes of The Hellacopters who do a stunning version of ‘Rescue’ to open up proceedings and take ownership doing a really neat Hellacopters job on owning the song. In fact of the bands I already knew well like Sator, Chuck Norris Experiment, “Demons”, Nomads, Lovesores, Marys Kids and King Mastino there were others I’ll hold my hands up to not being too familiar with and mixing up the bands is a great way to discover more ways to spend money on records.

 

As I disappear down the wormhole that is Dead Moon tribute album I’m not disappointed with the likes of Nomads who breath new life into the songs with passion and stunning interpretations of great tunes.  By the end of the record, I’ve come to the conclusion that maybe Dead Moon was one of those bands who were overlooked but clearly left something on a scene and have managed to have a chunk of their catalogue rediscovered by others who dare I say it made the tunes better!  There I’ve said it.

Side B featuring “Demons”, Fellow Portland rockers Lovesores, The Nomads, The Boatsmen and Monomen steal it on the line with the strongest performances (not that this is a competition I know that) but I love this group of songs and each performance is different and excellent.  There are one or two that didn’t sing to me like some of the others which I guess is natural some of the more Grunge interpretations maybe on side C like Dirty Coal Train and their take of ‘The 99’s’ reminds me of Sonic Youth but I loved La Secta and Buffalo with a dark garage take on ‘Dead In The Saddle’. The Brooms went psychedelic whilst Suicide Notes blew me away with ‘Johnny Got A Gun’ before King Mastino wrapped it all up nicely with a great ‘War Is Blind’.

If your not familiar with Dead Moon or any or many of these bands then I suggest you get involved quickly and check this out.  Ghost Highway always delivers quality and this is the latest in a long line and a wonderful journey of discovery it is too now we’ve given you the heads up what are you waiting for?  Get out of here!

 

Buy Tribute To Dead Moon Here

Chaputa! Records

19 bands paying tribute to Fred, Toody and Andrew

Limited Edition 2 x 10″ + Poster
500 copies black
500 copies white

 

A1: The HELLACOPTERS: Rescue
A2: The SEWERGROOVES: Clouds of Dawn
A3: SATOR: Dead Moon Night
A4: The CHUCK NORRIS EXPERIMENT: Walking on my Grave

B1: The NOMADS: Graveyard
B2: “DEMONS”: Out on a Wire
B3: LOVESORES: My Escape
B4: The BOATSMEN: Kicked Out Kicked In
B5: MONOMEN: 54-40 or Fight

C1: SONIC BEAT EXPLOSION: 40 Miles of Bad Road
C2: MUNLET: Sabotage
C3: DIRTY COAL TRAIN: The 99’s
C4: LA SECTA: Ricochet
C5: BUFFALO: Dead in The Saddle

D1: MARY’S KIDS: Ill of the Dead
D2: The BROOMS: Don’t Burn the Fires
D3: HOLY SHEEP: Psychodelic Nightmare
D4: SUICIDE NOTES: Johnny’s Got a Gun
D5: KING MASTINO: War is Blind

 

Orders: www.ghosthighwayshop.com

Mastering for vinyl pressing at El Cubo Studio by Ina S. Gerons
Liner Notes by Jay Martin
Sleeve artwork by Mik Baro
Poster artwork by Rui Ricardo

BUY IT NOW