The DeRellas – ‘Inner City Rock ‘N’ Roll’ (Rockaway Records) produced at Perry Vale Studios by the legendary Pat Collier.  Set in a world of isolation, this is a frantic underworld of Trash as The DeRellas set their time machine for the Bowery and a table booked next to the Dolls and Bowie.  Its brash and the most in your face dirty punk n Roll the band has ever sounded and its a gas gas gas!  Timmy and Luca dish up an appetizing dish of Inner City Rock ‘N’ Roll its a dash of glamour in a seedy dark nighttime world thats just been set on fire and this is the soundtrack blairing across the city.  The new album ‘Something’s Got To Give’ will be out at the end of 2020. so until then this will be Available on download at iTunes, Amazon, Spotify etc.,

 

 

Stevie R. Pearce & The Hooligans – ‘Rip It Out’ (Self Release) Rip it out for Rock and Roll! Stevie R Pearce & The Hooligans are in the house kids and they’re locked and loaded with a truck full of huuuge Riffs as this lead track set to be released later this month testify being locked up has fueled the fire of a beast of a band who are ready to Rock. Big stomping Riff with a super steady rhythm pounding away as Stevie swings from hushed vocal verses to the soaring chorus.  Rock is not dead and a global pandemic can’t stop this juggernaut.  Get ready kids its a coming!  Pissed off and ready to let you ‘ave it!

 

 

 

Volcanova – ‘Sushi Sam’ (The Sign) Volcanova released an interesting and amusing music video for the single “Sushi Sam”, the first taste of their upcoming album “Radical Waves” out August 21st.  Facebook

R.M.F.C. – ‘Reader’ (Anti Fade Records) R.M.F.C. (or Rock Music Fan Club) is the brainchild of 18-year-old Buz Clatworthy, who writes, performs and records all of the group’s output himself in his bedroom in South-east NSW.
The project began in late 2018 after showing a friend a demo, in which they encouraged a proper release.  A hypnotic rhythm rattles along, an extremely listenable tune that has a great raw guitar hanging in tune by a thread but as the Buzzcocks type tune also hums with a sweet keyboard.  Not an instant hit to be fair but worth investing in for sure.

Buy The single Here

 

 

 

Nico Bones – ‘Cheatin Heart’ (Dead Beat Records/ Wanda Records).  We occasionally miss a great release and for that, we can only beg your forgiveness.  Originally released late 2019 this Cali based bunch of punks showed up on our radar when Dead Beat picked it up and put it out in this month’s releases. Nico Bones plays a  blend of American Rock ‘n Roll influenced by the sleazy original punks like the Heartbreakers, Dead Boys, and the New York Dolls.  The first song sounds like an upbeat Ramones outtake circa 1976…  rambunctious and rockin’.  They follow it up with 3 more cheatin love songs with snotty vocals, supercharged leads, and catchy melodies that sit somewhere between Johnny Thunders, Stiv Bators, Sonny Vincent, and Jeff Dahl.  Facebook / Bandcamp

 

The Hip Priests – ‘ZFG 2020’ (Shitpark Records)  Nothing new going on you say? well, you might be half right but this is the 2020s latest line up of The Hip Priests taking to task one of their finest songs, ‘Zero Fucks Given’. What was already an absolute banger of a tune one of their finest I don’t mind admitting.  Is it possible to love a track more? possibly. This sounds huge and I mean colossal huge but not production huge. It always had that Stooges groove but I’m sure if Iggy were to hear this he’d doff his cap and prob ask if he could cover it on his next album and bow out on top. In recognition of what was built on the Stooges foundations this raw pissed off anthem is still a fuckin’ beast. On the flipside is ‘Social Hand Grenade’ taken from the bands last album ‘Stand For Nothing’ and it seems and sounds more apt with every passing day. One of the albums standout tracks (on an outstanding album it has to be said)  With a limited number of these available you have to be quick to jump on this one as the gang of believers grows with every passing day. One day they will blow up and explode on the wider public. Shit Islands finest are back in the groove. Facebook

 

Mäsh – I Don’t Want You’ (Wanda RecordsFacebook / Bandcamp Alright let’s go! a sloppy twelve-bar Quolian riff gets proceedings off to a flier and by the second verse they’re running through the Chuck Berry guitar lick 101 handbook and we’re down with that all the way.  The song fizzes like a good un and is catchy as hell.  Love the breakdown all it needed was more handclaps and possibly some cowbell and it might have become the blueprint for all future punk rock n roll sleazy singles but we also understand you don’t want to shoot your wad early doors and keeping something in reserve is cool. The B Side ‘Whisper’ is like a really good Diamond Dogs tune I’m sure Sulo would be down with these cats as they shake their shit on another top tune.  Rock and Roll can’t always be serious or dark sometimes its fun and living in the moment and Mäsh have got it going on and even double denim is cool as fuck just like this singe is.!

 

PizzaTramp / Incision – ‘Split’ (Self Release) Imagine being bludgeoned to death by a blunt weapon but quite enjoying it as long as it doesn’t hurt too much and doesn’t last more than 3 minutes.  That what this Split is like.  Repeatedly smashed on the head by a few guitars and a bass drum pedal and some throat-clearing its not painful though and it’s quick but like I say its enjoyable.  Two songs each and Pizzatramp win by virtue of being Welsh and their two songs last a progtastic four minutes but fair play to Incision ‘Jennifer Anniston’ is fuckin’ brutal.   Buy Here

 

 

 

Wonk Unit – ‘Summer Time/You’re Sick’   (Plasterer Records) Laugh I nearly went to Ethiopia.  Fair play to Alex and the gang this is a fuckin hoot. One of if not the most surreal and barmy summers ever now has a soundtrack.  Maybe inspired by the likes of Blue doing ‘Girls and Boys’.  Part dance euro-pop trash but obviously with a huge dollop of Wonkiness.  “Sexy boys sexy girls touch yourself” had me holing I have to be fair. but once it’s in yer noggin’ it’s not leaving any day soon. To cleanse the palate for many is the classic slice of Wonk with ‘You’re Sick’ bringing up the rear.  With a steady beat and familiar caustic guitar riff-a-ram Wonk Unit knock it out of the park as they say in ‘merica   Buy Here

 

Godfathers – ‘I’m Not Your Slave’ (Self Release)    The Godfathers’ brand new, double A-side – ‘I’m Not Your Slave’ & ‘Wild And Free’ Available in limited edition, clear red vinyl single & also limited edition 4 track CD that features the 2 songs, plus demo versions of both songs unavailable in any other format!!  pre-order NOW only from Here This release is for the 35th anniversary of the band’s existence. From the iconic debut to this, there has always been a recognisable sound with crisp, driving guitars and a tight rhythm section and its pleasing to say ‘I’m Not Your Slave’ has all the hallmarks of a classic Godfathers tune. The other side is a steady anthem in the shape of ‘Wild & Free’ following a healthy linage of rockers with attitude from the gang vocals in the chorus to Coyne’s spoken vocals its got groove but I tip my hat to the guitar soloing that’s on display here.  Interesting times as the next chapter of The Godfathers unfolds.

 

The Mercy Kills – ‘Alone’ (Golden Robot Records) Melbourne’s THE MERCY KILLS release their newly remastered single ‘Alone’.   The track is taken from their debut album ‘Happy To Kill You’  and has been remastered and re-released as a single for those reaching out digitally in COVID-19 isolation. The message is simple, “You can’t make it alone!” Mixing up the influences of the likes of L7 from the Grunge heyday along with something more rock such as Faster Pussycat with attitude born from the likes of The Ramones. Facebook

 

The Dust Coda – ‘Early Days – Raw & Unplugged’ (Self Release) In this almost surreal pandemic world, the band decided to brush the dust off some old recordings and release a collection of four acoustic tracks, which will give fans an intimate listening experience. This EP further unveils The Dust Coda calm soothing acoustic works. Each song as gentle as the previous with an almost Southern rock warmth akin to the lighter workings of The Black Crowes sound and style. Throughout the EP mellow guitar riffs combined with the gritty vocals are the key elements setting the scene for an intense acoustic journey. Electricity was used to power a guitar but not a lot.  Chill out in the sun and socially distance kids this retro southern rock will do the job. Facebook

 

Larkin Poe – ‘Back Down South’ (  ) Featuring guest appearance from fellow Nashville musician Tyler Bryant this is another slice of Southern Roots-Rock with some really strong vocals all round and with subtle swirling Hammond thrown into the mix it’s not just about the cotton-picking guitar licking as it approaches the crossroads from the fuzzy slide, these sisters have got it going on with a tune thats got an air of extreme confidence it never breaks out remaining laid back right to the bitter end.  Taken from the forthcoming album ‘Self Made Man’ this will only add to the expectations of the long player.

 

 

 

Onslaught – ‘Religioussuicide’ (AFM Records)  U.K. Thrashers present their new single ‘Religiousuicide’,  The song is taken from the upcoming album ‘Generation Antichrist’, which will be released in August.  ‘Religiousuicide’ marks the debut of new vocalist Dave Garnett who recently replaced long term frontman Sy Keeler. They’re not reinventing the wheel here kids its Thrash Metal as we know it and its exercised to perfection from the rumbling gutwrenching bass to the pneumatic drumming Dave Garnett settles in nicely as the guitars buzz around the speakers towards the dueling solo.  thrashtastic and you know it dives bombs rapid tapping, frantic double bass its all here present and correct and it also has the gang vocals – job done.

 

 

Dead Horse – ‘Night’  The first cut from Londoners Dead Horse EP released next month.  Dead Horse formed in 2019 when former Love Buzzard frontman Kevin Lennon (bass/vox) returned to London from Brighton, meeting up with long time bandmates (Rumour Mill/Kids From K Hole) Duncan Clark (drums) and Josh Kemp (guitar) via a mutual interest in garage rock/punk, old and new.  Facebook

First up is the latest video offering taken from the brand new Lucifer Star Machine Album ‘The Devils Breath’. ‘Baby When You Cry’ is up first this week. Buy it at these retailers – Band / The Sign / Germany  /  UK  /  Bandcamp

Next up is David Ryder Prangley with a video from his latest solo album thats coming up on RPM

Finally how about the latest Tuk Smith & The Restless Heart with ‘Looking For Love, Ready For War’ video

While Lucifer Star Machine was a new band to me, their beginnings go back to 2002 when they released three albums before Tor Abyss (vocals) decided to relocate the band to his home country of Germany in 2012. Since that time, they have released a couple of singles and an EP with a whole new band behind Abyss which I will now be looking to find. I went into the album expecting some straight-ahead Action Rock but found many cool twists and turns throughout this diverse album.

Some cool news samples introduce us to the album with some razor-sharp guitars firing us into ‘The Void.’ This song made the ideal first video for the album as well as the first song on the album as the hooks are huge, and the adrenaline surge starts here. It’s clear the band wanted a stellar production job as the mix is deep and rich here. The guitar work is killer by Mickey Necro and Marshall Speed. ‘Dwell in Misery’ slows the pace a touch with a definite Misfits influence in the vocals, and the chorus provides a sing-along touch on the first listen.  The band exercises some restraint leading into the guitar solo which maximizes its effect.

Keeping up the diversity, ‘Cruel Hearts’ features some excellent rhythm work by Benny Zin (bass) and Jay Impact (drums) and another huge chorus. The subtle use of some handclaps adds more character to the song and showcases a band that has refined its sound from many areas to create something all their own, even with some influences standing out more than others. ‘Baby, When You Cry’ reminds me of the Ramones with Abyss singing very melodically and allowing the chorus to stick deep into your brain. The guitar work and solo stand out here again with the band creating a diverse excellent record similar to what the Dead Furies did on their latest album.

‘The Night is Young’ channels a classic hard rock feel with an awesome chugga chugga rhythm propelling the song forward with some excellent lead guitar on top. The band again gives us another larger than life addictive chorus that is simpler lyrically but hits the perfect spot. The breakdown in the song before the guitar solo is simply perfect, and this song would make an ideal single. Zin’s bass work kicks butt in ‘East Dust’ and receives a lot of space in the mix. I hear a Nashville Pussy influence here with lyrics that could have come from their first album, but the music is not as fast or reckless. This one has a cool groove with a lyrical hook that could get you some sideways glances in public. With the songs that have come before and the ones after this one, ‘A Touch of Death’ does not make as much of an impact for me. It could be more of a grower though as it connects with me a bit more with each listen. Check back with me in a few months as this might be one of those that become a favorite.

I am not sure what the new James Bond theme will sound like, but it definitely seems like there should be a Bond movie with ‘El Camino Real’ as its theme. The 60’s feel of this hard rocker and a chorus that could not be catchier make this another obvious choice for a single or song to push from the album. This has been my favorite song since my first listen. The band continues the sonic assault with the rapid-fire ‘Pretender.’ This is another one where the band utilizes another large catchy chorus that should have you singing along in no time. They continue to increase the speed with ‘Evil Blood’ sounding more menacing but still has a catchy chorus and some excellent guitar riffs.

Kicking off the home stretch of the album, ‘Midnight Crawler’ utilizes some Halloween sounding creepy vocals in the chorus that make it stand out from the rest of the album and corresponds to the quick sample to open the song. While there is a Misfits influence here, it is the other elements that create something unique. By holding back on using the chorus, it carries more weight and impact. Zin and Impact again showcase their chemistry before unleashing some killer guitar solos. The piano here again showcases that Lucifer Star Machine is crafting an album with subtle touches that will stand the test of time. ‘Your Love Remains’ smokes with a dirtier sounding mix and a huge melodic chorus that an audience needs to be singing. Wrapping up the album, ‘Devil’s Breath’ utilizes an acoustic approach that ends the album on a mellower note musically but not lyrically. I envision the band riding off into a blood-red sunset as this one plays.

Lucifer Star Machine has delivered a killer album that deserves to be heard far and wide. They have created their own sound even as some of their influences stand out in the mix. I will be going back to explore their previous work based on the strength of this album and imagine this one will be getting a lot of plays in the future. I imagine you will be doing just the same after you listen to this one. The time is now to be lucified.

‘The Devil’s Breath’ is released April 3rd.

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Author: Gerald Stansbury

 

Beat City Tubeworks have gone and recorded the long lost follow up the Paul Stanley’s  ’78 solo album. I shit you not …..

No sooner has album opener “Road Runner” kicked in, a voice from the back seat of the car says “cool album daddy,” and kids know best.

We’ve got Slade, we’ve got Mud and we’ve even got a bit of Quo….. and okay there’s a little bit of Hellacopters in there too. In fact, Beat City Tubeworks may have succeeded where Nicke Andersson didn’t quite hit the spot in melding the sounds of Hellacopters and KISS together with his own currently dormant quartet, Imperial State Electric ( ooohh did I say that out loud?).

 

Next up is the lead video track for the album, “Succumbs” and it’s classic KISS. “Ivory Wave” is a little more British glitter, with more lead guitar than you could shake two sticks at. This is rock”n” roll and I like it. Love it. Like it. Love it.

“Fading to Grey” is probably the most ‘copters track on offer here tonight but with enough swagger to hold it head up high.

Paul Stanley would suck the chrome off bed knobs to get hold of tunes like “Estranged” and “Archaic Approach”. I tell you people, “Top Rock” is so good that continued listening demands wank breaks. Too much???

“The Joke’s On You” is glam rock perfection, like the bastard son of Paul Stanley and Noddy Holder. It’s so jam-packed with energetic 70’s glamtastic rock’n’roll and super sleazy garage rocky-ness that it demands to be played at every party, pub and club the world over.

 

While “Idiot Savant” has a little bit of a laid back groove, “Take Two Of These And Call Me In The Morning” is another tribute to early KISS and all the other cool records of the early 70’s that you nicked of your older brother and cool uncle.

Okay, we’ve come to the end of the show and Beat City Tubeworks play us out the door with the fast and furious “80’s Forest Treasure = Hands Of Sin”. Top marks, 10 out of 10. Gold star.

 

The “Top Rock” is available from the band’s Band Camp page at the bargain price of 199 SEK (or 21 Yankee dollars or even 16 quid to you and me) but the shipping from Sweden is a little eye-watering at about the same money on top again to us non-Swedes. But don’t despair, demand that the band play your town and pick it up at their merch stand.

 

Spend big and buy both “Top Rock” and the band’s debut LP “I Cannot Believe Its the Incredible…Beat City Tubeworks” at the same time or just download it for a small fee like the cool kids do. Just get hold of it somehow and make your world a better place, at least in 30-minute chunks.

Is January too early to declare the winner of the album of the year?

Buy ‘Top Rock’ Here

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Author: Fraser Munro