{"id":12832,"date":"2020-08-09T05:00:12","date_gmt":"2020-08-09T05:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/?p=12832"},"modified":"2020-08-08T21:13:12","modified_gmt":"2020-08-08T21:13:12","slug":"singles-club-second-leg-august","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/?p=12832","title":{"rendered":"Singles Club Second Leg – August"},"content":{"rendered":"

Again its another week and another bunch of brand new, hot off the press singles.\u00a0 A few debutants and some seasoned vets of these pages get covered. I’m always impressed by the quality of some bands and labels and the lengths they go to to make the little records and this bunch of singles we’ve gotten hold of is no exception. If there was a prize for record of the week, month, the year there was only ever going to be one winner and that honour goes to the new one from The Black Halos.\u00a0 So good it is and so passionate that we drafted in\u00a0 Rich Rags to put pen to paper and pour his thoughts over the page on the release. It’s fair to say he does justice and some to such an awesome song. Now I’ll step aside so you can check out this weeks 7″ singles…<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>The Black Halos – ‘Ain\u2019t No Good Time To Say Goodbye’ (Yeah Right! Records)\u00a0<\/strong>Vancouver, Canada\u2019s punk heroes The Black Halos pen impassioned tribute single for inspiration, legend and friend, SNFU\u2019s Mr. Chi Pig.<\/p>\n

After the critically lauded 2019 single \u201cGeisterbahn II\u201d and the sold-out shows that followed, many people were hoping that the new line-up of the Halos would continue as a going concern. And for now, it is. At its rock \u2018n\u2019 roll heart are the original members, frontman Billy Hopeless and the guitar team of Rich Jones and Jay Millette, joined by pals John Kerns (Age Of Electric) and Danni Action (ACIIDZ) on bass and drums respectively.<\/p>\n

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When the world\u2019s plans changed due to the pandemic, traditional ways of creating and working had to change along with it.<\/p>\n

This single was recorded in isolation. And you couldn\u2019t tell if ya tried. Its rich deep sound and empathetic interplay of guitars, the ragged and street-sure confidence of the rhythm section\u2026 well\u2026\u00a0 it all gives a supportive encouraging shoulder for Billy\u2019s aching anthemic send-off. Like the friends who embrace you while still donning their knuckledusters.<\/p>\n

The boys surely have his back on this one.<\/p>\n

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The storied public life and works of Mr. Chi Pig (Earth Name: Ken Chinn) started with the formation of SNFU in Edmonton, Alberta in Canada in the \u201880s. I personally was from a couple of hours south, so let me impart to you the influence and huge amount of PMA that their explosive early existence created.\u00a0 The shockwave was thus\u2026 You (yes YOU!) too can come from a city trapped within the mind-numbing cotton wool of hundreds of kilometres of prairie boredom and tragedy and still stand up, be counted and heard. He and his band let ya know you could reach out and connect\u2026 you just had to be willing to work. Hard.<\/p>\n

Many amazing songs came from the greatest titled albums (\u201cSomething Green And Leafy This Way Comes\u201d anyone?). From the \u201cget yer hands off the waitress, asshole!\u201d hardcore skirmish of \u201cShe\u2019s Not On The Menu\u201d to the achingly beautiful \u201cPainful Reminder\u201d, they showed everyone you don\u2019t need to be a one-trick kid. Just yourself. Your humour, your heart, your anger\u2026 they all can have a chance. Get on that road and let \u2018em live.<\/p>\n

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So I think it\u2019s fitting this song was written and recorded by The Black Halos. The bleeding sunsets they themselves chased lit fires and branded hearts and minds across North America and Europe. All along the miles of matchbook stages, hotel beds and floors\u2026 looking at the same neon lights blinking through the drapes that SNFU had.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a family-like connection in that, and it shows.<\/p>\n

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Billy and Ken were close friends, seeing each other regularly in Vancouver over the years. Hopeless\u2019s love and pain are evident in the song\u2019s lyrics. \u201cIf you\u2019re hearing these words, one of us ain\u2019t alive\u201d\u2026 writing after the fact a common knowledge or pact they both carried. That whoever remained would surely remember. \u201cI never wanted to sing these words\u2026\u201d pouring out of his perfectly poised poison heart.<\/p>\n

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He does sing them, though.<\/p>\n

The great singers are obituary writers in their own way. They take the thoughts and feelings we didn\u2019t say or find hard to share, no matter how difficult to face, and make sense of them for us. Billy has taken his personal loss and made it into something universal that we can all carry with us to help us through our own experience.<\/p>\n

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All of this is guided by the perfect touch of Rich Jones\u2019 late-night beer-light to guide us songwriting. This is one of the very best and most emotionally realised works of their long partnership.<\/p>\n

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Getting better after all this time. Still inspired and inspiring.<\/p>\n

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The excellent cover of SNFU\u2019s \u201cRusty Rake\u201d rounds this off nicely, taking their song and giving it a respectful and energised spin back home.<\/p>\n

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I\u2019ll leave you with the words of Billy Hopeless himself\u2026<\/p>\n

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\u201cJust know this; whether you cry or smile when you think of him, it\u2019s because he reached you. And you should never let go of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

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All proceeds of the single will be going to the Chi Pig Mural Fund, for a tribute to be displayed in Edmonton, Canada.<\/p>\n

Author: Rich Ragany<\/strong><\/p>\n

In true Halos style and a touch of class, they\u00a0have pledged to donate all profits from the sale of vinyl and digital copies of the single to the<\/strong>\u00a0Chi Pig Mural fund<\/a>\u00a0and as such, the songs will not be available on any streaming services.\u00a0 You know what to do, you good people, you always do. Pick it up<\/strong> Here<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Adam West – ‘Hi-Ball’ 7″ EP (Savage Magic Records)\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Savage Magic Records is turning 10! …and what better way to bookend the first ten years than to release an Adam West record! Their first release was the live Adam West EP ‘Merci, Bon Soir!’. Ten years and over 50 records later, They dish up this little gem.<\/p>\n

These three tracks were originally intended to make up half of a split 10″ EP on Munster Records in Spain, but something happened (as things often do) and this entire recording session from 1998 was shelved and remained unreleased in any form until now. Celebrating ten years of doing the record label, Savage Magic wanted to do something special with one of their all-time favorite bands.so here it is kids – Adam West’s “Hi-Ball” EP! The opening track is a high octane rocket ride that’s running on pure adrenaline and is of the finest vintage and being left for a decade to ferment has done it no harm as it sounds like it was penned yesterday and fired onto the wax or bludgeoned by a hefty les paul. ‘Hi-Ball’ might be a blast but the bass line of utter filthy proportions on ‘For All I Care’ is a real rush and as the song rattles along its nasty and snarling like a rabid dog.\u00a0 Adam West and Savage Magic you spoil us with these tunes. If these two weren’t enough there is a third, ‘Something Wicked’ is a rolling riff of gargantuan proportions and it’s making my tweeters and woofers rattle like some old man’s dentures. If this isn’t a slice of supreme Rock and Roll of the action kind then I don’t know what is.\u00a0 Awesome!<\/p>\n

Pre-order it now Here<\/a>\u00a0but be quick they’re limited in colour and quantity<\/p>\n

Check out Adam West here:\u00a0Official<\/a>\u00a0\/\u00a0Bandcamp<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Manne Olander Following – ‘The Misanthrope EP’ (Savage Magic Records)<\/strong>\u00a0First solo effort from Deadheads frontman. Some classic garage rock anyone? Manne Olander comes outta the blocks like his backside is on fire and only gets more intense as the track unfolds.\u00a0 The EP only gets better as the second track ‘Dystopia’ has plenty of thump from the lower end as the bass absolutely rattles my speakers.\u00a0 Flip this bad boy over and there’s a stonking Rocker ‘Backstabber’.\u00a0 Uncompromising Loud Rock and Roll just the way it should be.\u00a0 Outlaws dancing with the devil and playing all the best tunes. Oh and Manne Plays everything himself! let that sink in as you spin his single!<\/p>\n

Very limited number here –\u00a0100\u00a0on solid red wax, 100 on\u00a0white\u00a0wax, 100 on\u00a0black\u00a0wax.\u00a0\u00a0Buy It Here<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Guerrilla Teens – ‘Mad Love’ (self Release)<\/strong>\u00a0 Well, fuck all for an age then all of a sudden you put ’em on lockdown and they want to monkey around making new music.\u00a0 Recorded remotely our new favourite noisemakers from the mean streets of Portland, Guerrilla Teens are back in the house and this time they’re bringing some ‘Mad Love’ and of course, it’s a fuckin’ banger, what did you expect?<\/p>\n

Catchy, sharp and shorter than an orangutang not one more track but two. How about some snotty Steve Jones inspired punk rock and roll riffage entitled ‘Gateway’? what a tune this is.\u00a0 Possibly the best this fledgling band have offered thus far.\u00a0 I only hope some fair-minded label picks these up and when they don’t have to social distance they get into a studio and record an album full of these songs.\u00a0 It’ll be in my top ten for the year no question about that.\u00a0 Go pick em up without delay – Here<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>The Lurkers – ‘Fits You Like A Glove’ (Damaged Goods Records)\u00a0<\/strong>Yeah you read that right it’s the fuckin’ Lurkers! Stride, Moore, Esso are back swinging with this catchy little ditty. With a great big dirty riff with plenty of Chugg all the way to that chorus with its understated melody.\u00a0 We might be a bit early here but we couldn’t wait in giving you the heads up.\u00a0 The B Side ‘ When You Are Borderline’ is a bruising encounter from the thuggish riff to the chorus it means business and is pretty damn good. The A-Side is taken from the new long-player ‘Sex Crazy’\u00a0 oh didn’t I mention there’s a new long-player?\u00a0 Well, there is and if its got better songs than the b side which is exclusive to this single then I can’t wait to get an ear full. Catchy and a bit nasty – perfect! Limited to 500 copies on Yellow vinyl keep your eyes peeled Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Young Francis Hi-Fi – ‘I Wanna Hold You Tight (Tonight)’ (Self Release)<\/strong>\u00a0 Young Brighton punks kicking up a bit of a storm on this up-tempo Banger.\u00a0 They claim to pen two-minute pop songs about love and getting high, well, it is what it is and these guys have the chops with a confident melodic slice of energy which we like a lot round these parts and I guess they walk the walk as well as talk the talk seeing as its less than two minutes long, about Love but we can’t corroborate if they were high when recording so two out of three ain’t bad. To add some context here this Berlin-born Brighton based punk hooked up with those Rotten Foxes which might be why we love it so much and probably why we can confirm that their mission statements must be true and he does indeed love to get high and if it wasn’t for The Black Halos this would be our pick of the pile no doubt about that. – now can we have an album full of songs like this, please? thank you kindly.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Check it out Here<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 Social media –\u00a0Facebook <\/a>\/\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0\/\u00a0Twitter<\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The Jailbirds – ‘Dull My Brain’ (Golden Robot Records)<\/strong> Some classic hard rockin riff-a-rama from Canadian Hard rockin trio. With big riffs, big hooks and big vocals The Jailbirds turn the clock back to cock rock o’clock.\u00a0 Man this band sound like they were born several decades too late and had this been the late ’80s they’d be contenders with the big boys. Warrant and\u00a0Dokken or on a technical side Mr Big fans should be all over this.<\/p>\n

Facebook<\/a>\u00a0\/ Twitter<\/a> \/ Instagram\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>The Slackers – ‘<\/span>Nobody’s Listening \/ Sleep Outside’ (<\/span>Pirates Press Records)\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>The Slackers are a band that shouldn’t need any introduction. They fuse the best elements of Ska and reggae.\u00a0 Here they release two brand new songs that showcase what they’re all about and should put a big fat smile across your face. To be fair they’re poignant and send out a timely message when they are so desperately needed.\u00a0 Evoking a sense of nostalgia and sending a message to your feet to not stand still and whilst you’re taking in the lyrics (and Grinning from ear to ear) remember to dance like there’s no tomorrow oh, that sax break on ‘Nobody’s Listening’ is awesome.\u00a0 Check it out.\u00a0\u00a0Facebook<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Borracho with Jake Starr – ‘Borracho with Jake Starr’ (Savage Magic Records)\u00a0<\/strong>In the not too distant past well 2015 to be exact at the \u00a0Strange Magic Showcase Night #1 in Pomona, Jake Starr took the stage with Borracho and knock out two amazing versions of Adam West classics. I’m reliable informed it sounded incredible, So much so that plans were made about getting these two songs recorded in the studio and releasing a 7-inch. Lo and behold, and almost five years later it is actually happening!<\/p>\n

‘Sixth Son of a Seventh Son’ from Adam West\u2019s 2002 single of the same name, and ‘Bulletproof’ from Adam West\u2019s 2005 album ‘Power to the People’ are reconstructed Borracho-style! Again super limited amounts of this available with\u00a0100\u00a0on solid purple wax, 100 on solid green\u00a0wax, 105 on\u00a0traditional black\u00a0wax. The A-side is loud and fair play to Borracho they are fucking loud even when the volume is on low its LOUD! Stoner Rock whatever you’d call it a good tune will always be a good tune and this is proof no matter how its reimagined it’s still a banger As for ‘Bulletproof’ it sounds like something Lemmy would have recorded around ’79 – heavy fuckers . Available Here<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Nekrokraft – ‘<\/span>Witches Funeral \/ Return of the Kvlt’ (The Sign Records) <\/span><\/strong>From Ska to classic Black Metal complete with church organ intro anyone who knows me knows I’m quite partial to a bit of Black Metal and the likes of Venom and Midnight will always have a space in my Black Heart and classic noisemakers like early Mayhem and Hellhammer too. so, Nerokraft (top name obviously) manage to cram in as many cliches as possible from the gruff scary vocals to the double bass thump and spooky scooby doo intro I only hope they wear Monks robes to the supermarket and corpse paint 24\/7 and their favourite tipple is a vintage bottle of virgins blood.\u00a0 Anyway, the first track even ends with a clap of thunder so far plays to that whilst ‘Return’ has a thrashing metal riff that goes for broke and is easily the pick of the two on offer here. this Swedish five-piece have re-recorded these tunes and still thrash like satanic mofos so job done.\u00a0 Horns up motherfuckers Nekrocraft are in da house and it’s rather splendid and I’m delighted that they resisted going into Danni Filth territory with the vocals. Nice one gents\u00a0Facebook<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Throwing Stuff – ‘ACIYHAB’<\/strong>\u00a0 (TNS Records)<\/strong> With a take on the classic Black Flag artwork Throwing Stuff are here to raise some money for Black Lives Matter UK and Food Not Bombs Myanmar so we’re always going to get behind good causes through music.\u00a0 The band themselves will match the donations which is a fantastic gesture.\u00a0The single was recorded across the locked down cities of Manchester, UK, and Yangon, Myanmar, where vocalist Ben now lives.ACIYHAB, which stands for\u00a0“all coppers inside your head are bastards”<\/strong>, is about how police forces serve to both consciously and unconsciously control those considered a “threat” to the status quo. In your face punk rock is the order of the day and it should be supported.\u00a0Buy Here<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0\/\u00a0Twitter<\/a><\/p>\n