| 1998: PAGE 1 |
| SNOTTINESS... Punk Rock Classic - World Contender - Worth A Listen - Average - Plastic - No Future |
| THE VOIDS 'The Voids' (Self Release) Tape 1998 This early 6-track demo tape by the Voids from Fullerton, CA was passed onto me by Adri their singer. I think it's worth checking out even though they've changed their sound somewhat and lost a singer and guitarist since this was recorded back in 1998. The six frenzied songs on here give us a hint of what they are capable of. I like this demo Caz it's different from most punk bands around today. The male vocal slots give it a new dimension. And I still can't understand the lyrics but 'Window Sill' has one of those menacing riffs that I personally can't get enough of. There's an early version of 'Signal' on here too, which naturally don't sound as cutting as their current version, and with 3 different vocals all bunched up together you can see why. So check out their superior version on the recently released split 45. Ex-guitarist and chief lyricist Social Dave makes his presence felt big style on this demo as the driving force behind the band at this stage in their career. He takes over a lot of vocals and the dual girl vocals sometimes seem secondary to his songs mysterious meanings. With Dave and Maria now long gone, the band are more streamlined giving remaining singer Adri (who has the more powerful vocal) a free range. The Voids however can sometimes be too clever for their boots, and it especially shows on songs like 'Seraph's Descent' which reads like it was written by Radio head or some Oxford graduate...not a punk band. Maybe that's one of things that makes em so different from their punk contemporaries, they don't sound like no-one else...which is good ain't it? The Voids still have that speedy attack and tightness that currently propels em but this demo has a more varied guitar sound which I hope to see more of on the soon come album of new material. Great production too! WORTH A LISTEN Contact the band at www.myspace.com/thevoids |
| CHELSEA 'The Punk Singles Collection 77-82' (ahoycd98) CD 1998 This CD pays tribute to the very best moments of Chelsea from day one to the early 80's. And as the title says it's a singles collection and rightly so, Caz Chelsea were a definitive singles outfit! They recorded some good punk tunes on vinyl and although their LP's were always pretty patchy, this collection is all your ever gonna really need to hear by this band. Chelsea were a group who looking back on their catalogue, produced the goods pretty consecutively with the odd classic dose of punk rock emerging. Particularly on their early anthem's like 'Right To Work' and 'High Rise Living'. And surprisingly for 23 tracks there's only a few fillers on here namely 'Rockin Horse', 'New Era and the rowdy but basic 'Freeman's'. But even with a completely different lineup apart from old barrow boy Gene October in their ranks, by the early 80's their songs still have that distinct Chelsea swagger amongst the guitars and arrangements, and this collection positively stinks to high heaven of '77 punk! Which I fucking can't get enough of!! During the early 80's Chelsea put out a couple of 45's that even come close to their early '77 classics take the infectious 'Evacuate' and 'War Across The Nation' for example, with their anthemic demeanor. Yeah this is worth checking out it you wanna smell, feel and taste that original UK punk spirit and sound. UK CONTENDER (£8.99 UK or £10.99 R.OW.) PO Box 501 High Wycombe, Bucks, HP10 8QA,UK. Captain Oi! |
| NARCOLEPTIC YOUTH 'Classified' (LMR-03) Tape 1998 Now here's a punk band who are well worth your attention (where have you heard that before?). But seriously everything about Narcoleptic Youth sounds good. From the professional packaging down to the tunes and song content. It all adds up to what punk rock is or should be about today, if only the majority of bands had this much suss! 'Classified' kicks off the proceedings with a feed backing Dickies influenced stomper, and the crazy dumb "Crayon" vocal delivery is memorable done by main man and Narcoleptic dynamo Joey Bondage. Mr Bondage is the Leonard Graves of the 21st century on this recording. And like the Dickies, Narcoleptic Youth sing about a vast circle of subjects, ranging from the perverse to the diverse and anything else ending with a curse...I fucking love it! Any band with a mountain of songs and only a 4 track tape to deliver em with is gonna be frustrating, but this sampler just makes you wanna check the rest of their repertoire out. Songs like 'Smallpox Ebola Cocktail' points a paranoid finger to the newer more slier methods of mass destruction, while also showcasing some rare lead guitar breaks from co-writer Jay Sin. Followed by 'McAnarchy' which is a blitzing diatribe that takes a snidely poke at the oh so serious and largely hypocritical anarchy squad. It's so fast even the lyric sheet can't keep up. Last track 'Banks Go Bust' lets the band stretch their musical dexterity to include a 'Fuck MTV' pastiche, complete with a cheerleader "Anarchy Anarchy Anarchy, Rah Rah Rah". Speed and screams are seen as the only dip sticks in Punk these days, and if you want speed then these Corona culprits ain't no slouches but the big difference here is they do it with a lot more thought and ingenuity. Comes with a fold-out lyric sheet in colourful bondage style. 'Unclassified?....Definitely! US CONTENDER www.narcolepticyouth.com |
| VARIOUS ‘Brum Scum’ Tape 1997 This is a mixed bag and pretty dated dose of Birmingham’s underground punk, metal and hardcore sounds. I have to say though, it came in last year so it’s partly my fault it ain’t been reviewed earlier. And also it has to be a first for Birmingham, Caz I’ve never seen a compilation covering the local punk outfits in the 20 odd years I’ve been listening to punk! So fair play to the geezers who put it out. All the bands get two tracks a piece to show their wears. Which includes some good stuff and some mediocre and decidedly metal offerings. Amongst the intense, hardcore and metallic crossovers on show are openers Spineless who have a Black Sabbath feel in the guitars. Especially on the epic 4.22 ‘Born To Breed’. Next up is the Damned inspired Bride Just Died with their fiendish mid-paced punk. I seen these once supporting Contempt in Wolverhampton and thought they were a good laff to watch, but on here it’s pretty much average Joe stuff. Intention are up next and play that kinda stop-start powerful noise, that easily loses my attention span. But they do have some hilarious screamy “my gonads are in a vice” type of vocals, which were very funny! Spithead give us the token two-tone tracks. And with that vox organ, duel vocals and crisp production made a pretty big impact amongst all the beefy guitars and growlers on show. Their best track was ‘Personal’. First I’d heard of Ackbar who hail from Northfield (with a name like that I was expecting a Black Country mob), and they didn’t do much for me apart from give a good take on Agnostic Front. Oldbury’s P.O.A. (who seem to have disappeared off the face of the earth?) crash in with their best number, the powerful, addictive rifferama of ‘Blackout’. Those strangled vocals by Martin and that killer guitar riff really grab you by the hand and throw you around their Black Country wasteland! Definitely the standout track of the tape! Eastfield follow next with a tongue in cheek punk sound that seems to be their calling card. They come across far better in a live situation and the duel vocals ain’t in sync much on these tracks, which spoils their sound quite a bit. The aptly named Massive Head all the way from Brum’s red light district are another new band to me. Probably Caz they straddle that cross-over metallic school of hardcore. I can just see their ponytails or backward baseball caps rocking in the breeze. I.O.D. Are an amalgamation of local bands and pretty experimental. They beat us into existence with ‘Gob’ that sounds similar to Londoners T.B.A.C. In the thrash incorporated vocal department. Pity the drumming on their first track was so one-dimensional it was like a drum machine going wrong. I’d heard a lot about Rotunda on the West Midlands punk grapevine, and they let rip with a couple of very basic punk riffs accompanied by some ‘heard it all before vocals’ and a muddy production. Very disappointing! Lastly we get Police Bastard who treat us to a couple of their protesting tracks best being the rough shod bootleg of ‘Lessons In Human Control’ from a brilliant Walsall gig a few years back!!! On the whole a pretty AVERAGE comp. From the second city. Brum Scum #2 should be out by now and if you wanna be included in further productions send your 2 tracks under 7 minutes preferably on CD to the following address.below £3 postpaid from 5 Melrose Avenue (Off Woodfield Road), Sparkbrook, Birmingham. B12 8TG, UK. |
| SHATTERED FAITH ‘1982’ (GTA-O36) CD 1998 Good collection of this early 80’s Southern Californian punk band, whose various members went onto get bigger exposure in more successful combos down the decades. This collection however spotlights the bands debut ‘1982’ album. Featuring a 25 track live/studio slab, with a generous amount of bonus tracks. I must admit I’m way more partial to the studio side than the live set, but the live sound quality is very professional indeed. This is a band who play catchy well structured punk rock with tunes and an ability to create potential anthems. Some of these songs are as hard to shake off as the indelic ink S.F. Logos that stained their jeans. However you get the distinct impression that Shattered Faith live and in the studio were going off half cocked a lotta the time. They have a handful of really good songs, but for the most part they leave you demanding more for your money. The mix especially, is lacking that killer punch. I’m sure your all a lot more familiar with these CA punkers than me? This is my first listening and I wasn’t left feeling cheated, just a little annoyed they didn't go for the jugular. This album can’t hide the fact that Shattered Faith along with early Bad Religion had a talent for superior tune age and are probably very influential on their peers then, as well as now. Mr Grand Theft Audio has uncovered the goods here, show casing one of the less acclaimed bands of the era. Lead singer Spenser Bartsch asks the audience “Isn’t it true that Right Is Right?” and he’s got a point. As he offers a good clean-cut confident vocal that walks the tightrope between punk and pop. He’s aided and abetted quite ably by future US Bombs guitarist Kerry Martinez, who’s creative style shines through even at this early stage. Some potentially impressive songs get aired, like my particular favourite the addictive ‘No Fun’, No Friends’, or the dark ‘n’ moody anti- authoritarian number ‘Strange Daze’. ‘Too Tense’ makes good use of the atmospheric backing vocals, that gives this band a new dimension. While the jagged ‘Darkside’ sounds like a big crowd fave, if only the audience was miked up correctly. The slow paced ‘Hard to be free’ shows a very mature angle for a bunch of young punks at this stage in their career. Definitely WORTH A LISTEN Comes with lyrics and band history. Grand Theft Audio link was down last time I checked? |
| THE MISFITS ‘Static Age’ CD Reissued 1997 Caroline (1978 Mercury/Blank) The debut release from seminal “horror punk” band the Misfits may just be my favorite punk record of all time. For one thing, the line up on this one, to me, is the REAL Misfits. The SOUND is the REAL Misfits. Everything ABOUT this record is what was great about the Misfits... dark lyrics, basing themselves around b- movie themes, science fiction, and 1950’s American pop culture. The sound is like a raw take on elements of 50’s and 60’s pop, rockabilly, rhythm ‘n blues, and bubble gum. Not to mention the fact that Glenn Danzig’s contribution to the band will never be matched. Both his lyrics and vocals made this album that much better. He recalls images of the Fonz, or the young Elvis Presley... Crybaby Walker... The Outsiders. Cool guys. Hep cats. The first 2 tracks, “Static Age” and “TV Casualty” are pretty similar, mostly one-chord except the choruses, very droning and slow. The next song, and probably my favorite, “Some Kinda Hate”, picks up the pace, with a very early rhythm ‘n blues-style riff and all about feel to it. The words “bubble gum” and “feel-good” keep coming to mind, despite the lyrics, which include: “cats cry/little tortured babies in pain/cracked necks by severed limbs/they don’t hesitate”... Also on the album are several classic Misfits songs, including “We Are 138”, “Teenagers From Mars”, “Hollywood Babylon”, “Bullet”, and “She”, the latter of which didn’t make the final cut at the original time of release. “She” and “Spinal Remains” were released on Misfits collections, and the last track, “In the Doorway” was NEVER put out until now, and ironically so, since it’s probably the most marketable song on the whole record. Other great songs are “Last Caress”, “Return of the Fly”, “Hybrid Moments”, “Attitude”, and Angelfuck”, all of which are pop at it’s best. “Comeback” is in the same vein as the first 2 tracks, and “Theme for a Jackal” is very rockabilly-influenced. Just for the sake of context...*During the short course of recording, Glenn walks in with Ann Beverly, Sid Vicious’ mother (the album was recorded in NYC around the time Sid OD’ed). Glenn, always the gentleman, explains that her son died the previous night, and he didn’t think she should be alone. So she sat in. *Another visitor was the guy who wrote the music for One Life to Live and General Hospital, who hung around for an hour with the band. Iguess he was really hypnotised by it, but thought the music could be “a little softer”. Hahahahaha...* The band only had so many hours to record, as Mercury was giving them a runaround. So they only had a few takes for each song, but then again I guess that’s what made the record sound so “punk rock”. We won’t bitch TOO much...Like I said before, this is one of my top 5 punk releases ever, and I would say a “must have” for any punk’s collection. Give it a shot. You might just find yourself watching Ed Wood movies and cutting all the sleeves off your black t-shirts... PUNK ROCK CLASSIC Reviewed by Sam Sinister |
| NARCOLEPTIC YOUTH/ ATOMIC BOMBS ‘Split In Your Face’ (nigma888001LMR-03) CD 1997 “You wont find this on your FM dial!”...Say the ghostly radio intro, which is a pity Coz this is a good split here with two worthy Californian punk outfits who seem to have hit the right formula on this 25 tracker CD. Narcoleptic Youth take the lions share with 13 tracks and are familiar round these parts due to their impressive 3 tracks on the Voids split 45 reviewed elsewhere on this site. I was quite surprised at just how much product they’ve put out and I’m glad to have finally gotten hold of this (cheers Joey). For one thing it proves that they ain’t just a one hit wonder. This CD dates back to 1997 giving us their early set of humour, political intrigue and the madcap bags of energy that can’t be supplied by pharmaceutical aids alone. This collection is raw and from the heart of small town USA. How these off the beaten track towns manage to conjure up such sussed punk rock venom and insight never ceases to amaze me. Big Joey Bondage is the singer who spits out the sarc and put downs and is built like a jock but with the sarc of Jello Biafra. They’ve got a buzz saw guitar approach supplied by Jay Sin (who lives down the street from Elvis). He’s aided and abetted by the bands whipping post and elder statesman, Binky the elf, who supply’s the rhythm. If you like your bass tight and in a Klaus Fluoride twang, then Pep Rally is your man who also provides back up vocals. And finally providing the beat and web site duties we have Johnny Cat Scabies, Rats younger brother. There ain’t really a bummer track on here, but the standouts for me had to be stage fave ‘Barbi In Bondage’ which reminds me of the nasty Sid kid in Toy Story. Mr Bondage turns into his alter ego and mutilates his kid sisters dolls, great fucking stuff. And the tragicomedy of ‘Busted Condom’ with it’ s blunt but true lesson in family planning and a good addictive punk rock riffing verse. NY pick up where the Dead Kennedy’s left off with observant political observations, that juggles humour and facts. Something the more morose preaching outfits out there could do with. Narcoleptic Youth ain’t afraid to slag their own government off or even their own scene when needed, which I think shows they have standards. So if you want your punk nicely ghettoized into neat little packages you won’t find Narcoleptic Youth on any of your shopping lists. They’re too diverse for that. There’s also a big Dickies influence in their sound, which is another band who know a tune or too when they created one. So pedigree id prominent in this band. Summing up, Narcoleptic Youth are suburban America’s pissed off underbelly, they’ re over the top, they’re fun but they have a sinister message in their electric undercurrent! US CONTENDER Atomic Bombs are totally tongue in cheek and new to the Wolf’s Lair. They are pretty much second on the bill on this split and can’t compete with the multi dimensional Narcoleptic monster that preceded em. But having said that I’m glad to hear em and add em to my collection. In total contrast they kick off their 12 tracks with a lucid Strauss waltz but from here on in it’s full pelt energetic sidewalk humour. They’re not quite as extreme or lewd as the Macc Lads and maybe less drink inspired than the Test Tubes Babies, but your in the right genre. The start with a (I’m presuming?) good piss take of the Brits with the “Bloody Not Alright” which is totally manic. Resses Smooth the drummer has bags of energy but the drumming mix on this session is pretty biscuit tin in sound and seems to let the mix down. That apart ‘Mr McGoo’ really shows em off to be the exciting fun band that they really are, although they can kick it up in the power department when they feel the urge to. The Atomic Bombs other passion is Skateboarding which unlike a lot of serious hardcore outfits out there, gives us the snotty kid on the streets view which is fun. Lead singer Raging Reg Fast complete with dog collar, shouts out the jokes with just enough angst and enough Groucho Marx to make you laff. Their skating anthem ‘Skate Or Die’ has the line “I’ll say it again 100 times, skatings not a crime!” which sums this song right up! They get a bit serious on ‘World’ with it’ s hippesque piss taking intro and social commentary, but not for long! I particularly liked the old circus pastiche (snigger). Atomic Bombs lyrics are totally throwaway and they border on the Rug rats view most of the way, but these Californian jokers can sink the punch line with some decent riffs supplied by Buster Haymen. “I Love big butts’ says it all really wonder what their birds think ha! They remind me of a testosterone Marx brothers in punk wigs, armed with skateboards and guitars pinching girls bottoms at the all ages shows for some reason? Favourite track has gotta be the final epic ‘We Love beans’ which crosses Red Indian chants with the explosive delicacy, backed with a great beefy guitar riff and hand claps, funny as fuck. So If you wanna escape the emotional, hardcore, no future syndrome of your daily punk diet then check these out for some light relief. WORTH A LISTEN www.narcolepticyouth.com |
| THE SKEPTIX 'Pure Punk Rock' (AhoyCD96) CD 1998 Didn't know fuck all about these Stoke punks from the early 80's punk scene. But from the off this 25 tracker recorded in 81/82 displays that they are the epitome of UK 82 punk! Very similar in style to other spike 'n' stud outfits like Abrasive Wheels etc. And aped continuously to this day all over America. They've got a good heavy guitar sound produced by Fish (who went onto to join local punks made good Discharge, after the bands demise) which is the biggest asset of the Skeptix sound. The songs are blasted out as though their lives depended on it and the production is pretty consistent all the way through. However the vocals are pretty average and come across as though the singer (aptly named Snotty) had a head full of snot when he recorded em! He does however get rid of that big lump of phlegm in his throat by the time 'Got No Choice' is dispatched halfway through! The subject matter is typical protest, pissed off dole queue rants and antiwar blasts, that are good and well meaning but sound pretty naive in today's climate. The Skeptix split up in '83 and probably done all they could by then with the advent of a post-punk climate beckoning. Highlights at a push had to be 'Vendetta' , 'Born To Lose' and their one and only LP title track 'So The Youth'. AVERAGE www.captainoi.com |
| UK SUBS 'Endangered Species' (ahoycd97) CD 1998. The Subs 4th studio album from 1982 and following on from the disappointing 'Diminished Responsibility'. This 16 tracker goes off into even more laid-back burnt out territory, and from a promising start was a major let down. It kicks in on a high with the storming title track 'Endangered Species' and is probably the best track on this album. This newer more powerful sound was hopefully gonna set the scene alight, but alas we were spoilt and it went downhill fast from here on in! Being probably the Subs heaviest sounding sessions of their early career 'Endangered Species' had all the power to play with, but the tunes and songs were really fucking dire. They just couldn't hold it on the slower tracks that seemed to plod along in a mundane style. They did manage to salvage something from the bottle of Blues that they had obviously threw down their necks before recording and 'Countdown' underlined it. But this album is just paranoid doom and gloom! It bears no comparison to say 'Brand New Age' and it's high octane hopes. 'Endangered Species' is riddled with the apocalyptic endings, that most punk bands of this era were writing about and watching out for. The Subs versions were just for want of a better word...depressing!!! Their version of the darker side of life just made this a chore to listen too. For every good track (about 4 in all) we've got gangs of crap ones and even the sleeve notes point out it's a love/hate album. Songs like the appalling 'Living dead' with Nicky Garatts horrible robotic vocals were scraping the barrel! Even Charlie's sometime ancient sounding harmonica bursts on 'Ambition' are like listening to all the bad things associated with pub rock. This album is full of dreary fucking dirges!!! 'Fear Of Girls' brings a bit of light relief, showing us a glimmer of what the earlier Subs sound was all about. But even this sounds a touch restricted with these new power chords that Nicky Garratts just discovered. Followed by that white elephant... 'Down On The Farm' (the track covered by Guns N Roses), just shows what superstar rockers know about music...fuck all! Although it's royaltys paid the Subs some well earned finances coz of it's million dollar cover, the actual song itself is a fucking joke. If you wanna hear a real tune all about boredom look no further than Iggy's 'No Fun'. This is the Subs trying to be intellectual and failing! The UK Subs are all about having fun, getting laid, taking speed and loud guitars, not Freudian evaluations of skinheads for gawds sake! I get the feeling this album is a picture of the Subs at their most wasted. They've run out of ideas and have just burnt themselves out!!! So it's a good reminder to Charlie and anyone else how not to write an album. The 4 bonus tracks were bolstered up by demo tracks of 'Keep On Running' and 'Limo life'. With hindsight on this outing who would've put money on em lasting another 18 months let alone 8 years!!! PLASTIC Available from www.captainoi.com |
| BREZHNEV 'Join The Party' (wrf15) 45 1995. This is an early 4-track EP sent in by Brezhnev's last singer (the band are now split), and is a version of the band that has only the current drummer and bass player as surviving members. So it's a pretty posthumous release but worth looking out for coz they've still got a few hundred copies left. The vocalist like MC, has a pretty distinct, dementive vocal approach to the songs which makes em more unique. And the style is a lot more rock 'n' rolla than their 21st century hardcore attack, but just as good. Best track was the 'She Ain't Hormy, She's My Sister' that spells out the trials and tribulations of a close relationship with yer sister. It's got a good dual vocal argument between the singer and the guitarist and goes something like..."you should've guessed by the way I kissed her, she ain't horny she's my sister!" Vocalist Heidi has an early Sean Purcell (Raped) style in the nasal vocals which is always a good sign. And the band pull it off on the rest of these snotty, black humorous odes of guns and killing. Well WORTH A LISTEN MadSkull Records |
| THE DERITA SISTERS AND JUNIOR 'Syllagomania' (hsi15) CD 1998. 35 minutes and 22 tracks of goof ball, sarcastic punk rock on the tuneful side of the arena. These 4 middle aged punkers from Santa Barbara, California are about the best at this kinda stuff, fuck the Queers or Screeching Weezels these blow em to kingdom come! 'Syllagomania' (apparently means an addiction to hoard trash) is pretty old stuff now, but worth reviewing as I've been playing this on and off my stereo since I got hold of it last year. They've just done a successful German tour to promote their more recent releases and are popular in Germany compared to their cult listening back home. Maybe it's the humour or anti-PC attitude that keeps em under- ground in the punk scene but it fucking keeps me sniggering all the way through. Forget the Special Duties teary eyed reminiscing about '77, these fuckers actually make it sound interesting as they send it right up on the '77 Forever' listen to this... "Punk today's got nothing to say, Copycats it's all gay!" and that other piss taking ode 'Middle Aged Punker' which spells out all the overweight spectacles that you see hovering around the festivals with precision description. Another highlight is 'Takin The Piss' with the brilliant... "Well slag you for the way you act, we're a bunch of fucking maniacs, we'll talk shit behind your back!" (snigger) Fucking great stuff!!! These are the boys who bait the baiters like it's their god given right, and so it should be! Nothing in punk should be sacred! All they need is targets who can't face the flak and get peeved at their blatant but honest view of the proceedings. Having said all this, there are a few average tracks on here where they don't have the same effect as on their more acidic targets. And if this band didn't have no objects of fun to ridicule they'd be redundant full stop. But there's still plenty of jibes left to keep a few more albums churning out. And the music although takes a back seat to the lyrics, is put across in a cleanly produced way that has rifferama guitars at the ready and a good piss taking vocal. What kind of band could write a song called 'Billy Wank And Bobby Toss' ? This will probably only be lapped up by the male audience as women are viewed as 'fucking' and 'cooking' receptacles!!! Comes with a booklet of lyrics that'll have you laughing or squirming for the replay or reject button!!! WORTH A LISTEN. www.deritasisters.com |
| BUG CENTRAL 'Spitting In Your Wishing Well' Demo 1998. I got this after reading a few interviews in various zines. And clocking this fairly new punk band had some pretty well sussed answers to follow the zine revelations of "something good!" However my copy of the demo was sadly chewed up pretty bad, putting me off their scent. But by a stroke of good luck I managed to get hold of some pristine recordings after accidentally colliding into D. Rummer whilst roaming the desolate streets of web sites. True ...honest! And yeah those zinesters were correct. Bug Central are a force to be reckoned with. This 10-trackers has all the hallmarks of becoming something fresh, a new hope in the desperate UK punk scene! Yep it's that good! It kicks off with one of their (and mine) favouritely hated targets the 'Queens English' ... "Xenophobic alienation, homophobic assassination, populous exploitation and argumentary annihilation!" They then power off on to desecrate a load of other religious, preprogrammed cannon fodder freaks, including punks! Bug Central don't let up on this session. And sure know how to stick the boot in! Their victims Church, Crown and State are bought to rights, with some good, intelligent lyrics. Lyrics that are rammed home in a particular antagonistic way, via a well pissed-off singer/guitarist! And he's not the only one! Backed with an unusually good, beefy guitar sound that's aided and abetted with a rhythm section well on the ball. Which can and does give em more scope. Bug Central are all the worst things angry punk has to spew out. And like most 3-pieces they're tight, fast and more to the point enraged! Which I like a lot! Yeah the songs are blasted out and spat at us with a healthy hunger, that suits this type of protest punk down to the ground. This is bad tempered, accessible rage! And any punk worth his salt should get off on it. And you know what?...it ain't thrust down out throats in a whiney "oh woe is me!" kinda way either. Oh no, these fuckers jump right down your throat after it, and ain't content till their quarry lies battered and screaming! They are destined for bigger, better and depraved things! "Punk Is Dead...long live Punk!" WORTH A LISTEN www.myspace.com/bugcentraluk (Review from the 'Spunk!' newsletter Winter 1999 - Peter Don't Care) |
| THE WALL 'The Punk Collection (AhoyCD95) CD 1998. I loved the early Wall sound and I always thought they were gonna go on to produce something really good when I heard their debut 45 'New Way' way back in 1979, on the then pioneering Small Wonder label. But like a lot of bands with numerous lineups, record labels etc., and re- locating from their native Sunderland to London they lost touch with their initial bite. The Wall seemed to have mislaid that early gritty, spunk very, very quickly. Sure they made some good contacts in the smoke and perhaps it was the right career move at the time? But I don't think Steve Jones producing their second 45 added anything new or gave their sound that extra boom we had (or they had) probably hoped for! They now had a more commercial but pretty average sound. For example on the polished 'Kiss The Mirror' 45 which was their second vinyl outing but already displayed the warning signs. One thing The Wall did have though was an eye for a decent tune but with no other obvious traits became just another good time punk band in a mass of others nestling in the 'indie charts' of the day. Their later songs missed that early fresh sound which was fading fast as the metropolis took hold and blunted their north eastern sharp edges. Their next record the 'Ghetto' EP seemed a bit more like it, especially on the title track with it's big guitar sound and anthem like chorus. And this was produced by yet another name on their CV of punk celebrities, a certain Jimmy Pursey. By the time 'Hobby For A Day' was released in the early 80's you could see why Polydor (always a 'no risk' label) signed em up! They were now a punk band with a message but it was a very diluted message via a safe inoffensive and easy on the ear melodic sound. They still produced the odd outstanding punkier tracks like 'Growing Up' from their No Future 12" which saw em returning to their earlier style lyric wise. And the 'Spirit Dance' track is also worth checking out, but that was it! This 20-track compilation covering the Wall's 6-year career is a good look back at a band who had a bit more going for em than the crash 'n' bang merchants....but you can see why they are a name only remembered in some outposts of the UK punk scene. Some good tunes need a singer with charisma or a message that hits home, but they always lacked that something extra special that stuck em out from the crowd. A history lesson for the more devout punk collector out there but it's very rare I play this AVERAGE release. www.captainoi.com |
| THE VECTORS Compilation Tape 1996/98. I got this tape along with a copy of their singer/guitarists debut zine Carry No Banners earlier this year. It's a compilation of the Vectors, a snotty three piece punk band from snowy Sweden. The tape consists of their debut 1998 LP and the 1996 'Fuck MTV' 45. It's a pretty frantic in your face baptism too. The Vectors have a Ramones dumbness about em in the short 'n' fast blasts, like opening track 'Straitjacket' . And these speed- freaks have their combat boots firmly on the gas pedal as they speed off around the corners like madmen and leave Da Bruddas for dead as the dust settles. But speed ain't everything and the Vectors sometimes loose the scent as they head off like headless chickens. Their sound for the most part is a powerful one! They sing songs with titles like 'Adolph Hitler Stroll', 'I Hate You' and 'Fuck Punk Rock' which mixes dumbness and don't give a fuck attitudes with pissed of observations. The singing sometimes leaves a lot to be desired and maybe needs a bit more range in style than the constant drone that accompanies most songs. I like em best when they actually move away from the fast as you can blitzkrieg pace like on 'Inconsiderate Requests' . Which has lyrics telling the kids to fuck school off and the music is more diverse and interesting than the usual blazing blasts that dominate the 17 tracks on here. And that mad distorted guitar solo in 'The Message' was good! We could do with seeing more riffs like that in the songs. The last 4 tracks are taken from the EP, which I thought had a more powerful thicker sound than the sometimes tinnier LP tracks. The singing was less one dimensional as well. Standout track of this earlier session was 'I Wanna Be With The Cia'. If the LP had the same claustrophobic sound, now that would be a different story. All the songs are sung in a crisp clear English brogue and you'd think they come from Swindon instead of Sweden. Angry pissed of punk bands who don't follow the rules to the letter are always gonna be big in my book, looks like Nihlism is alive and kicking in Sweden. A band to lookout for and there's probably a new EP out now. WORTH A LISTEN for more info see singer Karl's site at SUMMER OF HATE |
| RED EYES 'Up To Your Eyes In It' CD 1998. This is a self financed 12-track release by this Clydebank outfit from Scotland. The Red Eyes were the ex-SLF tribute band Hanx! who made a name for themselves in support slots amongst a few bigger named punk bands, and were the only UK band doing a Fingers tribute. But there are only so many times you can sing other people's songs without it getting frustrating. So in 1997 they starting doing their own songs and so the Red Eyes were opened. They also done a few supports with the Fingers on a tour in March 1998. Anyway enough of the history lesson back to the CD. This don't sound nothing like Stiff Little Fingers well not the "bark and bite" version from '78 but maybe the tamer middle aged version that's doing the rounds now... which ain't good! This debut ain't great at all, it's got no fucking character, power of impact to speak of, even with duel guitars! Lead singer Alan can hold a tune or two but it's missing something...and that something is energy, anger and fucking hunger!!! This is like one of those hobby bands you get when your in your late 20's early 30's. A band who have got jobs, kids, mortgages whatever and play in a band just coz it's a bit rebellious and keeps em from being totally straight. They should hang up their guitars, go down the pub put S.L.F.'s 'greatest hits' on the jukebox and reminisce how they once shared Jake Burn's sweaty towel back stage at Wolverhampton Civic. Maybe playing pool and discussing what car they just bought is just as exciting coz this is pretty fucking dull. Best numbers at a push were 'Tabloid Sleaze' and 'Yesterdays Hero'. PLASTIC www.myspace.com/theredeyesglasgow |
