Category Archives: Uncategorized

LOST ANGELS: Away We Go.

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A number of years ago I wrote about a band called The Creeping Ivies. I think I wrote about them a hell of a lot, and they’re a band that I loved so much and I was gutted when they ended. However, Becca is back and her new band is equally as great so I’ll evidently become equally as obsessed.

Lost Angels only formed last year, and have FINALLY put out 3 brand new songs which I’ve fallen in love with. Becca has SUCH a distinctive voice, and her guitar playing is something else. Massively underrated but maybe Lost Angels will change that. In just 3 songs, they’ve created something that I cannot wait to hear more of. There’s comfort in hearing Becca’s voice again and I cannot wait to hear what else the band put out but for now- these 3 songs are what I’ll play on repeat.

The 3 track EP opens with the title track, Away We Go which is a beautiful way to get us hooked on such a great band. The EP is currently available on Bandcamp only but I think it’ll be up on Spotify etc. on the 14th so there’s no excuse for anyone to not get hold of the record in any way. The hook on Away We Go is a simple Punk-esque chant, and you cannot get enough of it. Imagine seeing the band live, and just yelling this back at them and as you leave the gig-you’re probably still yelling it.

And we get right into Midnight In The Graveyard which reminds me so much of one of the best songs ever written- I Just Wanna Have Something To Do by the Ramones; it sounds like it but there’s something beautifully creepy about this song and it’s easily my favourite. It feels like a Vincent Price film in the form of a song- perfect in every single way. I could listen to this on repeat and find more things to love about it. Obsessed? Always. It has such an eerie feel to it, and I just want to have it on repeat. I LOVE Becca’s vocals on this and in some ways, it does remind me of The Creeping Ivies and that will always be a good thing. I love the loudness on this song, but I love how the EP ends on a gentler note too.

The Only One closes the EP, and if you love Johnny Thunders- this is the one you’ll fall in love with. I love how you can pick up on the influences on this record, and it makes you feel like you’re hearing the Ramones or New York Dolls for the first time. Imagine never knowing such perfection, then it just hits you. You accidentally listen to the Ramones or NYD for the first time. Is that what sheer joy is? It’s up there. The Only One is a beautiful Punk love song, and they are the best love songs. These 3 songs are a perfect introduction to what Lost Angels are about, and they are clearly one of the best bands around from Glasgow right now. I really hope that more music comes from this and a tour too because these are the types of songs that you need to see live, right? They were made to be witnessed in sweaty dive bar.

I love this EP a hell of a lot and I love that I can hear parts of bands I love in every song. It’s a glorious EP and again, makes me wish I had even a fraction of musical talent. There’s nothing pretentious or over the top here- just beautiful Rock ‘N’ Roll from the heart and gut. I can’t wait to hear more from them because I know it’s going to be insanely brilliant and just effortlessly slick.

DIIV: Frog In Boiling Water.

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Everyone has a band that just eases their brain a bit. I’ve got a handful; some are really loud, and some have this sound that I cannot describe- but I know it makes life a little easier. DIIV fall into the latter. They have this sound that just levels everything out, and nothing can get in to disrupt that.

Their new record takes its name from a novel by Daniel Quinn and is a record that has a lot of conscious thought poured into it. You can really feel and sense every element of care that has gone into this record. No part of it’s been rushed, and that’s how you need to listen to it. Make time for YOU and just play this record. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve listened to this record in the past week, but I can tell you that blasting it through headphones is the best way to really soak up this record. DIIV make music that makes the world a bit more tender, and we all know how brutally heavy everything is. When you play this record, everything feels lighter, and I get that every time I listen to them- it doesn’t matter what record; they just give you this reassurance.

The lead single, Brown Paper Bag is divine. It just feels like you are about to fall into the best sleep of your life. I could easily have the best sleep of my life listening to DIIV- they just give you this general ease once you listen to them and even though some of what they sing about is heavy, there is a lightness that makes it all okay. From Oshin to Frog in Boiling Water, DIIV have again proved themselves to be a band that just know exactly what they are doing. Sure, they have a certain sound, but it has grown so much. I remember hearing them for the first time in either 2011 or 2012, and it felt like the world stopped. I still get that feeling now when I listen to them. I can only liken listening to DIIV as that very light feeling of falling in love properly- there’s no weight, there’s no expectations- it just happens. A sense of freedom in your mind and heart.

For me, DIIV have never made a bad record and if they have- I refuse to acknowledge if they have of course! Songs like Somber the Drums and In Amber just show how incredible the band are, and you close the record with Fender on the Freeway>! Who gave them permission to make such a killer record! Come on now! It’s one of those records that fit perfectly, and of course some may call Deceiver as their best work so far- but when you listen to their records in order, you will see (well, hear) and how every record fits perfectly. Frog in Boling Water sounds perfect right after Deceiver. I just love this band, but you knew that.

To even attempt to pick a favourite song after a week of almost religiously playing it- I’m going between Everyone Out and Little Birds. I think Little Birds is my favourite lyrically and vocally, but I’ve spent a fair amount of time listening to Soul-net and it may be one of the most beautiful songs I’ve heard this year. I can’t choose. The record is produced by Chris Coady, and if you’ve listened to anything Chris has touched- you will know it is out of this world. Which is why Frog in Boiling Water is DIIV at their best again.  You can really hear that DIIV are a band that will just keep going and going; but still with something to say. Some keep going and should perhaps either quit or take a break for a while, but DIIV are not that band. They are a band that just clearly get better with every record.

Frog in Boiling Water shows such growth in the band, and it also shows that they are absolutely nowhere near done. DIIV are band that always make you excited with what they’re about to do next, and they’ve been doing this for well over 10 years now- that’s going nowhere. Just like my love for them.

SPRINTS: Letter To Self.

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Since its release, I have been quietly obsessing over the debut record by SPRINTS. It is easily one of the most beautiful records of the year, and honestly- I’ve not connected with a record like this in a long time. If I could personally thank them for making such a phenomenal record that has made my dumb brain feel less strange, I would. But alas, I’ll just rant about the record here.

SPRINTS have made a record that HAS to be played loud. But you have to play it loud whilst on your own so you can take it all in. Like really really ignore the world around you, turn your phone off or throw it in the bin- and play this record so loud. I plan on playing it a little bit louder when I go home later. I want to crawl inside this record and make it my home. The more I listen to Cathedral, the more I hear the absolute genius of this band. There is nothing else out there like them. Nothing before them and nothing after them- they are it. I liken it to falling in love with the person you’ve been waiting for and finally feeling at home. This record is a safe space and also, beautifully terrifying because you cannot help but click with every single word.

Letter To Self is one of those songs that make you feel like you’ve reached the point of self-acceptance and understanding. I reckon if someone ripped my insides open this song would start playing. But the whole record feels like the purest and biggest cathartic experience you can imagine. It’s just as if you’re hearing something life-changing for the first time, and my god this is so clear within seconds of listening to the record. It opens with Ticking which feels like a punch right in the kisser, but you go back for more because you actually feel something. The way Heavy is effortlessly next after Ticking- give this band every award, everything good in the world. I don’t care- fucking give them it. This record is IT. If I get hit by a bus tomorrow and this is the last record I hear- then I will die happy. It is perfect. My words don’t do this record justice; I hope anyone who listens to it feels the way I do because my god it is the most perfect record I’ve heard in a long time. Maybe years. I don’t know. I feel like I’ve never heard music before playing this.

There are records you will hear in your lifetime, and you know that they will change you. Or change parts of you. Maybe they’ll get to parts of you that a person couldn’t. They’ll say the things you couldn’t pull out- and SPRINTS have beautifully done this with the record especially on the song Cathedral. My god that song is lyrically a work of art. It’s just divine.

SPRINTS have everything I want from a band in their sound; the lyrics, the heaviness, the way you feel as if you’re having your head bashed into a wall whilst Karla screams out the words that just speak to you more than anything else ever has. Her vocals on Up And Comer are INSANE- you can hear every raw emotion on this song, and you just want it to take over your life. This record will. It’s absolutely done that with me, and I’m happy if I never hear anything new again because everything I’d want is in SPRINTS. They unleash hell in the most perfect and beautiful way- the chaotic sounds are a delight for the ears and good for the soul. I want it injected into my veins- would that even be possible?! It’s a record (well, band to be honest) that you cannot help but become obsessed with in the best way imaginable. I couldn’t imagine going a day without listening to them, and I’ve got a handful of bands that I love as much as this. Part of me wants to lock myself in a room by myself for the rest of time playing their music and the other wants every single person in the world to listen and love them as much as I do. In short, everyone should love this band. How could you not?

The record ends with the album title track, and it’s the most perfect way to end the record.  Again, lyrically it’s genius. There is not a bad song on this record. There’s not a bad lyric. Everything is so vital and delivered with such urgency that is so infectious. You want it around you all the time. 11 songs aren’t enough but it’s just the start- they are going to be one of the best bands we’ve ever been lucky to have. Let’s treasure them in the way they deserve.

I LOVE how SPRINTS have this energy that just makes you want to shut everything out and play their music as loud as possible. I love how their sound reminds me of a band I miss so much- Savages. Karla’s vocals has the same power as Jehnny Beth- that energy and raw emotion is nothing short of perfect. If I had even a touch of musical talent, this is the band I’d probably want to sound like. They’ve got this glorious way of giving you something positive when everything seems utterly hopeless, y’know?

I’ve just bought a ticket to finally see them in November; I’ve not been to a gig this year yet and I have no idea why, so if this show ends up being the only one I go to this year- so be it. It’ll be the best anyway.

MAD DADDY: Too Tough To Die.

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Here comes record number 2 by one of the best bands to have ever come from my hometown (well, home country) the Isle of Man…that band is Mad Daddy. I’ve written about them before, and I stand by everything I’ve said. They are truly a fantastic band, and record number 2 fully backs that up.

Too Tough To Die came out yesterday, and it’s got everything you could possibly want from a rowdy Garage Punk record. You want songs that smack you in the face? Mad Daddy have got you covered. You want harmonica infused anthems that’ll have you feeling like you’ve discovered Iggy Pop for the first time? They’ve got you. Mad Daddy have grown on this record, and this massive sound that they are now gracing us with is purely divine. You’ll want this injecting into your veins and brain.

The record opens with the title track, and we are then smacked with Hot Chicks which definitely makes you feel like it could be a record by The Stooges. Iggy Pop is a fan of the band anyway, so it’s a justified comparison. He’s got good taste. It’s a wild ride of a record, and you can hear how they’ve really pushed themselves on this record and have made something that fits perfectly after their debut from 2021. In those 3 years they’ve had a journey and a half, and this record really shows it. They’re not afraid to be louder on this record. They’ve also gone down the road of only having singles available on streaming sites, so if you want to hear this record- then you’re going to have to buy a copy, and blast it as loud as possible.

Every song on the record feels like it was made to be played live. You totally get this from songs like Stoned, I’m An Outsider and Be Bad. The harmonica on Stoned (especially) feels like a freight train hurtling towards you at top speed ready to launch you into the throes of some gnarly world that only Mad Daddy have the keys too. I love that their sound also has a motorcycle chase to it, and maybe that’s influence of the Isle of Man and the TT Races we have there. You can imagine their songs being blasted out as racers take on the roads with every twist and turn. It’s a thrilling record, with songs that make you feel like life is coming at you a billion miles per hour but you don’t mind- especially with songs like Road Racer. Too Tough To Die is a perfectly sleazy Punk Blues infused record. Think along the lines of The Cramps going headfirst into The Dead Boys and Iggy Pop. You can hear hints of The Dead Boys on Be Bad. The vocals on this are snarly and smutty- absolutely perfect, and I think it may be my favourite on the record at the moment. Of course I’ll change my mind, but right now- this is the one I feel that needs to be played the loudest. You can just imagine how wild this one will be live.

It Ain’t Easy is another example of why Mad Daddy are probably a band you HAVE to see live in order to really get how great they are. There’s this urgency to their sound that is so hypnotising and just makes you want to listen to them on a loop whilst you go about your day. Mad Daddy are one of those bands that you just know that their sound truly comes alive when they play live. They deserve the world, and hopefully this is the record that hands them it.

Every song on this record is a real example as to why they are such an exciting band, and from their debut to now- they’ve really developed a strong sound that you cannot get enough of. The drums on this record feel like blows to the gut, and the bass and guitar add this intensity that is a joy to listen to. It’s such a great record, and you can’t tell if you’ve found something from 2024 or if you’ve uncovered a hidden gem of a record from decades and decades ago.

Check out the tour dates here:

OH, THE GUILT: Deadnames & Deed Polls.

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With today being a very important day (Trans Day Of Visibility) it’s only right that I write about the new (and gorgeous) record by the finest band from Bristol; Oh, The Guilt. Their new record came out on Friday, and it’s one of the most important records we will get this year. It is dark, heavy, and vital. It is a solid work of art that hits you right in the gut.

Firstly, you should know that the record was mastered by Ben Chisholm (of Chelsea Wolf) so that alone is a sign that the record is unreal. This is the band’s debut record, and to have someone like Ben master it shows you just how well loved, respected and talented the band are. I hope this record reaches the trans kid in the middle of nowhere and realizes that there is hope and a future out there for them. Even though the media (and government) continuously try to erase the trans community on a daily basis. We have bands like Oh, The Guilt who are so important and records like this show it gets better and you can be who you are, and who you deserve to be.

Every song on this record is entirely dreamy, and it’s evident on (my current favourite) Blue. I love how it sounds like a 90s dreamy number with touches of Shoegaze. In a way, it’s like Beach House meets Mazzy Star. That’s the general feel I get from this song and in parts, a lot of the record feels that way. Jules’ drumming on this is exceptional. It’s like waves crashing into rocks, but it’s balanced out with the calmness of the guitar. It’s like a dream swimming round your head on a loop. It’s a gorgeous song, and the vocals will soothe your soul. It’s perfect, and I think it’s one of those songs you play through headphones and close the world out to. Blue features Elijah’s vocals pre-transition, and I touch on further down his vocals on the re-recording of Darkest Days.

It then picks up on Bella, and this is where the bands Grunge influences really kick in. I love how the band can give you this wave of calmness but they can also hit you with this beautiful rowdy sound.  I know I said Blue is currently my favourite but I’m putt Bella as a close second. You can just imagine it going OFF when they play this live. It’s got this feel to it that makes you want to just throw things around without a care in the world, and move your body around in a way that you’ve not done in a while.

I’m going to skip to the end of the record for this part. The record ends with the euphoric The Path and features the Phoenix Song Project- which are is a music therapy project run by and for members of trans and non-binary communities in Bristol. This is the most perfect way to end the record; it is full of hope and love. Again, it’s the song I hope a trans kid (or adult) in the middle of nowhere hears and knows that there is a community out there for them that will love and support them endlessly. It is honestly the most gorgeous and perfect way to close their stunning debut record, which has been a long time coming.  I hope Jules, Kit and Elijah are aware of the impact that this record will have. It’s a truly powerful record, and it exudes trans and queer joy- something that is so needed right now.

There is a new version of Darkest Days on the record, which has post-transition vocals from Elijah. It is again another euphoric song, and musically it reminds me so much of The Velvet Underground. That drastic build on the drums and everything just coming together is so powerful.  It all clashes with this build and you can hear just how exceptionally talented Kit, Jules and Elijah are. You can hear perfectly on this record in general just how phenomenal they are, but the re-recording of this song shows you how far they’ve come as a band and as individuals on their own journey.

What I love about this record is that you can hear the growth of Kit, Jules, and Elijah. You can hear this beautiful confidence in every song and in a way, this doesn’t feel like a debut record. They’ve been making music for so long together, it’s hard to grasp that we’ve only just got their debut record but my god it was worth the wait. This record really shows how far they have come and I think from keeping vocals on some songs that were pre-transition, it really shows the importance of the record and how powerful they are as a band. You can hear the confidence too; as a band and as individuals and it is so inspiring and wonderful to hear it. I could spend hours and hours writing about this record, but honestly? It’s probably best you take the time to listen to it. Shut the world off, and just get lost in this divine record created by 3 beautiful human beings.

Every song on this record is a journey. Every song on this record is for a community that are constantly being pulled apart every single day. So, if you do anything this Trans Day of Visibility; support organisations such as NotAPhase and you know- buy the Oh, The Guilt record!

VR SEX: Hard Copy.

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There are some bands that just blow your mind every single time they release something, and VR Sex are one of those bands. Of course, if you’re also in the band Drab Majesty too- then you are only ever going to put out masterpieces, right? That’s what Andrew aka VR Sex has done yet again. I’ve had a copy of this record for about a month or so, and I’ve held off writing about it because I wanted to give myself time to obsess over it and figure out why it’s probably one of the most thrilling records of the year.

Now, I’ve never claimed to be good with words but hopefully you’ll pick up on how much I love this record and hopefully it will make some sense rather than utter nonsense. I’ve listened to Hard Copy enough times now to call it as one of my favourite records of the year. Definitely in my Top 3 if I was to make lists, but my brain hates organisation. The record smacks you immediately with the opener Dictionary Talk, and it immediately grabs you and makes you realise that this record is truly something else. The record is filthy, smutty, and just everything you’ve ever been warned against- it is a thing of beauty, and I cannot get enough of it. It is very easy to love this record and become obsessed with it. It’s dark, it’s creepy as hell and it is solid produced record that only a fool would find fault with. I want this record injected into my body.

Sure, the record touches on glue-sniffing escapades (Jenny Killer Glue; an absolute monster of a song) and if you’re of a certain age you maybe shouldn’t be listening to this record but whatever! You’ll find out anyway. What I adore about this record is that it sounds nothing like previous VR Sex records. You can hear something in this record that wasn’t in previous releases, and by no means is that a bad thing. It just shows how bloody talented this band are and having this fearless approach to the record truly makes it tower over anything else you’ve heard this year. I want it constantly playing in my ears, I want to fall asleep listening to it and I want this beautiful racket waking me up for work every morning. Utter bliss.

Hard Copy is the kind of record that would be perfect for a real smutty film that not even an arthouse cinema would show. There’s this enthralling weirdness to the record that hooks you in so quickly, and you cannot let it let go of you at all. For me, this is apparent on songs like Inanimate Love (the intro to this is SO good and the vocals remind me of The Cramps.) It’s a killer record, and I want everything I ever listen to to sound as heavy and strange as this. I love that the whole record touches on strange elements of lust, desires most would turn away from and in parts; isolation. The way this record has been produced is exceptional, and it’s probably the best produced record I’ve heard so far this year.

Most of the songs on the record hit the 5 minute mark, and this is another reason for me to love this record with all I have. Hard Copy is an exceptional record that is so easy to get lost in and let consume you in the best way possible. In some parts, the record feels like it could be a film soundtrack but at other times, you just know you are listening to something where everyone involved in this record hasn’t been afraid to really experiment with their sound and get a little strange, y’know? I feel the record gets heavier and darker on the second part of the record. Runaway Runaway kicks off the second part of the record, and it’s a heavy number that has tone to it that is unlike anything else on the record and honestly, unlike anything else VR Sex have done before. If you listen to their previous records before this one, it’s like listening to a different band- and by no means is that a bad thing at all. The band worked about 12 hours a day to make this record, and you can truly hear the dedication to their work on this record. You can hear the frustrations; you can hear the urgency. It’s just a dream of a record from start to finish.

There’s no point in wasting time on trying to find a genre to lump this record with- like all VR Sex records (and Drab Majesty too) it goes beyond that. Labels are useless anyway.  I think at the moment I am calling Jenny Killer Glue as my favourite on the record, but of course I will change my mind with every listen but this one has something about it that rather than play the record in order, I start with this and I then listen in order. It’s just such a great song and I hope they make a video to this because it would be wild. It might also get banned, but it’s fine!

I feel I could write thousands and thousands of words about why I love this record. And maybe I could have summed up how phenomenal the record is with just a short paragraph but when a band you love make something like this- you can’t help but ramble on. It’s a big sounding record with zero pretentiousness to it, and that’s so rare.

Hard Copy is one of those records that I know I’ll still be fascinated with in years to come, and I’ll keep finding new things to love about it. It is a proper work of art, and in every delicate and tough moments of the record- you find a home in it and that’s such a beautiful thing. It’s the kind of record you can play at any time of day and you’ll immediately be thrown in VR Sex’s world and you won’t want to ever leave. Let the record consume you in all ways possible.

BRUISE CONTROL: Deaf Institute Lodge 24th February 2024.

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Before I get into this, I just want to say- if you are ever given the chance to see Bruise Control… TAKE IT. Sure not everyone loves the kind of music they do, but anyone can appreciate the energy they give off and their talent. The most exciting bands around, and a reason to declare Manchester as the best city.

The first time I saw Bruise Control live, they supported Amyl And The Sniffers at the Albert Hall. To open for a band like that is one thing but to do it in a venue like that is something else. I think when I wrote about the show, I said it felt like Bruise Control were headlining. This band know how to put on a show regardless of the venue size. Bruise Control have the power to be as big as those they have supported, and last night they absolutely proved that.

They hit the stage a couple of minutes before 9 and are done about half past. But it didn’t stop there. Given that they blitzed their way through their set, they did a couple more and that included their delicious cover of Sabotage by the Beastie Boys. We know how precious I can be with covers, but trust me- this cover is ridiculous. Everyone goes ape shit to it. The crowd are handed the mic to scream and the best part is when someone is handed it, and they say “absolutely not.” Amongst the loudness of the music, this is met with gorgeous laughter and shows the love and community in the room. I’ve never felt so safe at a show. It felt like home.

They play all the hits from HMRC, No More, Dead on Arrival and so much more. I was just absolutely enamored by the whole set. This band can really really play. There is something about them on record that has you hooked but live it is truly something else. Jim crowd surfing in the shortest of shorts and his socks was insane. I reckon if anyone else did it, they’d look lame but Jim is the soundest of them all. The band are utterly ferocious pros at what they do, and the passion they have is so beautiful to see; for me it’s the way Jim is so grateful for everyone coming out to see them (as if we’d want to be anywhere else!) This band have a proper following here in Manchester, and it makes me so proud to call this city home. Watching the sea of bodies in front of me move to every sound and scream is just heavenly. Bruise Control deserve the world and more, and I hope they get it because they are SO deserving of every positive opportunity that heads their way.

Aside from the Sabotage cover being an absolute killer of a cover and a joy to watch, for me it was always about Dead on Arrival. That song is Bruise Control at their most powerful, and it truly shows how phenomenal they are as musicians. I honestly could watch them every night and not get bored; they have something that we’ve yet to see in other bands and I know their sound isn’t for everyone but my god they can put on a show. And you know what else is magical about it all? Their fans aren’t dickheads. Sometimes at shows like this you can encounter some real idiots in the crowd, but here there was none of that. It was a truly beautiful experience. I urge anyone to go see them live.

Manchester is home to some of the most incredible band and our pals in Bruise Control are leading the way. I could not be prouder of them. I think anyone there last night will probably feel the same too.

DRUUGG: Ride Me Down Easy.

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I love finding something new to listen to by accident. Some of the bands I love and written about have been found this way. You spend ages trying to find something to listen to, and all of a sudden when you think you won’t get there- you find it. It hits you, and it’s the best feeling ever. Or one of them. I’ve just this minute found a band from Belgium called DRUUGG and they are unreal. They’ve got this heavy sound mixed with some serious psychedelic tones, and I cannot get enough of it.

Their debut record Ride Me Down Easy came out last week, and it’s one of the most electrifying records I’ve heard in a while. It’ll make you want to grab a guitar and make your own fuzzy sounds like sound like Melvins on acid times a billion. I’ve never done drugs, but I’d imagine that this is what it’d feel like, and what the inside of your head would sound like if you did. I love how for the bulk of their songs it is just sheer euphoric noise with the odd vocals creeping in. I absolutely do not know what is going on, and I love it. This is the kind of music I seem to gravitate towards- there’s no set genre or whatever; just sheer noise, talent, and passion. There are only 3 songs on this record, so I might as well go through each one and do my best to write down why they are glorious.

The first song on the record is Ride Me Down Easy. It’s over 5 and a half minutes long, and the start of it sounds like a motorbike being revved up to go give chase to anyone who dares gets in the way. This goes on for about a minute or 2, and it gets heavier and wilder as the vocals kick in. As soon as the vocals come in, you realise that this band are really onto something here. There’s this sludgey heavy sound that lures you in, and when it happens- when you truly get sucked in, you won’t be able to listen to anything else. I know it’s their first ever release but my goodness it sounds like something a band decades into their career would make. It’s a very organised sound, and it’s one that will leave you wanting more and more. More will never be enough; because they are THAT good.  I think they may have only been together for about a year, but they sound like they’ve been doing this for eternity. This is the perfect way to kick off their debut EP. It’s loud, it’s got all the reverb and fuzziness you could possibly want. Divine.

We then go into I Cried A River which was their first ever release. This is only 3 minutes and 6 seconds long- so feel free to have this one on constant repeat too if you feel like you haven’t got enough. This one is a proper Psychedellic number- you feel like someone has handed you something questionable throughout the whole record, but this one has the edge over the other 2 songs. The bass on this reminds me slightly of Warpaint- you know how Jenny Lee has that distinctive style? That’s something I’m picking up on the bass on this one. It’s such a great song, and you can easily see why it was their first single to be released. It’s got that something that grips you and fits nicely in the middle of the other 2 songs on the record.

The EP ends with You Want Me To Fall; a real headphones moment. It is one of those songs that you make time for purposely. You’ll listen to all 3 songs casually but something hits you with this one, and you know that you have to stop everything you are doing and take time out for yourself to really soak up this song. I love the distorted vocals, and I love how everything on this song just fits together perfectly. I’ll make you feel like you’ve found one of the best songs ever made. It’ll make you feel like you’ve listened to My Bloody Valentine for the first time. It’ll kickstart the dormant parts of you, and all will feel okay. It’s a beautiful song, and I feel like 6 minutes and 50 seconds of this isn’t enough. This whole record isn’t long enough, but I know that when they release their full length record, it will be one of the best things I’ll ever hear.

DRUUGG make exceptional music, and this is only the start. This 3 song taster is a perfect introduction to how great they are. It’s heavy in all the right places, and it just takes you off into a different world. Put your headphones on, shut the world out and give in to what DRUUGG have created on Ride Me Down Easy.

DRUNK MUMS: Beer Baby.

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Those Punk rascals from Australia are back. The ever rowdy and always delightful Drunk Mums have new record out in a few weeks, and that 4 year wait will soon be over thank god!

Beer Baby is Drunk Mums at their best and fully explodes in your ears, and makes you think about how you made it through the past 4 years without them. They are one of the most exciting bands around, and they’ve got that effortlessly slick sound that’s found in the likes of The Chats and Amyl And The Sniffers. Put ‘em all together and you’ve got the holy trinity of Australian Punk. Beer Baby is made up of 10 non-stop drunken party anthems that will have you throwing furniture around in no time. The band are also hitting the road at the end of March, and I reckon those shows will be equally as wild as this record. They make the kind of music that needs to witnessed live, even if it’s just to see the utter carnage afterwards. You’ll be covered in cheap beer and sweat almost immediately. Total bliss!

The first two songs on the record hit you right in the kisser, and honestly the first half of the record makes you feel like you are listening to a brand new band but the further into the record you go, the more you realise “ah shit the boys are back!!” It’s a real ripper of a record, and I think their time away (as painful as it was!) has truly helped them develop a sound that grips you even tighter than before. The lead single Livin’ At Night definitely shows their rowdy side at its finest, but don’t even think for a second that this is the best song on the record. Every song on this record could have been the lead single, but this one is the perfect “We’re back fuckers!” anthem they needed to hit us with. Honestly, this is one of the most exciting records you’ll hear this year and yeah, it’s only February but there’s nothing wrong with calling it early is there.

Livin’ At Night has a HUGE Ramones feel to it- especially the chants towards the end, that remind you of Blitzkrieg Bop. It’s just a joy of a song, and the whole record is just a real pleasure to listen to and to let deafen you as you play it as loud as you can. I think I first wrote about the band back in 2018, and I still stand by everything I wrote about them- they’re just so effortlessly cool, and I know cool is a redundant term to use but this band are the exception and I think that’s also part of the fact that they are probably a band that you HAVE to see live rather than just listening to the record. The atmosphere they give on record can clearly only be heightened in a live setting, and those are the bands that we need.

I adore how lairy songs like Magazines, Mutants and Saturday are. They make the kind of music that makes you feel alright with doing nothing at all- because there is absolutely nothing wrong with doing nothing at all. I do it most of the time and I don’t feel bad for it anymore. I just really love this band, and Beer Baby is just a great record. It’ll make you feel good and you’ll feel like you’ve finally found the band you were always meant to love in Drunk Mums.

Not My Dad is one of the best songs on the record- it is a really gnarly and gritty one, and even though it’s not even 2 minutes long you will have it on repeat because the way it’s played and the way the vocals remind you of Dead Boys is perfect. The speed, the snarly vocals, that raw Punk feel is truly alive on this one and it’s easily one of my favourites. Obnoxious Punk at its finest. Hook it up to my veins please!

Drunk Mums make the kind of music that regardless of your mood, just listening to them will always make it better. What they’ve done on Beer Baby is really show us fans that the time away was worth it because this record is pure magic. Every song was clearly made to be screamed back at them and for you to join in with their rambunctious ways. A dream of a band, and a dream of a record yet again.

The record comes out on the 7th March, with a UK tour starting on the 29th March. Buy the record, go to the shows and become obsessed.

THE 13TH PILLAR: Pieces Missing.

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Disclaimer- my uncle is in this band. He plays guitar, and in my biased opinion; he’s probably the best guitarist you’ve never heard. He’s full on responsible for my love for Punk and for my obsession with certain bands. Especially my love for Nick Cave.

Hailing from the middle of the Irish Sea (the Isle of Man) The 13th Pillar is a killer Garage Rock/Punk band that in a previous life, probably would have taken over the world. I mean, they still can. We don’t kill dreams here.  For the past 25 years, my uncle (Karl) and his buddy Selwyn have been making music together. Pieces Missing is their heaviest sounding record to date, and you can hear just how beautiful and strong their creative partnership is on this record. Their last release was an EP 10 years ago- proving that good things come to those who wait. The theme that is constant throughout the record is dysfunction and it is wonderfully prominent on the opener, These Are Strange Times. A 5-minute anthem that Iggy Pop would probably happily sing his heart out to. In fact, the whole record has that same energy as Raw Power but with something even more weird and wonderful thrown in.

The sounds on Break My Bones feel like an acid trip (I’ve never taken acid but I have taken a fair amount of CBD oil to calm my mind and that’s enough) and the guitar on this is ridiculous. If you’re looking for something to really blow your mind and brains- that’s the song you need to get familiar with, and play as loud as you can. There are tender moments on the record, and it shows just how bloody great the band are. The bass on How Much More To Make You Smile? is absolutely glorious; it sounds so ethereal, and that flows all the way through the song. It is a beautiful song and has everything you could want from a summertime anthem. It is divine; the kind of song you play whilst the sun is setting and you have a can of lukewarm Red Stripe in your hands. There’s hints of loss and longing on this one, and it is done in such a beautiful way. A really different sound for the band, but is still entirely perfect beyond words.

I can hear influences of bands my uncle got me into on this record, and I think hearing something not as heavy by the band is really surprising. I love the gentleness on the record but at the same time there are these gorgeous sun-kissed sounds on the record which you really get on the likes of Who Knows What We’re Gonna Find, and it reminds me so much of The Stone Roses. That beautiful sun-drenched sound that feels like a sunset hitting you all over. It is such a stunning song, and every song on this record was made to be heard live and loud. I cannot tell you how proud I am of them and how much I just adore this record. You can hear the years of work going into this, and the connection that Karl and Selwyn have is just out of this world.

There are many influences flowing through this record whether it be the sounds of The Velvet Underground to The Stone Roses and beyond. Pieces Missing is such a heavenly record and is entirely trippy in the best way possible. It’s like falling in love with the person you’re supposed to, which kind of fits the theme of dysfunction on this record. The diversity of Selwyn’s vocals on the record is just a delight to hear. One of the biggest moments on this record has to be Waiting For The End Of The World; it feels like it should be played at the end of a film. The kind of film you’d have found Harry Dean Stanton in- something weird, lucid, and poetic. Just like this song. You can imagine the end of the film turning to black as this song plays out. Utterly beautiful.

The record ends with the title track, and is 8 and a half minutes of something I have yet to find the words to. Everyone truly shines on this record- Selwyn’s vocals, Gyp’s bass playing is unreal. Brian beats the shit out of the drums in the most majestic way possible and you have Karl creating some serious magic on the guitar. Put this all in an 8 and a half minute song, and you get this dream of a song. It’s phenomenal. They truly saved the best till last with this one. The production on this record is just exceptional, and you can really hear it on this one. It is the perfect way to end such a glorious record. From the 5 minute mark, you get The 13th Pillar at their heaviest and at their best. It kicks off and it is a joy to hear. It’s one of those moments where you just feel like you’re being transported into a different world. Top tip- play this one through headphones to really feel every element of this song.

Every single song on this record is beautiful and put together in such a captivating way. I think my heart may belong to the title track- the last 3 and half minutes of this song will just blow your mind. Oh, and another fun fact- my uncle also did the artwork for the record.

Biased love for the band aside, this is truly a phenomenal record that deserves your time, ears, and love.

You can buy the record here: https://the13thpillar.bandcamp.com/album/pieces-missing