Tag Archives: Garage Punk

ANGEL FACE: Out In The Street.

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Last year I wrote about one of the best bands from Japan- Angel Face, and tomorrow sees the release of their new record, Out In The Street. The title fits this record. This is a record to play whilst wandering the streets, whilst doing a bunch of nothin’ in the streets. It’s a record to kill time to, and it’s a glorious Punk record that feels like something the Dead Boys could have churned out decades ago. It’s a fantastic record, and I have to tell you all about it!

Alright so what you need to know that there’s no second record curse here. This is a record that’s as tough as old leather and stands out, and stands up. I’ve started noticing more when I listen to new records if my friend Raz would have like it or not, and I’m pretty sure he would have been into Angel Face. I’m playing the record pretty loud, and my cat is happily sleeping through it and I always think that’s a pretty sure fire way of judging how great a record is. If she doesn’t like something, she finds a way to let me know. So, this record is Mary approved. Do you need to know anything else? Probably.

Something to really love about this record is how raw it is, y’know? You feel like you’re listening in on a band practicing and you feel you need to be quiet so you don’t disturb the atmosphere. It’ll make you want to jump around and throw things about. It’ll make you wish you could go to their shows and really feel what the band are about. I like bands that make you feel like their live shows could absolutely transform how you listen to them, and Angel Face do exactly that. Listening to the record and knowing they’ve been together a short amount of time, and have put out (nearly) 2 records is just so cool! Their sound is everything I’d want from a record- not just a Punk record. It’s got a real DIY feel to it, and these 10 songs were made to be played loud and this a band that know how to play one way and that’s FAST. Okay, maybe FAST and LOUD. Thankfully there are no sloppy, slow love songs here. Just unfiltered Punk- how it’s supposed to be.

In just 10 songs Angel Face let you know yet again who exactly they are. They’ve all played in some really great bands prior to what they do as Angel Face, and when you take that experience and make something new- you end up with a bloody mammoth of a record like this. Out In The Streets. For me, it’s the record you put on and do nothing to. Go out for a walk and waste your day however you want, but make sure this is your soundtrack. I standby everything I wrote about Angel Face last year, but you can happily increase my love for them for sure. This is great second record, and like I said, they’ve played in some amazing bands too, so I guess it’s expected that they’ll always put something brilliant out. I just love the snarly vocals and how it makes you feel like you’re listening to Punk for the very first time. You can just imagine how wild their live shows are!

Out In The Streets is a strong record, and irrespective of it being record number 2- hell, if it was record number 5 it’d still be this great! It firmly shows you exactly what Angel Face are made of, and just how effortlessly slick their sound is. It’s a record that you’ll have on repeat and in about 10 years’ time you’ll still be talking about how good it is! The Punk scene in Japan is clearly something that needs more attention, and we need to bring bands like Angel Face over to the UK to tour. There’s so many venues here that they could tear the roof off of. I just know that their shows would be something else! But, until that day happens- we’ve got the music.

For me, the best tracks are…well… all 10 of ‘em! But I think right now, Wastin’ Time is my favourite. It’s the one that totally nails the Angel Face sound fully and makes you want more and more. This is the one you need to play the loudest. It’s got a little Ramones kick to it, and it’s just a real joy to listen to. The production and the sound of the record is just a real delight- you can’t get enough of it!

The new record is out tomorrow (10th October) and is being released by Slovenly Records. Buy it and play it really, really loud.

THE GRUESOMES: The Dimension Of Fear.

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There are many things we can thank Canada for, but the one thing I am eternally grateful for, is that one of the best bands all time are from there. The Gruesomes.

The Gruesomes were a band I found on my own when I was about 20 ish (I’m 38) and when I found them, I felt like I did the first time I heard The Cramps and The Cure. I felt like I had found a home and being a weirdo wasn’t so bad at all. The Gruesomes debut record came out in ’86 (the year I was born) and 40 years later, the record still sounds effortlessly slick and ahead of its time. There is something so fantastic and beyond description within that record. I remember going to a market in Camden about 8 or 9 years ago when I was still living in London, and I did my weekly trip to buy records on my lunch break. I had 2 records in my hand, but all of a sudden, a copy of Tyrants Of Teen Trash caught my eye. I had been searching EVERYWHERE for this record, and all of a sudden, I am staring at it. Holding it in my hands. My holy grail. It was in my hands. I put the other 2 records pack, and bought The Gruesomes. I had the finest record of all time in my possession. I was the luckiest person in the world.

A few weeks ago, the band released The Dimension Of Fear. A record named by a fan, and it’s a solid name for a solid record. This record could easily have been released right after Tyrants Of Teen Trash. It has that typical sound of theirs; the sound that I know and love. The sound that feels like home, and the band have never sounded better. I hope one day they do a proper tour of the UK- I wouldn’t be mad if they didn’t make it to Manchester because I’d absolutely find a way to get to see them. But for now, let’s talk about why their new record rips and is one of the best records of the year.

The Dimension Of Fear is 12 songs in half an hour. You’ll want more, but what you get is essentially the best of The Gruesomes. It’s a sensational record, and it’s the band at their very best. I simply cannot praise this record enough, but I will. I will not shut up about this record at all. It’s their first record in 25 years, and those 25 years have sure as hell dragged! This is a stunning record, and if I was into marking records out of 10- it would exceed 10 out of 10. Gerry and Bobby’s vocals have never sounded so strong. You know they’ve been around for some time, and you’d probably expect there to be a change in how they play or whatever but absolutely not. This band can put any new bands to shame. They’ve got an abundance of energy that you wish you had even a fraction of. You wish you were as cool as The Gruesomes!

Just Go Away and That’s Using Your Head show us exactly why the band are one of the best, and I love that they are still playing shows. They are showing everyone how it’s done. They for me, are just one of the most underrated bands of all time. I love how they have that 60s Garage Rock sound but have carried it on beyond that (I know they formed in ’85, but I mean they perfected a sound before their time and made it theirs.) The Gruesomes know how to make songs that make you want to dance in a questionable fashion, they make you want to sing along as loud as you can to bops like What In The World, Broke My Brain and You’re Outta Luck. You cannot help but listen to this record and feel you’ve gone back in time BUT! BUT! If you’re already a fan of The Gruesomes, you’ll feel like they’ve never been away. I wasn’t born when their debut record came out (same year but I was still cookin’) but listening to their new record makes me feel like I’ve heard them for the first time but also really happy that I get to hear new music from a band I absolutely love.

Like a lot of bands I love, The Gruesomes make me wish I could play guitar or something because this is the kind of music I’d want to make. It’s just a prime example of slick Garage Rock/Punk, and it just makes you feel good. The band sure know how to make their fans feel good with their punchy Garage Rock sound, and I love that the band have been together for so long. You can truly hear in the music how much fun they have together and that beautiful childlike feel in their songs just has you hooked. The snarly vocals, the urgency in the sound. The playful and rowdy sound that just makes you want to ignore everything around you and soak up this record. It’s a masterpiece. It’s The Gruesomes in all their wonderful glory and I am so so grateful that they are still together and making music like this. It’s a flawless record, and you just cannot get enough of it.

They still have that rebellious schoolkid sound, and that sound is something you cannot help but love. You cannot help but be obsessed with it. Everything about this record is all us fans of The Gruesomes could ever want from them. It’s massively exceeded what I thought the record would sound like. I knew it was going to be a dream of a record, but this is truly something else.

Get yourself a copy and play it as loud as you can. And have it on repeat. I feel I could write a thousand plus more words on this record, but hopefully I’ve summed up my love for it and why it’s one of the best records of the year and was worth waiting 25 years for. Just don’t make us wait another 25!

The Dimension Of Fear is out now via Soundflat Records. Get some snotty Garage Punk in your ears!

SLICERRR.

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Well, it’s happened. I’ve broken my word to myself where I vowed to never buy tickets to a show at Victoria Warehouse in Manchester. It’s a 5/10 minute walk from my flat but it’s also the worst venue in this city. I’ve not seen some bands there because I hate it so much BUT Amyl And The Sniffers are playing next month, and I cannot ever not see them. I saw them at a small venue in 2019 and to see them play a place like this is just WILD. Deserved but wild. Also, the support bands are insane. The Menstrual Cramps were a band that Raz loved so I’m partly going for him. And my girlfriend is desperate to see Amyl And The Sniffers too- I don’t think anything I tell her is going to fully prepare her for the experience!

Alright so, here’s a bloody great band from Helsinki for you-SLICERRR. Their debut EP came out in February and trust me it’s a ripper of a record. No part of it sounds like a debut record- it sounds like something a band deep into their career would make. It’s a fantastic record, and it’s one I am proudly obsessed with. If you can’t play a record on repeat relentlessly, then why bother?! This is everything I want from a record and more. It’s a proper rowdy Garage Punk record. It’ll make you want to down cans of lukewarm beer, throw empty cans at passing cars and run off into the night (I don’t advocate for throwing shit at people, but you get my point!) It’s a record to waste the day to and it’s a record that’ll make you wish you could go to their live shows every night. The energy throughout the record is divine.

I don’t know what the Punk scene is like in Helsinki but if there are more bands like SLICERRR out there- send them my way. This is incredible. The record touches on tough subjects such as the difficulty of modern life all the way through to the hectic nightlife of Italian cities (as a slightly more than half Italian human being, I welcome this!) The EP is a work of art; it’s just everything you could want from a record and these 5 songs are made to played loud and on repeat.

The record opens with Losing My Grip which perfectly sets the tone for the record and is a perfect introduction to the band. You really feel immediately what the band are about and right away fall in love with their sound. There’s probably a bunch of bands I could liken them to, but that’s not fair and comparisons serve no one at all. All you need to know is that the last minute of this song is a furious and shows you exactly why SLICERRR are one of the most exciting bands around. In some ways though, the song reminds me a little of Bored by Crows and that’s probably why I love this band so much. That’s the only comparison that’s needed, and I think it shows exactly how and why SLICERRR are so good! I know I say this a lot, but if I had ANY musical talent, I’d want to be in a band that sound like this. They just have this perfect Garage Punk/Garage Rock sound, and it just makes you want to MOVE. I feel like SLICERRR can only add positive things to your life and record collection. Who do I need to ask to demand a UK tour?! This is the kind of sound I absolutely adore with everything I have.

The EP is a perfect insight to the band, and I’m so excited to hear what’s next from them and to just get more and more music from them. SLICERRR are a joy to listen to, and I really hope that if you listen to them, you love them as much as I do. They deserve any and every bit of success they get because they really have such a strong sound and it’s a sound I can’t get enough of. They’re an incredible bunch of musicians and definitely deserve your attention, and love.

If you’re a fan of Küken- then you’ll love SLICERRR. Both bands have the same urgency to their sound and it’s just divine! (Sorry about the comparisons I said I wouldn’t make!)

Check out the EP (released via Dödstil) here:

THE MEN: Buyer Beware

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Since Friday morning, I’ve been solidly listening to the new record by The Men. I didn’t even know a new record was coming out! Now, I’ve loved this band for a long time. My uncle and I both adore this band so this release took us both by surprise. They’re a band that blow your mind with every listen and having an unexpected new record land was just what I needed.

It was their third record, Open Your Heart that had me hooked and I still stand by it being one of the best records that Sacred Bones have ever released. It’s a record that is so effortlessly slick and as much as I hate clichés- it is utterly timeless. It’s one of the most enthralling records of modern times, and it turns out- The Men do not make terrible records. Ever.  I love this band because no genre can define them. I guess at the heart of it all, they’re a Punk band but they’re beyond anything and everything. They are criminally underrated. With their new record, they’re firmly justified yet again why they are one of the greatest bands ever. They just have this way of creating records that fit exactly what’s going on. The world is on its arse due to world leaders being absolute idiots- what better record to soundtrack this all than the new record by The Men?

They’ve been going for I think, 18 years now and there’s no way this band can ever stop. A world without their music would be dull and meaningless, and yes, I know the world is cruel and cold right now- but not everyone is a twat. The music they make is like a guidance or a call to fighting back, and that’s what we need. If you’ve got the privilege of having a platform where you can voice this and be heard- use it. And that’s exactly what they’ve done with this record. Every song on this record feels like a kick in the teeth and is made to burst those little eardrums of yours- and it’s never sounded or felt so good. They’ve got that snarly Dead Boys tone right through the record and I think it really comes alive on At The Movies. This record is heavenly. It’s loud, it’s important and it’s The Men at their very, very best. They’ve made some killer records in their time and if I was ever in the position to move Open Your Heart from being my favourite- Buyer Beware would be my number one.

The title song on the record again sounds like Dead Boys and I think that may be part of the reason as to why I’ve fallen in love and into a deep obsession with this record. It’s got everything from that era of Punk thrown into it, and maybe it’s the record they were always supposed to make? That sounds odd because every record they’ve released is a masterpiece, but there is something about Buyer Beware that feels different. It feels bigger and it feels like the kind of record that could and should win them new fans, and make us old ones love them even more. In short, it’s a bloody remarkable record. The way Nothing Wrong goes right into Control should be a crime for how slick and wonderful it is. What a move!

I reckon there will be songs I play more than others but for now, I’m listening to it solidly in chronological order and that’s rare. Normally I listen to something a few times then hit shuffle. Not with this record. I think to get the most of it, you just have to listen to it over and over, and soak up every word. Take in every note. Let every guitar sound feel like a kick to the ribs, let the drums feel like someone is smashing your body into a wall and let the bass guide you wherever it is you need to go. The songs are loud, fast, and vital. This is THEIR ultimate record. At the moment, I think PO BOX 96 is the one that’s grabbing my attention the most, but the more I listen- the more I change my mind slightly. Get My Soul is a ride of a song, Control is just a work of art. There are no bad moments on this record. The only downside? Maybe it could last longer. Maybe the song Charm could last 5 minutes or 10. It’s the band at a gentler moment, and my god what a song it is. That peaceful side of the band comes out in rare moments and when it does, it sounds SO good. It’s a beauty of a song. Charm is one of those songs that will stick with you for a long time. I really hope this record brings them over to the UK because they are a band I’m just dying to see live. You just know it’d change EVERYTHING. The music means the world to me now as is, but to see them live? That’d be something else.

The Men have again created another masterpiece, and they are showing no signs of ever slowing down. The world needs this band. This record is all about being resilient and fighting back; it’s about standing up and not backing down. That’s the kind of noise we need right now. Will the world listen? Who knows, but at least we’re not alone.

COUCHGAGZZZ: GOSPORTS!!!

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Some great things have come out of Italy: my guy Del Piero, mozzarella (that hurt to type because I’m vegan and my god I miss mozzarella!), Litfiba and just the country in general is delightful (okay was because the government like everywhere else in the world, is shit!) There are some incredible bands from Italy too, and one in particular is couchgagzzz. Their only fault is their obsession/love for Man United but hey- we all have our faults. The band are from Bari (my dad’s side of the family are from Puglia, so maybe it’s not all so bad!)

Last year the band released their debut record, GOSPORTS. The band have described themselves as being “obsessed with steroids and sports.” And you know what? Absolutely checks out when you listen to the record. This is the kind of record you’d listen to whilst at the gym, and I think I’ve now found my new favourite band to listen to whilst I work out.

The band have also been influenced by Australian rock bands such as Gee Tee, and honestly, they’d fit in perfectly next to bands like The Chats, CHEAP-SKATE and Gee Tee. They’ve got that Pub Rock sound nailed, but there’s also this excellent 60s Psych Rock feel which is the most apparent on Bad Holes. The record is only 8 songs long, but those 8 songs matter. Every single song shows why this band HAVE to be heard. You want fast Punk songs? They’ve got you covered. It’s like being in a questionable bar where years’ worth of beer has ended up on the floor and walking on it to get to the bar is like an obstacle course. The band formed only in 2021, and the debut came out last year. In that short amount of time, they have genuinely created something worth listening to and becoming obsessed with. Again, they’re a band you need to see live. There’s something about their sound that just screams it. The songs are fast and heavy, and you’ll have them on repeat for days. Hours. Months. Eternity.

They may say that Man United are the strongest team in the world (which we all know they aren’t!) but this band are one of the strongest around. To have perfected a sound like this in just one record- what else could they possibly do next? Probably take over the world to be honest, and rightfully so.

couchgagzzz are a solid Punk band with something to say. They’ll have you hooked with just one listen, and before you know it- you too are hooked on steroids and heading up to Old Trafford on match days with a dodgy burger and overpriced bootleg scarf round your neck (I live close to Old Trafford, and I see this A LOT.) *Note- please don’t take steroids. The songs are made to be yelled back at the band in a football chant type of way. They’ve captured the beautiful backbone of Punk with their sound along with generously fuzzy vocals- this band are so easy to love and just be obsessed with. The songs are meant to be played loud and loved- the sheer speed in the songs is addictive especially on Burak Won. The way this song smacks you right in the face is heavenly!

For me, they’ve got that same energy as one of my favourite bands dr chan. There’s this hyper energy that is just off the scale on this record, and one listen isn’t enough. I want their music playing in my ears on repeat all the time. In fact, once I finish my break at work- I’m going to have the band on repeat in the hopes I focus because my brain does not do too well when it comes to concentrating!

SNARLING DOGS: S/T LP.

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Craving some loud, rowdy music is like wanting a pizza or something else that’s apparently bad for your gut. You want the music to hit you in the gut and give you tummy cramps right after you’ve consumed too much of it- utterly gluttonous but exactly what you need at that time. This is where the debut record from Snarling Dogs comes in. It’s the kind of music that, if it came out when Dead Boys did- your folks probably would have been disappointed or kicked you out. I’ve got a cool mum, so she’d probably say this wasn’t for her, and let me carry on.

As far as debut records go, this one is a real ripper of a record. It feels like a thousand kicks to the face in the most majestic way possible. Snarling Dogs are the kind of band who you just KNOW put on a hell of a show. They’ve got this beautiful and rowdy feel to their sound. Does it feel like you’re listening to Dead Boys for the first time? Yes. It’s got that edge to it, it’s got that bite of Young, Loud and Snotty. One of the finest records of all time. Perfect from start to end. That’s exactly what you get with Snarling Dogs. Put on your battered leather jacket and go cause some trouble! This record, although it came out in November, is the antidote to those January Blues we’re all hearing out. Hey, don’t let anyone tell you that you need to have a bad time- or good time for that matter!

Only one song just goes over the 3 minute mark, and if you’re like me and have a really bad attention span- this band will give you all you need. I’m playing it quite loud, and my cat is happily sleeping away next to me. Is this what joy is? I think it just may be! If she can sleep through the noise and not run off scared, then it’s fair to say that Snarling Dogs know where it’s at. They’ve got such a chaotic sound, and honestly, this record makes it hard to accept this is their debut. It’s truly something else.

I’m An Animal has a real Stiv Bators feel to the vocals mixed with David Johansen (New York Dolls) to it. There’s a lot going on on this record, but that’s not a bad thing. Every song serves a purpose, and that purpose is to play the bastard really, really loud.

The adrenalin on this record is divine; imagine being in the same room as the band as they recorded this monster of a record?! I love the ferociousness of every single song, but the one that oozes it the most has to be Sniper and it then goes smack into Highway Of Hurt. Come on now! This is so good; it should be illegal! I feel they’re a band that need to be seen live, and this record was made for two things- to be played loud and to be seen live. Can someone get this band to the UK? It’s so easy to love a band like this when you’re already obsessed with Punk. As someone who does need/like quiet in their head, having music like this go through my bones and soul calms everything. Do I know why? No. Do I want to know why? Nope. Snarling Dogs have been influenced by so many bands I love and have taken that inspiration, and made something really remarkable. It’s the kind of music you’d chain smoke to (I don’t smoke but go with it) and probably down about 20 beers (I can only drink one before I feel sick!)

You can easily imagine bodies being thrown about in the pit at their shows, and people leaving covered in beer and sweat- none of which may be their own. I just love the sound they have, and I hope whatever comes next for them is just as big as this record. Like I mentioned above, this doesn’t feel like a debut record but you can tell it’s been a long time coming this record, and that hard work has truly paid off.

The record is filthy in the best way possible. It’s rebellious, it’s loud, it’s smutty, it’s all the things we were warned against. It might even be bad for our health, but that just makes us want it even more. And louder too. Their debut record is like a rabid dog gnawing at your leg, and will not let go at all. This band won’t let you; they need you to listen.

TEEN MORTGAGE.

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Sometimes you need to listen to something really noisy, just so you can feel something like a billion vaults go through your skull in the hopes of adding excitement to your day. Or whatever gets you through.

That’s where you need bands like Teen Mortgage. A duo that feels like a billion electric shocks to your skull. Do you feel anything yet? Probably not. Keep listening.

They are loud. The good kind of loud. The kind that makes you want to be as loud as them. Maybe louder? Only do what you can, if you want.

I know nothing about them, nor do I need to or want to. All I know is that they are pretty fucking good, and again, I’m late to the party. I don’t like parties anyway. This came from needing something loud to listen to at work. It’s doing the job. I have no idea how long they’ve been making music for, but in this case- time means nothing. Does it ever? Sometimes. When it drags, you feel like you could just gauge your eyeballs out to do something. We’re all waiting around for something. Usually for the day to be over. Light relief can always be found in music. I love the sound this band has. There’s slight hints of Melvins mixed with Heavy Lungs, and other bands I love. There’s a beautiful rage in their sound, and you can’t get enough of it. There’s this delightful fury in the songs that makes you want to throw things around and smash ‘em up. Do it. You’ll feel better. They have this energy that’s in the beloved Bruise Control and Death Goals. Loud. So fucking loud. So good. Inject this right into my eardrums.

Pick a favourite song? No. Not yet. I’ve spent a solid few hours listening to them on repeat, and Sick Day has this ridiculous feel to it. It’s the drums. Always the drums. It makes me feel like I’m slamming my head into a wall but with no feeling at all. Of course, the reality would be a headache, or worse. Anyway.

The Change is a solid one too. That’s one to play if you want someone you care about to like this band. If someone doesn’t dig them, it’s all okay to have trust issues over it and reassess your relationship with them. It’s okay. The Change COULD be one of my favourites, but every song I’ve nearly deafened myself with is exceptional. I feel like this bad mood I’ve been stuck in for a while has slightly lifted. I think I just need a nap. I always need a nap. My cat has got it figured out: wake up, have a little snack, maybe run around. Sleep for 5 hours. Repeat. Sleep again. More sleep. Could SHE handle this band? I’ve subjected her to some sorts at home- I think she’d be alright with this.

They’re the best at what they do, and this heavy sound they have is just a real joy to listen to. They’re the kind of band that make you fall back in love with music again. I’d noticed I’d been obsessively listening to set bands/songs over and over again. I don’t like when I do that, so finding Teen Mortage came at the right time. Ed is a giant on the drums. There’s this grand Melvins feel to his style- really sludgy, really loud. Then you’re hit with James’ vocals and guitar- add all this together, and you truly have a band worthy of every fraction of your attention, time, love, ears, anything/everything.

Teen Mortgage make music that is cathartic; it feels like a huge release listening to them. The modern world is too self-centred, and sometimes you just need a band like Teen Mortgage to smack you in the face with the kind of music that would probably scare your family.

Play it loud. Burst those eardrums*

*Don’t!! I don’t want you hurting yourself.

THE FADEAWAYS.

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I know I should probably keep track of the bands I write about it, but my brain doesn’t work in that way. God knows what kind of way it works in (if it even works at all!) Anyway, all I know is that I’ve written about a fair amount of bands from Japan but there’s one in particular that I should have written about a LONG time ago, but never did because I’m an idiot.

So, I’ll put me being an idiot aside for a bit and write about The Fadeaways and their newest record, Pretty Wild which came out only a few weeks ago.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=yT62UfKbBlg%3Fsi%3D-0NhZ6G53JWjCccW

The Fadeaways are THE perfect 60s Garage Rock style band. For me they are every band I love (that fit this genre) and more. They remind me of very early The Pretty Things, The Gruesomes (aka greatest band of all time) and there’s definitely hints of the most beloved band- Ramones. If I listen to something and I can hear the Ramones or The Gruesomes lurking in there somewhere- then I’m happy.  

I’ve made myself believe I’ve written about the band before, but even if I have- it doesn’t matter. What matters anyway! The Fadeaways make me want to ignore all my daily responsibilities and just listen to music like this all day. The true test of how great the band are? Well, my cat hasn’t run off the second I started playing them so that’s something. Normally she goes off into another room and sleeps. Not this time- I think little Mary has good taste. Anyway, back to The Fadeaways. I won’t limit myself to telling you just about their most recent release, but the band have been around FOREVER and there’s a lot to cover. For me they just have that really, really strong and addictive sound that, no matter what they do, it’ll always be the most energetic and mind-blowing thing you’ve ever heard. There’s this beautiful snarl in Toyozo’s voice that just makes you feel like you’ve heard music (in general) for the very first time.

They’re the kind of band you would play if you wanted to influence a younger relative, so they go find their own path musically. They just have this bite to their sound that you cannot help but fall stupidly in love with. The second you play their record, Teenage Hitsville- that’s when you know..that’s when you brutally know you’ve found something to really submerge yourself in and to just ignore everything around you. Will it sound like this record? No. Never. Go head first into this record and take it from there. Let it burst your eardrums and take your soul. That’s how they all get you in the end!

Japanese Garage Rock and Japanese Punk is MASSIVELY underrated, and when you have bands like The Fadeaways- how can you even THINK about ignoring how great it is? It makes you want to sack off where you live, take your possessions and your cat- and move to where the bands are. That’s how good they are. But we have social media, so it makes that kind of dreaming easier to do! Everything about The Fadeaways is just cool, and I know that the term “cool” is so redundant and I think I’ve only ever called one person cool (Lou Reed. The coolest ever.) Their sound and their style is perfect, and the way they play…my god! Have you ever heard anything so rowdy and so wonderfully chaotic? You probably have- but not like this. They make the kind of music that bar fights break out to, and all you can do is watch and throw the nearest beer in the direction of the biggest person there, then bolt out the door like the cowards we all are!

The band formed nearly 20 years ago, and in that time, they’ve toured the world and put out some incredible records. It should be illegal for a band to be THIS good; they’ve got this sound that, sure we’ve heard in other bands to a degree, but there is something about The Fadeways that stands out. They’re louder (even though there’s only 3 of them) and the noise they make is nothing short of “INJECT THIS INTO MY BODY RIGHT NOW” kind of feeling. Like, sure you can feel every vocal and note in your ears, but you want it to hit you deeper. You want the songs pouring out of you. That’s how great they are. What are their live shows like? Probably as intense. I will make a promise to myself to try see them if they ever play the UK again because a band like this cannot be missed at all. I think they make the kind of music that is designed to be heard live. To really experience it in a dark and sketchy basement bar and at the end of the night you leave covered in warm beer, probably without one of your shoes and don’t even try looking for your jacket- why did you even bring one?

https://youtube.com/watch?v=vmPvd6Vm-2w%3Fsi%3DTjPYdTvEbfYtzWIY

The band are wonderfully chaotic, and I can only apologise for not writing about them sooner (the apology is to myself.) For me, The Fadeaways are the kind of band that you listen to (how you are feeling doesn’t matter) and you just immediately feel better. I love the loudness; I love how together their sound is and I just love how they combine everything I love about music and make this beautiful noise. You feel like you’re hearing the greats for the first time- The Dead Boys, Ramones, Count Five, Beefheart…all of them and more. The Fadeaways make you want to start a band, and I hope there’s a bunch of Punk kids in Japan listening to them and feel the urge to start their own band and in 20 years’ time- someone will be writing about them.

* I didn’t write about the new record. All I did was tell you how great the band are and to be honest, that should be enough (if you weren’t already aware of how great they are!)

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.

ANGEL FACE.

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There are so many records that have been released by Slovenly Records that are just incredible, and one of their most recent is debut by one of the best Japanese bands around- Angel Face. This is a proper rowdy and loud record that will totally annihilate your eardrums.  A glorious Punk record and a solid debut record.

The record kicks you in the kisser with You Ain’t My Angel and immediately you can hear that snarly tone that Stiv Bators had on this record. This is everything I could possibly want from a Punk record and so much more. They make the kind of music that would have your neighbours making noise complaints about. I’m pretty sure it’s scared off my cat too but to be honest, she’s scared of the spray mop I bought so I won’t trust her judgement here.

This record is something else. If you love bands like Bruise Control, Pancakes, Dead Boys- I could go on. If you love them, then you’re going to love this. Angel Face will make you want to sell whatever you own that’s of worth so you can fly off to Japan and immerse yourself in the Punk scene there. This is some rowdy shit that you cannot get enough of. I want everything I listen to to be as loud as this.

They’ve only been making music together since 2021, but this record sounds like something from ’76 or ’77- it’ll make you feel like you are discovering Punk for the first time, and you’ll wonder how you made it this far without it. How did I make it this far without this record? Every song on this record will make you feel like you’ve snuck into somewhere you shouldn’t have. Bad Feeling and I Can’t Stop are the ones that’ll have you waving your limbs about the most. Then you’ve got the ferocious Bring Me Back; the vocals on this are SO good. That proper gritty and menacing style; it’ll make you feel super tough when you listen to it, even if you’re just a delicate little flower.

Everything about this record screams PLAY THIS LOUDLY. There are no quiet or dull moments on this record; and it just makes you want to unapologetically lose your shit. This is the kind of band that you just know will destroy their live sets- the crowd will leave feeling bruised all over in the most pleasing way imaginable. They make the kind of music that has to be witnessed live. The urgency on this record is nothing short of vital and divine- you cannot help but get caught up in it. How else can you tell that this band are something else? The lead singer is called Hercules- that alone should sway you into digging this band.

Angel Face is anything but angels, and that’s part of the charm. Their sound is dark, raw, and loud- you cannot get enough of it. One casual listen just isn’t enough- you want to just let it consume every part of you, and when you find bands like that you have to hold onto them. Even if they are on the other side of the world and they’ll probably never end up where you are! But hey, we live in hope, don’t we?! It’ll get us through, as always. They make the kind of music that makes you think you’re part of a motorcycle gang or something. I honestly can’t think of a band who are making noise like this right now, and if this is what one record can do, then the world is theirs.