Tag Archives: Garage Rock

L.A. WITCH : 777.

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photo credit: Marco Hernandez

One of my favourite bands are back! A band I will write about until they call it a day, and even then, I’d continue. I just love them. Little secret- I’ve heard the new L.A. Witch record, and the new single 777 is just a small, small hint at how great the record is. It’s the band at their very best and is just a dream of a record. But for now, we have the lead single- 777.

The new song doesn’t even hit the 3 minute mark, so the rightful thing is to just have it on repeat for as long as you can. I recommend letting it take over your life (or ears at the very least.) L.A. Witch are one of the coolest bands around, and the new song is effortlessly that. So slick, so cool. I adore everything about this one- it’s the guitar and how it makes you feel like you’re being chased. Not sure where you are or who is after you, but there’s a calming fix to it all. And that comes from Irita being an absolute menace on the bass and Ellie keeping pace on the drums. Sade’s vocals have never sounded so good! She has one of the most distinctive vocals I’ve ever heard. You can easily liken other singers to each other, but there’s something about her vocals that just towers over anything else you’ve heard. And will hear.

The new record, DOGGOD (“The album title is a palindrome fusing together DOG and GOD—an exaltation of the submissive and a subversion of the divine. It’s a nod to the purity of dogs and an acknowledgement of their unconditional love and protective nature that’s at odds with the various pejoratives associated with the species.”) is almost a love record- it touches on every aspect of love and the devotion of it. 777 is a prime example of this, as it’s a song about devotion to the point of death. It just oozes sheer passion and the acceptance of the obvious fate that will occur. The layers of this song in under 3 minutes is just divine. It’s a proper romantic record from start to finish- and 777 is a strong introduction to the new record, and to show us what L.A. Witch are made of (but you know that already!)

DOGGOD was recorded in Paris, and I don’t know if it’s me reading way too much into something again- but the new record feels heavier in the best way possible. There’s something about that city that brings out the best in musicians/bands, and I think it’s definitely done it here with L.A. Witch. There are parts of 777 that remind me of two records by The Cure- Faith and Seventeen Seconds (which are essentially, two of the greatest records of all time) and I think you really get that from the new record in general. What they’ve done with 777 is give us a beautiful introduction into their new record and the direction of it. At times, it’s the band with their faithful sound but as wonderfully demonstrated on 777, it shows that the band are unafraid to push themselves and create something totally unexpected.

The devotion and love on 777 is prominent throughout, but it is the last line that does it; “Don’t forget I too fight by your side. First in line I am ready to die.” I would probably sing this to my cat to be honest. But in all seriousness (I would die for that little angel though!) that line is so powerful and just sums up the passion and devotion. The new record is a proper romantic record- like going to the end of the universe and back again for the person you adore, and it being no trouble. The kind of love most want and deserve, and the band just sum it up perfectly and effortlessly.

DOGGOD is out on the 4th April via the always wonderful, Suicide Squeeze.

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!

WATERBOARDING SCHOOL.

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I know nothing about the music scene in Gothenburg, but if it sounds anything like Waterboarding School, then they’re all doing fine! There’s 5 of them in the band, and they’ve been around since 2017. Their newest single, In The Morning came out last month but I don’t want to focus on that- I’m going to do my best to write about how great they are.

Waterboarding School have a beautiful 60s Garage Rock feel to their sound, and they’re perfect to listen to as you do a whole load of nothing, because sometimes, it feels good to do just that. I’ve come home from a few days seeing my family and friends, and as I listen to Waterboarding School, my cat is sat in the window sunbathing. I think this band are the ideal soundtrack for her to do just that. She’s heading off into dreamland with the slick sounds of Waterboarding School playing. What a life she has!

Their debut record Back Rubs came out in 2019 and this was followed by 2023’s Bridge Reviews. Two records in, and it is fair to say that they’ve got a solid sound that you just can’t get enough of. I love how they remind me of the Count Five and The Vagrants, and July. Mix those three bands together, and you’ve got yourself Waterboarding School.  The band have this blissful style, and when you listen to them, it’s hard to have a care in the world and sometimes you just need a band that take that weight off your shoulders, y’know? They do it so well and you cannot help but fall in love with their sound.  I feel their debut record has more of the 60s Garage Rock feel, and releases after this, they’ve developed a slightly different sound. But it’s a solid sound regardless. I’m sold! Sign me up to whatever they are selling!

Trying to find anything out about this band obviously brings up things you don’t need to see or read, but when a band is this good- the music says it all. The first two releases only had 4 of them in the band, but regardless of how many there are of them- they just have a really distinctive sound that gets you hooked immediately. It always starts with the vocals, and Filip’s are bloody great! Once you’ve been hooked in this way, the rest just takes over your ears. If this is how good the music scene is in Gothenburg, then take me there now! This band should be massive. It’s criminal that they aren’t, but maybe the third record will be it. Maybe that’ll be the one that brings them over to the UK and they play a bunch of sell-out shows here, and we all fall in love with their sound. That’s fair, right? You’ve got the super relaxed sounds of Sighurd, then you’ve got the chaotic Moving On from the second record. They’re just so good, and they just make everything alright. Sometimes you need a band that make everything alright. I like the wave of comfort you get from them, especially in songs like So Tired. That’s an easy one to relate to! I think so far, my favourite may be Can’t Stand (from their debut record) but honestly, with a band like this, you can’t have favourites for too long!

The two new songs (You Got To Go and, In The Morning,) are a little heavier sound wise, and if this is the way the new record is going to go- then we are in for something truly special. They may have only formed in 2017, which actually, is a good amount of time to know your sound, but it feels like they’ve been around for longer. In The Morning feels like a proper summer Psych-Rock number, and I’m excited to hear what’s next from them. Go backwards from the two new songs when listening to them, and you’ll definitely hear a band that are well on their way- all we can do it listen and go on the ride with them.

If you’re looking for a band to listen to whilst you do nothing, then Waterboarding School are the band for you. Sometimes you need a band that you connect with in that way, and this band do it so well. Listen to them as loud as you want, and do nothing. What could be better?!

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.

AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS: Chewing Gum.

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I guess to some degree everything I will every write about Amyl and the Sniffers will just be a repeat of anything I’ve said before. However, the love I have for this band just grows and grows. How could it not? They are easily one of the best bands. Ever. Not just now, but ever. There is something about them that captures every tiny and massive detail about music that I love. I feel they always seem to put something out when you just need it. There’s a handful of bands that I feel this way about, and that feeling is unlike anything else.

Chewing Gum gives fans of the band everything they could want and more. It will give new fans/first time listeners something to cling to and believe in, and to fall in love with. I’ve had it on repeat since yesterday, and the video? Oh man alive! That video is just top tier. The song is a gentler pace than a typical Amly and the Sniffers song but the lyrics? It’s the band at their best. There are parts of the song that just hit you in the gut, and for me it’s: “I’m the voice of my young self when I was just a childs,she sings ‘Hey hey girl, you are doing fine.’ “ You know when you just need something that can only be found in a piece of music? That’s it. This is it. Maybe it isn’t so bad? Who knows.

What I love about Amyl and the Sniffers is the innocence in their songs (some not all) and the way of seeing the world. It is so precious. If I was a teenager and I was listening to this band for the first time, I’d definitely feel like I had found a home. There’s something so beautifully safe about the band, and maybe it’s the words. Maybe it’s always the words, but the words mean everything. It doesn’t always have to be so tough and brutal, y’know? They’re more than a Punk band, they’re more than a band. And songs like this just reinforce that.  I love how they always stay honest to who they are as a band, and how hard they have worked to get where they are and I think it truly shines in the line, “I was dreaming of a dinner that would fill up my plate. I was doing the dishes, cleaning, but I never ate.” I love this. The power this line has is just divine.

Amyl and the Sniffers do not have any bad songs at all. You’d be stuck trying to find a less than average song by them. They just make it seem so easy, but there’s years and years of hard work in this. I remember hearing Stole My Pushbike years ago, and the song I think is no more than a minute long? I heard it and was hooked. That one minute turned me into a fan for life. I think it came out in 2016/17, and I wasn’t having the best time and I just solidly listened to them every day and I remember it feeling like a weighted blanket around me. I still get that same feeling with every time I listen to them. It’s in Guided by Angels, Balaclava Lover Boogie, Chewing Gum and beyond. Every single song.

I love so much that they aren’t afraid to be vulnerable with their songs too. The ending of Chewing Gum hit me right in the gut again: “I used to be oh so tough, but for love I’ll be dumb. Stuck on you, stuck like glue, stuck like chewing gum.” Write this on my forehead. Inject this lyric into my blood. Put it everywhere. I feel it more than I want to. It’s easy to be tough isn’t it, but keeping it up is exhausting (I say this as someone who can probably cry at anything!) It’s such a perfect line. It’s a perfect song.

I don’t really like writing about songs in general, but this one is special. Really special. The whole song feels like a letter to maybe Amy’s younger self? I don’t know, but when you have lines like “Don’t you get caught up in stuff you never had” you can’t help but think it’s maybe reassurance for younger Amy turning into an adult and teaching her all she needs to know about getting to where she needs to. Hard work always pays off. It takes time, always. Bands like Amyl and the Sniffers are a proper example of this.

Their 3rd (full length) record, Cartoon Darkness will be out on 25th October.

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.

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?

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.

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:

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.