DIE VERLIERER

Trying to find anything out about Die Verlierer is virtually impossible- but that’s fine! Most great bands have/had zero online presence- the music does all the talking.

The music is incredible- I feel like I’ve found a band from the past and brought them to 2023; but I haven’t. I’m not that good. They are just such a fascinating band. They have this really slick Post-Punk sound that so many try to copy but can’t grasp. This band do it their way- they sound like no one else. I think the band are from Berlin, and this record makes you want to move to Berlin and get lost in their music scene. I think I’ve carried that feeling around with me for some time if I’m honest!

Their sound is poetic, dark and hypnotising. The photo above looks like they’ve stepped out of the 80s but when you listen to songs like Intrige und Libido you feel like you’re listening to a Hardcore Punk band from the 90s. There’s a lot going on in their sound, but their sound is impeccable. I can’t think of any other band like this right now- there’s elements of Television (Plastic Life nails this) on this record. It came out last year, and it still feels utterly brand new.

Just because I don’t understand what they are singing about (I did a quick Google Translate so…) but from what i got off Google, this band write songs about the frustrations of daily life and also a song about a man in the moon who is spying on us. This one (Mann Im Mond) has that early sound of The Cure on this one. It’s the atmospheric sound that lures you in every single time. The record is about 40 minutes long, and the record ends with a euphoric number lasting around 11 minutes. The whole record is heavenly. Songs like Deadgirl have that perfect Punk sound- they’ve got the recipe nailed down, and honestly; they’ve got what it takes to be one of the greatest bands of all time. In my head, they’re already there. Deadgirl sounds a tiny bit like New York Dolls vocally, so it is pretty fair to say that Die Verlierer are the best. No debate there at all.

Sometimes you hear a record, and you just want to be completely wrapped up by it. You want it to consume every part of you- you want to hear it everywhere you go, and that’s exactly how Die Verlierer make me feel. I kind of feel like I’ve found a home of sorts in this record. On the journey to work this morning, I got a notification that they’re doing some UK shows so I immediately got myself a ticket for their Manchester show. You can just tell a band is going to be sensational live by how the record makes you feel- and this band completely back this up.

Again, this is another band who have a sound that I would aim for if I were musically talented/in a band. I feel like I gave up a bit on writing about music for a bit, but I hear bands like this, and the love comes back again. I just adore the raw sound they have and how raucous it is. This is the kind of noise that brings joy to my ears and makes me feel calm. I know most would settle for a cup of tea and some tranquil sounds- but give me something like Die Verlierer and I’m set.

Die Verlierer will be heading out on their first ever UK tour in May- grab a ticket. Grab all the tickets! The record is out now and was released via the always exceptional- Mangel Records.

EX-WHITE: Stalker.

You know when you want to listen to something that’s so loud and obnoxious, then you realise it’s pretty late so you better keep quiet? So your only solution is to play it through your headphones and basically deafen yourself? That’s pretty much what’s happened with the new Ex-White record. It’s a proper unapologetically loud and raw record. The snarly sounds will make you want to trash a room or 3, and you’ll probably collapse in the midst of euphoria, then gently fall into the chaos that will take over.

I know nothing at all about Ex-White but I can tell you this, I know that their new record is a noisy and sleazy treat for the ears. There is something about German lo-fi Garage Rock that just sounds totally different to anything else you can get your hands on, and Ex-White have created something really great on this record. There’s a familiar sound on this record- meaning there’s a solid amount of reverb, the vocals are beautifully chaotic and the production is so tight! It’s the kind of record you find yourself going back to, and finding different things to love about every song with each listen. I know it is such a cliche thing to say, but this record fully backs that up.

These 12 songs will make you move, and it’s best enjoyed at 11pm on a Saturday in your bedroom through headphones. Like I am doing right now. There is so much going on, it’s like listening to someone inhale a shit load of sugar and have this huge sugar rush with no hints of coming down. It’s hyperactive and all over the place. There is a taste of calm moments on Rhythm Is A Cancer, but for the most part this is a hyperactive piece of art, that’s a masterpiece in its own beautiful way.

If like me you’ve never listened to Ex-White before, then this is the perfect record to start with. Stalker is such a fantastic listen and the songs will make you feel like you’re at some secret show with bodies cramped in a small space, sacrificing themselves just to live in the moment of an Ex-White show. Only a couple of songs tip the 3 minute mark, and of course you keep wanting more- that’s natural when you hear something this great. At times this record reminds me of VIRALS, TV Crime and The Cavemen. There’s this huge energy to the record that makes you yearn for live shows. In time…in time. We have to cling on to that to keep ourselves sane. But this record is most certainly one that has the power to cause chaos in a live capacity. There’s this beautiful feeling to this record that just makes you forget all your troubles; during these 12 songs nothing matters and sometimes, you need that. Actually, all of the time.

Bikes and Nightfall are 2 of my favourites right now, but with a record like this you definitely cannot have solid favourites. It’s just such a wonderful record, and although it will have you missing live shows, you’ll also fall in love with your new favourite band. The songs on this record are bold and like a smack to the face. They are hard-hitting and rebellious. So if you’re wanting something to awaken your soul and put some life into you- get hold of this record.

High Society Punk and Love Battle will have you moving your body around in no time. It is such a joy to listen to, and you cannot help but play it loud to the point where you’re probably damaging your hearing slightly. It’s alright- get your kicks when and where you can!

Stalker is out right now!

SUCK.

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Everything has been cancelled, and everything is shit. I know, you know, we all know. I am getting restless; I need to go to a show. I need to see a band I love perform and get totally lost in everything live music gives me. It’s horrible having nothing like this to look forward to. I don’t like uncertainty. I don’t like things that mean the world to me being pulled away from me. But, I’m not the only one who feels like this and that’s somewhat comforting. I guess you have to hold onto that to get through.

 Alright, so we’ve got a great band from Germany called SUCK. Try looking the band name up- good luck with that. They’ve got a bone-rattling sound that’ll make you crave going to a live show really bad. I’m hooked on their sound, and I feel now would be a great time to see their show. They were due to play some UK dates, but they’ve since been cancelled. However, we’ve got the music still, in all its wonderful glory. So, if you’re looking for something that’ll ease the pain of being away from all you know for a while, then look no further than SUCK.

They’ve only got one EP out (I think) but this one EP is a killer. It’s a real rowdy number, and this trio are not afraid to be loud to the point where your body is like, “Should I be doing this?!” Yes. Yes, you should. Enjoy it. I love this futuristic Punk feel that they have, and that’s really clear on the song Roadkill. I love the way the guitar has this elastic sound- like you can sense it stretching as far as it can, and it becomes more and more intense. Then you hook this up with the vocals and the drums- you are SO welcome. This is the song to play whilst you drink alone in self-isolation. That’s what we’re meant to be doing, right?

 

 

There’s something really memorable about SUCK and they’ve only been going a short while. They really deliver their songs in a fast and punchy manner. You keep up with them, but as you do your best to keep up you stop every so often to marvel at what you’re hearing. I love the vocals. A lot. Isabell’s vocals remind me a little bit of Poly Styrene- she’s got that raw and super powerful feel to her vocals. You absolutely listen to everything she is saying, and their song Mama’s Got A Backpatch is one that you feel is HER moment when they perform this live. You can really hear this soothing depth to her vocals on this, there’s this captivating fragility to her vocals on this but don’t let that make you think she and the band are pushovers. Far from it. This one tender moment is rare on this heavy-hitting record.

On the flip side of this song, you’ve got the bold Bulletproof. It’s got this hypnotic groove to it, and it just loosens you up and you fall right into a beautiful Punk filled trance. Musically, this is my favourite song on the record. But right after this we’ve got Roadkill and that’s just one of the best Punk songs you’ll have ever heard- trust me. It’s like The Damned sped up mixed with Bikini Kill; nothing short of brilliant. Effortlessly brilliant, and you just wish you could let this song follow you around wherever you go.

 Frog is such a great debut record, and in these 6 songs you truly do hear something exciting and different. You long for sounds and bands like this, and you’ve just got to treasure them. Hold onto them. This is why we need Punk; this is why Punk will never ever die. Ever. Play their song Decadent Life sky high, and you’ll hear one of the greatest bands around right before you. This song is all you could possibly want. Imagine being in the crowd as they perform this and being in the midst of all that beautiful chaos. It’s got the excellent pure Punk sound that first launched itself into the world 40+ years ago!

 

 

If fast-paced riffs, intense drums and dominating vocals are your thing- then you’re going to love everything that SUCK have to offer. They aren’t sparse in showing us what they are made of and definitely get you ready for what is to come from them. It’s been a year since their first EP, and I really hope something new from them hits us soon.

KOLOSSUS DÄÄCHT: Lipstick Love.

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Right out of Germany we have the exquisite KOLOSSUS DÄÄCHT; a tougher than leather Garage Rock band who will be releasing their debut record at the end of March.

 I’ve heard the record, and even though I don’t really like promises- I promise you that this record is going to blow your mind and will burst your eardrums in the most decadent way possible. Germany knows how to do this kind of music, but there’s something about KOLOSSUS DÄÄCHT that stands out. They have this huge sound that you’d probably find in bands who have been doing this for decades, but instead we have been blessed with this fresh new band that will just ruin you in the most magical way possible.

 

 

The name of the record is Lipstick Love, with the first single having the same name. The second single will be Cold Soup, but singles aside- the whole record is killer track after killer track. This record was made to be heard as loud as possible for sure. I love how they make you feel like you’re hanging out with them as they blitz through the songs in some cramped rehearsal space. Of course, in a sweaty, dingy bar is probably the best place to witness what they have to offer.

 There’s this proper Punk sound all through the record, and it’s more prominent on songs like Hypochondria and Do Your Job; there’s a lot of attitude on this record, with singer Clement having this Johnny Rotten like snarl to his voice. It’s a delight to listen to, and there’s no way anyone could listen to this record once and be done with it. It’s the kind of record that finds its way into your system and festers there forever. It’s always there, and you cannot help but crave it. It’s a brilliant debut record, and it’s just a little taste of what is to come.

Some of the songs have a Psychedelic feel to them, and this is really clear on The Armor. Clement’s vocals on this sound like something from a 60s Psych band, but you’ve got Stefan (drums) beating the shit out of the drums in a true Punk style. Dennis has a Johnny Ramone kind of style to his guitar playing and this is beautifully put together with Benedäächt’s bass. The whole Punk feel just smacks you right in the face on A Mess. The record consists of 14 exceptionally produced songs that will just leave you in awe; it is one of the most exciting records of the year, and I can only hope someone brings this band to the UK because I’d love to see them. I love how they make you feel the same way you did when you first heard the likes of The Cramps, The Stooges and the Ramones- they just hit you with this feeling, right in the gut. That’s when you know you’ve found something to truly treasure.

 

 

Lipstick Love is an incredible debut record; these 14 songs will blow your mind. Nothing will sound the same once you’ve heard this record, trust me. It’s a record to completely and utterly fall in love with. When it comes out, take the day off work to do nothing but listen to this record. Take a walk round the park, or head to the beach or wherever and just play this record over and over. Get lost in songs like Bad Cough, Home Alone and Courage. The whole record. Just let it consume you, that’s all you can do.

 The record comes out 28th March via Micro Wave Music.

DIE WÄRME.

 

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With a drop-in temperature and the sun setting earlier, it is time for music that fits this season and the mood it brings. I don’t mind this at all. The only thing that bothers me is having to wear a coat- however, I am adamant that it isn’t cold enough to wear a coat yet here in Manchester. That will catch up with me, it usually does.

There’s a band from Berlin called Die Wärme (The Warmth, I think?!) and I cannot find anything about them online. I respect any band that can sound this great yet are completely unknown on social media etc. They have a strong Post-Punk sound, and their first (I’m assuming) release is up on their Bandcamp page. It could be their 100th record, I don’t know but I’m going to talk about the one I’ve found online and do my best to write something that makes sense.

 

 

They have a sound that just makes you want to jump around and have a great time, and you don’t care for the fact that you know nothing about them nor can you understand what they are saying. Who cares when it sounds this good! I love this dark sound them have, but there’s something about the bass on this record that reminds me of early Joy Division and very early The Fall. It’s that distinctive sound that is found in a lot of bands since, and it’s by no means a bad thing. The Fall were, and always be the best band of all time. Mark E. Smith forever, and ever dear reader. Forever.

Die Wärme’s singer reminds me of Siouxsie so much, and of course I mean this with sincere love and admiration. Siouxsie is just the best isn’t she, and it is so good to hear new bands still being inspired by someone who truly changed everything. There’s that gorgeous Gothic mixed with Punk sound on this record, and it really does make you feel like Siouxsie has made a German record. That’d be pretty cool! The record only consists of 8 songs, and of course it leaves you begging for more. I can’t help but think that their live shows must be really intense and so energetic. With just 8 songs that blow you away, and they do it in a way that takes you back to the start of bands like The Cure, Siouxsie etc. It just has that sound that moves you, and makes you want to completely lose yourself in what you’re hearing. They’ve mastered the art of captivating the listener; it’s hard to not be moved by this record.

The intensity in the music is heightened by the vocals, and this kind of atmosphere makes you just want to delve deeper into what you’re hearing. It makes you want to go for a walk late at night and the cold air hits your face, and you don’t care for where you go- you just need to go where the music takes you.

At the moment I’m really into Aufzug and Gene from the record. I love the sound and how grand it sounds; this big sound they have is just flawless, and makes you want to fall into a world of bands that have this sound. It is the perfect sound for this time of year; the grey and intense mood they create is something to really treasure.

 

 

I wish I knew more about this band; I wish I knew if we were going to hear more from them but for now let’s just take these 8 songs and appreciate them to the fullest. It’s a remarkable record and is probably one of my favourite finds of the year.

BIKES: s/t III

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About three years ago I wrote about BIKES. I went on about how I love their rugged Garage Rock sound, and how they just moved me with their sound. A few years later, I’m happy to be writing about their new (okay, it came out in April…) record. A record that is effortlessly cool, and firmly cements my love for this exceptional Berlin band. This record is not short of powerful and raucous moments that you just cannot get enough of.

Ten songs make up this record, and it just below the half hour mark. But  as someone with a bit of a crappy attention span- it works just fine! Sure I want the record to go on forever, but what they’ve created with this record is something that you have on repeat all the time. I adore everything they offer up on this record. I love how the sound is slightly more refined now, but at the same time it is still raw.

 

 

With no apologies (and why should they anyway!?) BIKES give you songs that hit you in the gut. There’s something about this record that has more boldness to it, and the song Friday Night was made to be played whilst alone, and bored. Just to get some feeling out, you know? It’s got a bit of a Bluesy feel to it, and I really love how they’ve taken this early sound that The Rolling Stones had, but dug really deep into the lyrics with it. It’s one of my favourites on the record and will probably be the one I gravitate to the most.

Something else I love about this record is that it has been put out via Alien Snatch!Records. They’re the best at what they do, so it is no surprise that they got their hands on this record and put it out. It’s the label that will cause me to be endlessly broke, but it’s fine! This is the kind of record that ruin your speakers to. You can’t help but play it super loud, that’s the only way to listen to a band like BIKES. You’ve just got to really push yourself with how loud you (and your neighbours) hear this record. It’s a wild record, and these songs are just a glimpse into how phenomenal the band are. Go back and listen to their records, and you’ll hear that this is a band that are focused and aren’t afraid to push themselves, and their fans/anyone who listens to this record.

There’s a relaxed feel to this record, and it kind of makes you feel that the best way to play this is without anyone else around you. Sometimes you need that, and records like this are perfect to do it to. All you can do is play it loud and sing along as loud as you can. All the best records make you feel this way, and BIKES most certainly give you that feeling.

This record has hints of The Gruesomes and The Rolling Stones in it, and that’s nothing short of an excellent mix. There’s a real Rock ‘n’ Roll feel, and the rawness of Garage Rock. Everything I adore about music is in this record, and in BIKES. They are a band that once you listen to, you’re just hooked for eternity.

If the inside of your head feels like a warzone at times, then this record will soothe it slightly. Or that’s just my personal take. I could have this record on repeat and feel alright, which is strange but always needed.

 

 

This is definitely one of the best records we’ll hear this year; it’s got everything you could possibly want from a record. And if you’re someone who likes the odd catchy bop or two, then you’ll find them for sure on this record.

Play it loud, block out everything around you and maybe, play it a little louder.

PS: Can someone PLEASE book these guys on a UK tour (specifically Manchester)

 

STONY SUGARSKULL.

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Berlin is home to many brilliant bands. The ones I love have a raw and eerie feel to them. I really thought I had written about Stony Sugarskull before, but I checked thoroughly to see that I stupidly hadn’t. I used to make lists on my phone or bits of paper of bands I needed to write about, but as of late I’ve got sloppy with it. I’ll redeem myself now.

Stony Sugarskull make dreamy yet dark music. Music that makes you feel like you’re in a haunting place like The Cure’s Seventeen Seconds. If you’ve ever read anything I’ve written, you’ll know that I compare a lot of music to that record. If a band or record can make me feel how that record does, I’ll fall in love with it. I’ve already headed that way with Stony Sugarskull. They make me feel like I’m watching a Nordic tv thriller or something. They fill you will grey and black imagery. You don’t see bright colours, and I love that about them. I love how they create this almost smoky effect with their music. It’s as if everything is in a haze, and you’re slipping in and out of a dream.

Monika’s vocals are so ethereal and they evoke all sorts of images in your mind. Her voice is gentle in all the right places, but she can make it gnarly when she needs to. The only person I can liken her voice to is Sade from my beloved LA Witch. I love the calmness in Monika’s voice, and she’s such a great guitarist too. You can really tell that she has such a strong vision with Stony Sugarskull. I think this project has only been going a couple of years or so, but you can definitely hear someone who has studied and worked at they do. The sound is so strong and so unlike anything else. There are elements of 60s Rock ‘n’ Roll but there’s something else lurking within; I’m not entirely sure what it is, and because I’m questioning it, it makes me listen more than I already do. When you find something that gives you this constant wonder, I think that’s when you know you’ve found something you’re going to love for a hell of a long time.

For me, its songs like Party Girl and Skunk Ghosts that really standout. They’re the ones I keep  going back to, in like a ritualistic listen. When you can become obsessed like this with the music, that’s when you know you’ve found something you’ll treasure for a hell of a long time. I just adore the darkness and chilling feel in the music. I love how it can terrify you and can then soothe you in the same breath. This conflict is what keeps you with them. Butterflies has this haunting feel to it, but Monika’s voice is so calming you can’t get freaked out by it, it just heals the parts of you that other songs can’t quite get to. It’s got the vulnerable feel to it like Fade Into You by Mazzy Star (that song never fails to instantly make me sob.)

Stony Sugarskull make you feel like you’ve discovered My Bloody Valentine for the first time. Their sound is out there, completely and beautifully unusual- and just a sheer revelation. I can’t believe I hadn’t written about them before, but after years of listening, the love for them grew. Maybe that had to happen first. I love everything about this band. I love the trippy feel they have, I love how the drums and the guitar reverb come together to make this delicate but whole sound. I love how the vocals are intertwined with it all to create this perfect sound that makes you feel like that this is what’s been missing from you for years.

I honestly cannot express my love for this band any more than I have, or maybe I can. We’ll have to wait and see, but I’m sure I can. I’m super excited to hear more from them, and to be taken on a whole new trip with these beautiful sounds.

BRAVE YOUNG YEARS.

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From Munich, I give you one of Germany’s most exciting bands- Brave Young Years. With the weather finally going to back to normal, Brave Young Years make the kind of music that fits the mood of the days getting darker quicker and the sky becoming more and greyer. They have this mood within their sound that is something you, after just one listen, realise it’s something you’ve needed for a while.

Brave Young Years have been going for a few years now, but they have only just released their debut record. As far as debut records go, this one is one to remember for years to come. The mood is bleak, tense and poetic. It’s a pleasure to listen to. It reminds me of very early Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds, and perhaps remnants of Rowland S. Howard’s Pop Crimes. It’s a haunting record and the darkness that flows throughout this record is something I can’t get enough of. I love the despair that comes through and seeps deep right into your soul. Bands like this don’t come around often but once you find them, you really cannot live without them.

Through is a song that has some really intense lyrics, and the sheer emotion that comes out in the vocals is something that keeps you on edge. You tense up and you feel every single word. You get that a lot on this record, but this song in particular really pushes it.  The way that the line, “I pushed you away in a slightly pathetic way, and spared us a bit of time” is sung really gets you right in the gut. The whole record is made up of songs that one could take as being painful, but at the same time you feel totally comforted by the words and how they just get you. By no means is this for everyone, but those who “get” it will never let this band and these songs go. With just one record they have created something so powerful and so moving. I can’t get enough of this record, and I think it’s something I’ve definitely been needing to hear, sound wise, for a long time. I love the atmosphere they have created on this record. It feels like it is a soundtrack to an eerie film that does not have a happy ending. It’s a truly powerful record, and it’s not for the faint-hearted at all.

Without getting repetitive and overbearing about it, I really love their music so much. It is the other side of what I love for music and what I look for in music. I absolutely adore bands like Brave Young Years because they are unafraid to show this side and to express this beautiful darkness in their sound. Some may regard it as morbid, but it’s not like that at all. Their lyrics are brutally honest and beautifully vulnerable. This fearlessness to be this open is something I really respect and love, and the way the music and lyrics go together is just stunning. Everything is so vital but nothing is overlooked. Nothing is more dominant than the other- every element of their songs is intense and created in a way that keeps you hooked.

Brave Young Years are an exceptionally passionate band who take you on this chilling journey. If they can be fearless, then so can you. I’m just in awe of how dark the lyrics can get and how even though a lot are rigged with pain, there is so much beauty in these songs. A beauty that will always keep you listening to them. I just love them, and the way they create this tension in their music is something I can’t get enough of.

BRAIN TRAPS.

Sometimes you’ve just got listen to music that shatters your brain and makes you feel as if someone is stood up in your face screaming muffled words at you. More often than not, this is pretty much what I listen to and I guess it’ll cause my hearing to be questionable in later life.

Brain Traps are a mighty fan band from Cologne. I’ve never been to Cologne, but I’m going to assume it’s a nice place. Does all the music sound like that there? I sincerely hope it does. Brain Traps are great for many reasons, and for me I just love the way they make you feel as if someone has grabbed you by the head and is shaking you repeatedly. There’s no venom just pure fury, and I love this kind of music. It doesn’t make you feel loved, it makes you feel as if you’ve gone a few rounds with a heavyweight boxer and lost spectacularly.

Their fuzzy sound with hints of reverb will speak to those who are clinging .onto something as great as Psychocandy and the likes. This is different, and is a different wave of heavy. I’ve said it about many bands before that I’ve written about, but Brain Traps are the kind of band I’d want to sound like. They are noisy fuckers who are the ideal band to play one of those dodgy basement venues that have next to no lighting and make you sweat buckets before you get in the venue.

I have no idea what kind of comparisons have been thrown at Brain Traps, and I really can’t think of any (I’m not that lazy) but they just merge all the kinds of music I love into one and make their own kind of noise. The kind of noise that your parents wouldn’t really approve of, but would probably listen when no one is around. Ah man, life is too short to act like you don’t want a bit of rowdy music in your life.

Brain Traps do sound like a bunch of naughty school kids who have snuck into the music room at school and have gone a bit mental. There’s a fair deal of experimenting in their music, and in all its chaotic glory- it works. It’s loud in all the right places and is the right side of confrontational.

Their songs are really short but as proven by the likes of Ramones and Girl Tears, you don’t need to do a 10 minute symphony to get your point across. Brain Traps are an excellent band who will make the most uncomfortable and awkward person feel alright in their own skin. They unleash what you can’t, and they do it in a way you wish you could. They’re just perfect for any mood, and I really hope they play in the UK soon because I get the impression that their live shows are what really makes them. Some bands just come alive during their shows, and I reckon that Brain Traps are one of those bands. The kind that leave you smelling of everyone’s drinks and sweat after the show because you got a bit carried away and threw your body around with everybody else in the venue.

The kids are alright, they’ve got Brain Traps.

Listen and purchase: https://braintraps.bandcamp.com/

BIKES.

Berlin heartthrobes Bikes are brilliant. They are a proper rowdy and obnoxious band. Their sound is part Iggy and The Stooges and part drunken street brawl. The songs are awfully short (like myself) but don’t let that be a deterrent. They’re one of the finest bands doing this kind of music. What kind of music is it? Oh it’s just noise to the outsider, but anyone else would realise very quickly that it’s a stroke of potential genius. The G word is lobbed around too often, so I’ll say it is potentially genius, but in my heart I know it has already reached that point.

When I find a band like Bikes I feel like I’ve won the lottery. However if you saw my bank statement you would probably think I’ve been a victim of fraud. Truth is, I’m shite with money. I found a new record store to venture in next week when I get paid, but today on my lunchbreak all I could do was lustfully look at it as I walked past. It didn’t help that my uncle (he’s on holiday in Canada) sent me a photo of two records he bought today (The Cramps and Fucked Up.) My time will come next week on pay day.

Money woes aside, Bikes are the kind of band you go to when you’re broke,bored and unsure. They’re the right kind of loud and they just make you want to pack up your stuff, and escape to Berlin. As you make your escape, you decide that Bikes are going to be your soundtrack and you throw yourself into their scene. Bruised and sore, covered in various shades of booze and sweat. They are the epitome of a good time for those who want to throw themselves into the unknown. Their sound is a mixture of weirdness, Punk and Garage Rock. All the typical things that I adore rolled into one to make this incredible sound.

They’ve been going for quite some time now, and I’m foolishly only just now discovering them. I first heard them about half an hour ago, and I knew I had to try write something about them, even if it makes no sense. I’ve never planned any form of writing, and I’m fairly sure it shows. Bikes are the tyrants that are coming to save you. Their menacing and infectious sounds can pull anyone through the worst day of them and are just a real joy to the ears, and soul.

You can do a whole bunch of nothing to this band or you can go on a journey of self-discovery, regardless of your mood and general state of being, Bikes are a band to really get behind and play as loud as you can stand. They’ve got a song called Ocean Penis, that’s pretty great.

All you snotty nosed brats and restless adults, let Bikes be your soundtrack.

Get the tunes here:

https://bikeshateberlin.bandcamp.com