The Accidents - Poison Chalice LP (Bootleg Booze)

If you dig: Devil Dogs, Hank Williams Sr., Radio Reelers

Jens

Alegre All Stars - Nos vamos pa la luna. Super-Hip Descargas From NYC CD/LP (Vampisoul Records)
Louie Ramirez - Louie's Grooves. Latin Soul, Jazz & Boogaloo CD/LP (Vampisoul Records)
At times, you might expect the release policy of my friends at Vampisoul Records to run along the lines of "throw enough shit on the wall and see if some of it sticks", as they do release truckloads of records of funk, soul, rare groove, and latin, not all of it worthy of a re-release. Mostly, though, they they've got something good going for them, as they have this month with these two releases, compiling tracks by two key names of 60's Spanish Harlem.

Which means you should expect plenty of timbales, trumpets, and exalted shouting in Spanish, and makes these records better suited for a spring- or summertime Saturday morning with the sun beating through the windows, than for the freeze sweeping Scandinavia at the moment. Really, there's something awkward about writing about this kind of super-happy, warm-blooded party music while freezing your fingers off, and that Paradise Lost album lying on the corner of the table I'm sitting at would probably suit the situation better. Still, there's something nice and stylish about this kind of music when it's done well, as it is here. Especially the Ramirez album is a treat, though I suspect it might fall on deaf ears with some of our readers. http://www.vampisoul.com

If you dig: Tito Puente, Hector Rivera, Joe Bataan

Jon A

Bible of the Devil - Brutality Majesty Eternity
(Scarey Records SCR028)
Bible of the Devil hails from Chicago and is a 4 piece band that love the NWOBHM and that is a good thing. The band has made a steady stream of releases since 2002, with this being the bands 4th. The band breaks up the CD with a series of short 1 minute tracks (the names of the title of the CD), like the opener, which then leads into Guns, Germs and Steel, a melodic metal offering with some nice dual lead guitars. The Majesty is one of the one minute tracks and very much like a Thin Lizzy guitar break before the band comes back heavy with Flee. A few of the songs begin to sound a bit the same as you get through the CD but they have some damn cool riffs and good melodies and rock hard… Check it out! The band would be improved 100 fold with a vocalist that could really sing as they have some great tunes here but the vocal is so raw and takes away more than it adds. Just my opinion but who asked me….well it was Lars who asked me.. but who cares…
http://www.scareyrecords.com
http://www.bibleofthedevil.com

If you dig: NWOBHM, Thin Lizzy, Iron Maiden

Scott

Black Loud - Octave Drops (Blackloud Music 2005)
This is the 3rd release I have received from James Blackloud and I have to say that they keep getting better. What a unique songwriter. For those how are not up on Blackloud, it is a one man project. James is focused on delivering his songs over the top of some pretty unique and spaced out and effected bass lines (no guitars), with the additions of samples, synths and other strange sounds as well as a very cool voice. Awake from Hell begins the CD with a cool spaced out sound built on a cool bass line. The vocal delivery reminds me of David Byrne at times. The synths are more prominent on much of the material here but they are very effective. This release has a bit of the Byrne-Eno influence written all over it. 7 Horses features a very heavy bass line and some very cool female vocals as well. Iron Fist (not the Motorhead song), is quite a psychedelic production with loads of strange electronic sounds but a highly addictive groove and vocal delivery. Strange lyrics as well.. This is for sure the most psychedelic of the Blackloud material but each track is a unique journey or trip of some sort. While this might be too far out for some people, I just love the stuff…
http://www.blackloud.com

IF you dig: Blackloud, Eno, Butthole Surfers

Scott

Cherry Overdrive - EP (Denmark)
Cherry Overdrive recorded these three songs during the summer of 2005 with now legendary Copenhagen rock and roll producer, Ralph Rjeily (Columbian Neckties, Sandmen, On Trial, Gas Giant, Baby Woodrose). The three tracks represented here all have a very different sound to them and a very special production. I am really amazed at how different the sound is when you hear this CD on a computer or your real stereo or in the car (Some place is sounds great others awful). The CD begins with the hard driving Hit the Right Note. Did You?, the middle track is the highlight of the EP with a great moody track. Toy Boy is a real bass driven catchy rock and roll song, with a buried guitar and out front vocal. Cool song. While I have a bit of a problem with the sound, I can still recognize some damn cool garagy rock and roll by 4 damn cool chicks!
http://www.cherryoverdrive.dk

Scott

Chingaleros - Release the Apes LP/CD
(Beat Generation/Munster Records)
Actually, I thought Chingaleros were just a joke jam band, made up of members from Muletrain, Los Chicos, Los Carbonas, and when I saw them open for Ratos de Porão in Madrid last fall that was the impression I got as well: Sheenanigans, stupid dances, generally fooling around with a few good songs between them. Still, they've dragged themselves together to record an album for the same label, Beat Generation, that also released the Muletrain debut last year, and surprisingly, it's brilliant. There's still some pissing around with drum machines and keyboards here and there, but most of it is full-on punk rock in the vein of Dwarves and Ramones. Song titles like "Go Amok", "Precorpse", and "Selftrashing" should give you an idea of the crudeness that's in play here; for old schoolers there's also a cover of Big Boys' "Baby Let's Play God". Though the album lacks some of the brutal bottom of Muletrain, there's still enough speed and playfulness here to make it one of the best punk rock albums this year in my book.
http://www.munster-records.com

If you dig: Dwarves, Butthole Surfers, Mondo Generator

Jon A

The Dead Idols - Stand by For Action CD
(Teen Addict)
This Hollywood combo's album sounds like it could've recorded in the mid90s by some Scandinavian hardrockpunk'n'roll act. Nothing wrong with that, if only The Dead Idols had put some identity of their own into the mix. Some tracks differ a bit like "Girl Down The Street" and "We've Seen It All" which recall bands like Devil Dogs and Campus Tramps, and "Never Think Twice" is Back In The USA-MC5 period (but not as good as those bands). What really stood out was the incredibly bad lyrics, I couldn't believe the band was from the States with lines like "It's a death race...TO THE DEATH!", eh? Death races are usually to the death, ain't they? The music isn't bad but I sure hope they've evolved a bit by their next album.
http://www.thedeadidols.com

If you dig: Gluecifer, Campus Tramps, The Bones

Jens

The Deviltones - Riding The High Horse CD (Scarey/Nicotine)
The first track, "Chrome Molly", caught me a bit off guard with a very obvious rip off from the riff of 13th Floor Elevators' "Two Headed Dog". Grand theft Roky! Well, I forgive this Virginia 4-piece cuz "Riding The High Horse" is such a sleazy knuckle sandwich of amped up snotty punkrock'n'roll. The line-up also includes "Demon Boy" Don Cilurso of Texas Terri & The Stiff Ones, so you know the outfit has got the chops to burn everything in sight, baby! Fans of unsung 90s heroes like Inhalants, Bottomfeeders, and Fumes should check out The Deviltones. Essential stuff for any redblooded rock'n'roller who thinks today's hip sensitive indie acts and boring emobands should be flushed down the toilet! Scarey Records, more of this, less of Torg, okay?
http://www.deviltones.com
http://www.scareyrecords.com

If you dig: Bottomfeeders, Inhalants, Fumes

Jens

Disconvenience - War on Wankers 7"
(Disconvenience/Wasted Sounds Distribution)
A nice little slab of Swedish punk rock with female vocals, making them sound like Pussycats to me, which is cool. It's driven, hard, and very retrogressive, musically as well as lyrically, but I like it.
http://www.disconvenience.com
http://www.wastedsounds.com

If you dig: Ramones, Pussycats, Misfits

Jon A

Earthling Society - Albion (Nasoni Records NASONI041CD)
Wow..it is not that often that I get a CD that I just have trouble with describing. The Earthling society is from England and was formed in 2004. This is their 2nd release. The band sites their influences as Funkadelic, Cosmic Jokers, CAN, Amon Duul and Hawkwind. While the CD bears a small resemblance to these bands, the band creates their own strange space. The CD was recorded in the bands own 8 track studio in the corner of a glass factory. It is a sort of lo-fi sound in some ways, but that adds to the spaced out charm of the music. A number of the songs are built upon strong bass lines after which the guitars and strange sounds are mixed in and around and through the music. This is a CD or LP you have to hear a few times to get sucked into but it is a damn cool world once you enter….
http://www.nasoni-records.com
http://www.earthlingsociety.co.uk

IF you dig: Cosmic Jokers, CAN, Amon Duul and Hawkwind

Scott

Enemies SWE - Behind Enemy Lines CD
(Locomotive Records/Target Distribution)
Oh FUCK, this is bad. I wonder if these Swedish guys saw the excellent documentary "The Decline of Western Civilization II: The Heavy Metal Years" when it was recently shown on their national TV, and, if they did, if something hit home. Because these guys are just as embarrassing as the late 80's sleaze glam wave was, even if their hair isn't as big. Glam rock, my ass. http://www.locomotiverecords.com

If you dig: Cinderella, Guns N' Roses, Backyard Babies

Jon A

The Fuses - Eastern Cities (Shit Sandwich)
For quite some time the Fuses lived a life in peace playing their music and minding their own business, until one day when hordes of major label "talent scouts" starting chasing them everywhere they went, hoping to "discover" the next so-called danceable, post punk, we can write real songs and we rock act. The Fuses, you see, have been doing it for years and they don't care about fame or touring with the current NME darlings and playing sold-out show for people who get their (no) clue (whatsoever) from you-know-where. But one day they had enough and they decided to record a sandwich with some of their most popular songs (such as Motor Assembly Postcard, Small Sounds, Something to Recite and Boredom is a Science, just to name a few) to show all the shit-eaters how it's done. Now that record is out and you can listen to it and even dance - if you like. Good luck!
http://www.shitsandwichrecords.com

If you dig: Echo and The Bunnymen, the Fall, Red Guitars

Morten

Germ Attack - Bomb Party CD (Wolverine Records)
German power pop. I might as well refer to the review in issue 25 of Gigantor, since this sucks in pretty much the same way to me. This is a personal dislike, and I'm sure other people might be capable of getting something out of this, especially if mixed with beer, but to me it's Beatles.
http://www.wolverine-records.de

If you dig: Ramones, Toy Dolls, Die Toten Hosen

Jon A

Gideon Smith & The Dixie Damned - Dealin' Decks EP CD (Scarey)
Heavy duty stoner rock outta North Carolina. I'd imagine these dudes blast out their Sabbath and Skynyrd records loud each weekend while working on their Harleys and drinking buds in their garage. Singer Gideon sounds a bit like a more evil Ian Ashbury. Highlights are "Breakin' Hearts And Horses" and "Blood Fire". Solid stuff. The band has previously released the "Southern Gentlemen" full length album.
http://www.dixiedamned.com

If you dig: Molly Hatchet, Alabama Thunderpussy, Raging Slab

Jens

Gob Squad - Far Beyond Control (Wolverine Records)
This young Danish group has been doing their thing since '96, according to the press release that came with this cd, and if there was something called the Top Gun Test, they would definitely get their wings judged on the basis of this release. They're flying up there with Bombshell Rocks and all the other bombastic, modern so-called "street punk" acts from around Europe, when it comes to handling instruments, looking tough and playing fast. Far Beyond Control is their second album and the songs, the production and the playing is perfect. Very professional and extremely controlled. I can't find any mistakes there at all. It sounds sooo right. Which is why I have a problem with this type of "punk rock". A lot of the bands playing this kind of "melodic punk" sound like they were cast in the same mould. They use the same graphics, they sing the same way and they sing about the same things. Any notion towards a grain of originality seems like it was discarded during the recording in the name of fitting in with the rest of the Eastpack/Vans promoting macho rockers. If that's the way to success, then the best of luck to Gob Squad!
http://www.wolverine-records.de
http://www.gobsquad.dk

If you dig: Bombshell Rocks, Wasted, Voice of a Generation

Morten

The Guilty Hearts - S/T CD (Voodoo Rhythm)
Wow! And I have to repeat: Wow! I had only heard about this LA band which consists of Hermann Senac on drums (founding member of Blood on the Saddle) and two guitar players with a past in The Rippers. But I was not prepared for this sonic onslaught of a debut album. In the fine tradition of The Oblivians, The Dirtbombs and early Gun Club The Guilty Hearts blast out primitive blues-garage-punk-rock&roll of the highest order and with stunning intensity. Some people complain about the lack of cool new bands in these shallow times….well, look no further!! The Guilty Hearts are here to tell you otherwise.
http://www.voodoorhythm.com

If you dig: Oblivians, Dirtbombs, Gun Club

Don K

Johnny Casino's Easy Action - We've Forgotten More Than You'll Ever Know CD (Scarey/Nicotine)
This scorchin' Aussie/Yankee outfit include members of Asteroid B-612, The Egos, Limecell and the Cosmic Commander Of Wrestling who's howlin' on some tracks. Cosmo, who reminds me of Circle Jerks' Keith Morris, is also featured on AntiSeen's "Badwill Ambassadors". The reason for this unholy alliance? Topnotch shitraw pelvis shakin' Swagger trash'n'roll, baby! Take some Faces, Dictators and Radio Birdman and toss it in a punky hardrock cocktail, and get loaded on some primo über rawk. Besides MC5's "Black to Comm" there's a delicious soul cover, "Expressway To Your Heart", that brings some neat variation to an already excellent album.
http://www.johnnycasinoseasyaction.com
http://www.scareyrecords.com

If you dig: Dictators, The Faces, Radio Birdman

Jens

Kingston Wall - Real Thing Live (SONY/BMG)
Kingston wall are now a full on cult band from Finland. They were probably the greatest psychedelic rock band ever from Finland and one of the best in the world. Sadly, their career was cut short when guitarist and singer, Petri Walli took a fateful jump from the top of Helsinki's tallest church (hoping that he could fly). I just wish that he would have flown. Anyway, that was in 1995 and now in 2005, bassist Jukka Jylli, dug down into his archives of live Kingston Wall concerts that they performed from 1992-1994 and has unleashed 3 hours of live Kingston Wall. While these are all 2 track soundboard tapes, the sound quality is very good (Although the drums are a bit loud at times but Sami Kuoppamäki, is one of the best rock drummers of all time, so no complaining!). The first CD opens with the amazing track, With my Mind. A lot of material from the Trilogy CD is featured on this CD and Petri wails on the guitar and sings with passion. Petri just plays amazingly passionate guitar on tracks like Time and Could it be so. The CD closes with an excellent 13 minute version of Waste of Time, which includes a drum solo by Sami. CD begins with a long version of Nepal with the extended didgeridoo intro and awesome guitar playing. The majority of this CD is taken from the 1993 tour I am quite sure and features a lot of great tracks And I hear you Call, Used to Feel Before and Shine on Me, which features a guest Saxophone solo by Sakari Kukko. You, shows Petri really showing his amazing feeling on the guitar and really demonstrates what a loss it was too lose this guy so young. He was an amazingly passionate guitar player as well as singer. The CD ends with the instrumental Palékastro, which shows the Hendrix influence on Petri and shows the whole band playing cool stuff. Jukka lays down some killer bass lines and Sami, well, he is one of the best rock drummers ever… CD 3 begins with the Skies are Open, which is a jam sort of song that they opened some of the 94 shows with and was never recorded on the studio records. Killer stuff.. The highlight of disc 3 is the amazing version of On my Own that runs into We cannot Move and It's all Happening. These 3 tracks just blow me away. A friend Tommi plays keyboards on The Real Thing and the Answer. The CD ends with the funny track, Have you seen the Pygmi-mies, which is acoustic and sounds like it was recorded on the side of the road while on tour..….. Amazing 3 CD set…. Please release some more…

If you dig: Led Zeppelin, Jim Hendrix Experience, Frank Marino

Scott

Kung-Fu Escalator - S/T (Yakisakana Records)
French trio sharing two of the members with the infamous Fatals, Hetero Jens' favourite band. This is a 10" record with five songs on it. Four slow ones and one up-tempo, something for the ravers who like their punk rock fast and full-frontal. The latter sounds like a Fatals song, so I'll talk about the other four. First song - I Hate My Balls… We all have days like that. It's summertime - you're wearing shorts and they're hanging way down between the knees. People are staring. Bummer.
Song #2: Fuck Your Problem. What do you say when your best friend calls and tells you he/she has a problem? That's right. Last song on the A side - I Can't Win. Another one that's easy to identify with. First song, side B - Want You Dirt. Like the previous three, it's another 84 BPM Ricard fueled monster spewing treble at your ears. It starts out with a simple riff, a beat and some words in English resembling lyrics and builds up to the trademark ear-bleeding guitar crescendo, that sounds like someone rattling a tree with metal leaves very, very hard. Kung-fu!
http://www.yakisakana.tk

If you dig: Working with quality powertools, loose drumheads and French accents

Morten

Korai Öröm - 2005 (1G Records)
It has been a long time since the mostly instrumental Hungarian band Korai Öröm has released a studio record. Burnt Hippie Recordings, here in Denmark released their last one, Sound and Vision 2002 on vinyl. This is the bands 7th studio effort since the debut cassette tape in 1993 (later released on CD) and shows the band with quite a new, maybe more mainstream sound at times but very much the same cool Korai Sound. The band never have any song titles on their CDs, even though they have names for all the songs (otherwise you could never refer to or make a set list for a concert), so here we have track 1, 2, 3..etc.. up to 8. The sound is probably the best the band has ever had with the keyboards playing a more prominent role in the sound. The opening track is a very groovy song, almost jazzy in nature. The band features 9 musicians. The first two tracks feature guest female vocalist. This certainly some of the best stuff the band has made. The groove at the end of track 2 is totally killer and it is great the way it segues into track 3, which starts with some flute and a cool keyboard before the heavy guitar line and percussion kicks in. Track 4 begins very spaced out as all the instruments slowly filter into the sound. It is great to hear a lot more lead guitar work on this CD than the last few. Track 5 begins with a Jews harp and an electronic drone and then some didgeridoo as well and is a sort of interlude track that leads into track 6, which is a very catchy track with an almost ska like guitar. Track 7 is some sort of strange pop disco gypsy thing. I did not get this one at all… Track 8 features a sitar and some cool flute playing and an awesome track develops after the strange Hungarian vocals at the beginning.
http://www.korai.hu
http://www.1grecords.hu

If you dig: Ole Lukkøye, Colorstar, Hidria Spacefolk

Scott

La Ira de Dios - Hacia el Sol Rojo
(Nasoni Records NASONI-CD039)
It is not very often that you hear a band from Peru playing, anything actually, but "jamming in the basement" style of spaced out rock is even rarer. The CD begins with Perdidi en el Espacio and is all sung in Spanish and highly influenced by Hawkwind's, Born to Go but without the synthesizers. The sound is very raw and quite cool. The booklet is nice and has all the lyrics in English and Spanish. A 3000 años blues is next and a great piece of slow stoned blues with some tasty delay guitar. Ruge is an acoustic sort of ballad but has some cool spaced out electric blues played in the background as well. La Señal, features some of the coolest delay guitars as the band just cruise with a very slow stoned groove. This reminds me of some of the early Guru Guru material. Empierea, was the only song not recorded in this session from March 2003 and it was recorded in 2002. This track again starts very slowly but then builds as the guitar gets more and more intense until the band brings it down and sings. A cool 11 minute adventure. Next up is Cabalgando en la Oscuridad, and this a down a dirty punk rock and roll with a bass line very similar to You shouldn't do That by Hawkwind. Old 70's Spanish rock and roll, ala Dug Dugs. The CD ends with the title track, a short jammed out instrumental. A very cool release. The bands web page below does not have anything on it yet, just a blank page, so I had no idea if the band still exist or if this is an archive release as it was recorded live in the studio back in 2003.
http://www.nasoni-records.com
http://www.lairadedios.com

If you dig: Hawkwind, Los Dug Dugs, Guru Guru

Scott

The Maharajas - A Third Opinion CD (Low Impact)
Third album from these Stockholm veterans. The Maharajas is sort of a underground super group consisting of Jens Lindberg (The Maggots, Stomach Mouth, Crimson Shadows, Wylde Mammuths), Anders Öberg (The Maggots), Ulf Guttormsson) and Mathias Lilja with a past in The Strollers. Together they create garage beat that is often moody, sometimes upbeat but always top notch. They have better songs than most bands in this genre and have most likely heard all the right records released the past 50 years. In other words, as with Baby Woodrose, they haven't invented rock&roll but steal cleverly from all the right sources and put it together in an original fashion that is very much their own. The Maharajas is with no doubt the best garage band in Sweden right now in my dubious opinion.
http://www.lowimpact.nu

If you dig: Nuggets, The Strollers, The Swingin' Neckbreakers

Don K

Maxim Orangutang - S/T MCD (El Hojo)
Grandiose Finnish weirdness in the vein - and totally on par with - vintage Bad Vugum material. It's been awhile since I've heard anything totally ass-kicking and original from Finland and I seriously miss the halcyon days of the early 90s when I first discovered bands like Circle, Sweetheart, Deep Turtle and Radiopuhelimet. That was quite experience for me and today I still rate those bands as some of the most intense, interesting and original bands ever. Since then the Finish scene seems to have stagnated and now we mostly get straight-ahead rock'n'roll and punk out-fits often hell-bend to follow in the foot prints of Flaming Sideburns. I keep wondering why. Maxim Orangutang however revives some of that early madness and groove and this MCD is a real gem. A look at the title alone and you know that you're up north…or in Japan. From the opening smashing drums, funky guitar and groovy bass-lines this gets better by the minute. Kinda like a semi-psychedelic mix of Sly & the Family Stone, Deep Purple and God Bullies. Singer Doctor Hamster sounds like a preacher zonked out on hashish and the music rocks and swings and it's really quite fucking groovy. I usually don't like stuff this danceable - maybe it's because of that documentary I watched about a Cuban dancing school for young girls…maaan, the stuff they could do with their hips…..! Oh, sorry, got lost there…back to the review: From the groovy opening track to the speeded up "Rolling Thunder" and ending up with the long improve instrumental psyche rock blast "Viper Strike" this just works. I'm sure "Riders on the Storm" would've sounded like "Free Your Mind" if the Doors had been piss drunk on Koskenkorva rather than experimenting with drugs. I wonder if they will ever do a record this good again so get it while you can…from Trash Can.
http://www.trashcanrecords.com
http://www.maximorangutang.cjb.net

SN

Miss Alex White And The Red Orchestra - S/T
(In The Red Records)
Reverb? You bet! And plenty of it. Fuzz? Yes! And plenty of that too. In fact Miss White's debut album is like like a big cloud of candy fuzz dipped in black and white static with some splashes of melodic red added to the Siouxie Sioux meets Jesus and the Mary Chain mix. TASTY! Back on earth, Miss Alex White on vocals and guitar is joined by Mr. Edward Altesleben on drums, percussion and piano, as well as Mr. Wesley Kerstens on guitar and the whole thing is recorded in the ghetto by Mr. Jim Diamond. OK, enough with the formalities! Alex, Ed and Wes cut the best parts off the rotting corpse of R'n'R and serve them steaming hot with some 60s chops and a Shangri-La on the side. Expect Sune Wagner to wear shades and a curly red wig on the cover of the next Raveonettes album!
http://www.intheredrecords.com

If you dig: the Go-Gos, KO and the Knockouts, the Ponys

Morten

The Nasty's - Good Time Gone Bad EP (Nastys Production NP003)
The Nasty's are the Midwest's answer to LA's glam scene of the 80's, it would appear… This EP serves up 6 tracks of cliché Rock and Roll. The singer sounds a hell of a lot like Brian Johnson of AC/DC. The band serve up high energy sing a long rock and roll. This is good time party rock and roll for bars but again it offers up nothing new. Check out the bands web page for pictures and further proof that bands like this still exist….not sure if that is a good or bad thing? But I am pretty sure that it is a good thing because if they can fill the bars or nightclubs in their part of the world with people, then at least the people are not out listening to total shit pop music, because that this is not. http://www.thenastys.com

If you dig: Faster Pussycat, LA Guns, AC/DC

Scott

No Heroes - We Ain't No Heroes 7"
(Blind Spot Records)
For a slight change after a load of D-takt 7"s, this is old school West Coast hard core in the vein of Circle Jerks, and just as ironically stupid as them. Very nostalgic, and not extremely necessary in any true meaning of that word, but a nice little one.

http://www.noheroestheband.com
http://www.blindspotrecs.com

If you dig: Circle Jerks, Black Flag, Dead Kennedys

Jon A

The Perfect Guardaroba - UN.tidy (Load Up)
Melodic scream-pop: just what I need on a Tuesday afternoon. Good,
fast guitar-playing, and a vocalist who manages to actually sound like
a man on top of it all. Slightly annoying do-wap chorus' at times, but
nothing you can't smile at; especially considering the almost
Monkeys-esk guitar, and Louis XIV'th vocals that are almost spoken on
top of the guitar-riffs. The drumming ties it all together, and it is
delightful to hear a drummer who actually has the skill to do proper
drum-fills. Very well done (and they are snappy dressers)
http://www.theperfectguardaroba.tk

If you dig: The Strokes, The Killers, Louis XIV

Kristian

Peter & The Test Tube Babies - A Foot Full Of Bullets CD (Target)
In 1978 John Peel (RIP) invited Peter & The Test Tube Babies on his famous radioshow for a session on the strength of their "Elvis Is Dead" song, and "Banned From The Pubs" became a huge hit on the independent charts, and the rest is punkrock history. So in 2005 do these geezers still play that ol' classic brand pub rock & oi punk? Yes and no. There's familiar boozy ragers like "Distored View", "Driven To Beer", "My Unlucky Day", sappy 'love songs' like "The Mistress" and "All About Love", a 'funky' Clash tune ("Haves And Have Nots") and the titel track sounds like a cockney version of Deadbolt?!? Well, I guess it is just another fun beersoaked record with 'th Test Tubes, and that's good enough for me. Now pour me another pint.
http://www.locomotiverecords.com
http://www.targetshop.dk

If you dig: Eddie & The Hotrods, The Vibrators, Sham 69

Jens

The Plaintiffs - La Famillia CD (Career)
Some bands just sound like they were left behind in the 80s - The Plaintiffs are an example of this. It's not that they sound bad, as such - they just need to pep it up a bit; oh and they need to settle on one freaking style at a time! The beginning of the record is good.
A nice bit of heavy beat rock and roll, straight to the bone. Then about 6 tracks in, Joey Kline starts singing ballads, and then country influenced songs, and finally what sounds like a combination of The Zutons and Franz Ferdinand. I may confuse easily, but I would have preferred to just have one style on there. It doesn't exactly help
things that Joey, on more than one occasion, can't hit the right note to save his love - and singing it like Johnny Cash doesn't make that OK! So to re-cap - a combination of Seattle grunge and Ween, with a Johny Cash faker, and a bass player who probably plays bass on a synthesizer organ - yuck! Settle on one tune (like your country stuff, which is actually working pretty well) and you might actually be worth it!
http://www.careerrecords.com

If you dig: Ween, Johny Cash, Nirvana

Kristian

Pneumonias - Rejected #10 7" (High School Reject)
Second 7" on the High School label from this French trio. The first one was a Refuse release with some really cool songs. This one includes 2 originals as well as the obligatory rendition of Mean Red Spiders' "Rejected at the High School Dance". The two originals don't quite live up to the 1st 7" and the cover song is fairly pedestrian. Rocks in an OK 77 UK punk rock style but doesn't really pull itself above the rest. This is a band to watch out for and I'm sure we're gonna hear more and better stuff from them. The cover is really cool though.
ktvs@yahoo.com

SN

Powderhog - Powderhog (demo, 2005)
Powderhog is a relatively new rock band from Esbjerg, Denmark, and this is their first demo as a band. It was recorded in march 2005. Frontman Johnny Houmark comes from the band Speed Limit25 and guitarist Jesper Borg recently left a band called Wishing Well. The demo contains four tracks of so called "high octane rock", and that's a pretty suitable description. This is very basic straight forward rock with a good energy, a nice punch and drive and some cool riffs and hooklines. The guys play well and Houmark has an ok rocking voice. They definitely have a nice groove together, but what I miss is maybe a little more personality to the over all sound. The songs are working according to plan with all the right build-ups and pay-offs, but it's like I've heard it all before. Give it a twist, guys, I want a surprise every now and then. And keep up the good work, 'cause you're on to something here for sure.
http://www.powderhog.dk

If you dig: All solid straight rock that's good for long drives in a car

Foxy

Rabid Grannies - My Brain Is Rotten 7"
(Wasted Sounds Distribution)
More D-takt from Umeå, but this one is by far the best of the bunch reviewed in this issue: Fast, brutal, hard, and evil. Someone recently warned me against listening to too much of this stuff as it was bound to make me a lesbian vegetarian anarchist, and sure, it does remind you of shitty nights in Ungdomshuset with kids drunk out of their heads getting nothing done, but for a breather, it's great.
http://www.rabidgrannies.cjb.net
http://www.wastedsounds.com

If you dig: Discharge, Amdi Petersens Armé, Zeke

Jon A

Rodriguez - Black Finger Tips (Relax-o-Matic Vibrator Records)
I suppose I ought to dig this group, Rodriguez being trashy and covering Boys songs (No Money), but the rest of the songs on this 10" don't really do it for me. They're 75-80% good and that's close, but not close enough. The catchy part is missing and who'd chew bubblegum if it wasn't so damn tasty, for the first couple of minutes?
http://www.relaxomatic.free.fr

Morten

Samavayo - Death.March.Melodies!
(Nasoni Records NASONI045CD)
Samavayo are a new German band based in Berlin who play a very aggressive and groovy sort of TOOL meets stoner rock groove music. The Heavy Song opens the CD and here you can hear the TOOL influence but a more aggressive approach and less interesting guitars. This music is about being heavy, emotional very riff oriented, not jamming as guitar solos are few and far between. This is not to say it does not rock. It is easy to get sucked into this pretty cool band. Sometimes the grooves that the band get into remind me of Hermano, due to the way the singer uses his voice. The Danish band Magnified Eye is similar to this band at times. Pretty cool stuff.
http://www.nasoni-records.com
http://www.samavayo.de

If you dig: Tool, Magnified Eye, Kyuss, Hermano

Scott

The Shine - Love is like a Hurricane
(The Shine Worldwide 012)
The Shine are an Australian band from Melbourne, who live and breath the likes of band like Kiss, Guns and Roses, AC/DC and play straight up no frills rock and roll, complete with the hair, the make up and the attitude… This is a 5 track EP. The bands previous release was another EP in 2004. The band has been around since the early 90's releasing a number of demo releases. Anyway, the CD opens with probably the singer at a drive up fast food place ordering up some rock and roll before the band blasts into Heavy Gretal. Very much 80's heavy metal rock and roll. Dying to be Touched slows it down a bit and has a decent guitar riff. Girls were made to love and Kiss, is a very KISS inspired track, including the Paul Stanley like vocals on some parts. Gene would like the lyrical content as well. Every Inch is a slow, long 7 ½ minute ballad and by far the best song on the CD. The CD ends with Nitro (18 minutes), a kind of joke of a 3 minute track with a wild guitar solo (no other instruments) and not much else going on and then you have nearly 10 minutes of silence and then suddenly a guy starts singing, "I'm a gonna go to hell when I die" over and over and over with a guy hitting two sticks together or something and this is repeated over and over for 5 minutes.. Pretty pointless….Nothing original here but straight up good time party rock and roll for the bars of Australia but probably not Copenhagen!
http://www.theshine.com.au

If you dig: Guns and Roses, Kiss, Faster Pussycat, Darkness

Scott

Slideshaker - Bones 7"/CDS (Bad Afro Records)
Bad Afro have dug up yet another band from the backlands of Finland, but not with as much success as they have previously had with Sweatmaster and Flaming Sideburns. I'm not too sure what to make of this single, which is in the vein of The Cramps, with a twangy flip. It's tight, but it sounds somewhat unfinished, repetitive, stretched too long, and boring in the long run. An album will be out in January 2006.
http://www.slideshaker.com
http://www.badafro.dk

If you dig: The Cramps, Sweatmaster, Teenage Idols

Jon A

Eddie Spaghetti - Old No. 2 CD (Cargo/Mid-Fi)
Supersuckers frontman and country connaisseur is back with his 2nd solo album after "The Sauce" and this time there's a bit more originals ("All Along", "I Don't Wanna Know", "Here We Go", "Some People Say") which fit perfectly with choice covers of Willie Nelson, AC/DC, Nick Lowe, Dylan, Tom Waits etc. It might be sacrilege to say it but I actually prefer "Old No. 2" over the 'Suckers classic "Must've Been High", yeah, you'll find never find a better drinking record, believe me. In fact, after hearing Dylan's opening track "Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You, I went down to the local store and got me some bottles of fine redwine and spent the rest of the day in the company of Eddie and this honky tonk masterpiece. My pick of this issue, no fuckin' contest!! The promo came without a dvd, DAMN!
http://www.supersuckers.com
http://www.cargo-records.de

If you dig: Supersuckers (c&w), Buck Owens, Merle Haggard

Jens

Stajnas Lobos - Suburban Avengers CD (Lupa Recordings)
Fast, trashy, melodic punk rock bordering on power pop, this is actually quite good, and not just because they've got a song called "Anti Alltihop" and another about invading USA. They remind of the madrileño girl group Pussycats in the way front woman Ninka screams, and the contrasting male vox by Steinhart is cool. This is unhealthy, destructive, nihilist pop for old schoolers, but it's great, really.
http://www.stajnaslobos.com

If you dig: Ramones, Safety Pins, Pussycats

Jon A

Sunnshine - No more Forever
(Daredevil Records, 2005)
This is a kind of post-mortem release of a band that unfortunately is no more. Sunnshine was formed in Richmond, VA, back in 1993 and the guys have roots in bands like Buzz-oven, Alabama Thunderpussy and 454. This release contains 16 tracks recorded between 1993 and 2001, when the band broke up in frustration after having struggled for a long time with finding a company that was willing to release their music. Sunnshine has toured with bands like Spirit Caravan, Atomic Bitchwax and Clutch, and the band previously released a 5-track ep at Underdogma Records in 2000. This is full force, hard kicking, powerful kind-of-stoner-rock and it's surprisingly competent! Especially the old tracks are mindblowing energy-boosts that should have given this band a well-deserved seat in the pantheon of this genre. This is pure raw power coming out of the loudspeakers: Daaaaaark, tuned-down bass and guitars, a wild punch in the drums and singer Joe Deleon (ex-Dead Man Walking) has just the perfect aggressiveness in his voice to make this really, really cool. I've been headbanging non stop since I got this album - just can't help it… Wow!
http://www.daredevilrecords.de

If you dig: Kyuss, Corrosion of Conformity, El Caco, Atomic Bitchwax

Foxy

Time Flys - Fly (Birdman)
The fumes from the high concentrate of SUVs in Oakland, California do something to people. Just listen to Time Flys, a quartet based somewhere within the 94611 area code. They've been breathing the lethal exhaust for so long that one day they actually took their Flamin' Groovies, Silverhead and Seeds albums, plus some green, green grass and a couple of Vogue magazines from '73, put everything in a microwave for a couple of minutes and then did the intravenuos thing. Please don't try this if you live in Denmark, though. Some "hygge" is bound to get in the mix and screw up the trip. But in Time Flys' case they manage to get away with it. Of course, they sound sloppy, chaotic and a bit glammy, but that's ok, I guess. They have a girl drummer, by the way, and I think she's related to Hot Dog (of the Real Losers). You can tell by the beat.
http://www.birdmanrecords.com

If you dig: Sons of Cyrus, the Cuts, the Monarchs

Morten

Tokyo Dragons - Give Me the Fear
(Escapi Music, 2005)
Right on! Time to find your old leppard skin spandex tights and your silver plateau boots again - and time to ask your hairdresser to give you a cool poodle-look (if there is a concept such as 'cool poodle' - or is it in fact a contradiction in terms?). Glam is back, apparently… The four guys from Tokyo Dragons were brought up playing Kiss and the like, and some would say they never got any further. According to the very massive press-sheet, full of irrelevant information, none of them can play the piano, but they sure as hell know how to rock in a good ol' flashing way. Shake that ass, baby, this is like stepping into a time machine. The hysteric solos, the screaming vocal, that boogie feeling, the handclaps, the sheer production. It's all very authentic indeed and I'm sure these Dragons can make a party live on stage - I only wonder if they wear extreme make up also?! Well, I consider this a party-pop-retro release which is ok if you wanna have an amusing nostalgic moment after consuming gallons of beer. It's not fine arts, but it's great fun! According to singer Steve Lomax the Tokyo Dragons gave up their day jobs: "It gets in the way of rocking, and that's no good". Hmm, if retro-glam doesn't catch the large audience this time, maybe just a part-time job selling wicked wigs, Flying-Vs and gigantic high boots?!
http://www.escapimusic.com

If you dig: Twisted Sister, Kiss etc.

Foxy

Torg - The Dumbening CD (Scarey)
When bands describe themselves as 'the worst band in the world' it can be a good thing, and sometimes not. Torg, a very ugly looking combo of mentally challenged bozos, plays 'comic' schlock punk metal from the windy city with titles like "Hot Youghurt Enema" and "We Suck". Well, a few of their tunes ain't bad but the problem ain't they're bad musicians, it's actually the opposite. All the Yngwie Malmsten-wannabe licks combined with the gruff vocals annoyed the hell of this scum rock fan, keep it filthy all way and quit the 80s metal. The nadir of "The Dumbening" is a truly horrible track called "Electro Pussy (The Euro Mix)", a disco metal song with some 'funky' guitar scratchin' (?!?). I have no idea why the otherwise reliable Scarey Records bothered with this release, it's doesn't work not even in a humorus so-bad-its-good kinda schtick.
http://www.torg.cc

If you dig: Kill Allen Wrench and bad 80s metal

Jens

Trouble Bound Gospel - Down The Rabbit Hole (Sporting Life Records)
Fitting title for an album that'll take you to a surreal R'n'R wonderland and even a little further. The Finnish trio moan and groan about supermodels, cellphones and spirits moving slowly, while relentlessly beating, bending and twisting their instruments and the accompanying organ, piano, sitar, maraccas, backing vocals and slide guitar details on the various songs add interesting and ear-opening layers to the music. Just like Alice, TBG get around and they virtuously mix Rolling Stones swagger with Screamin' Jay Hawkins minor mayhem and Dura Delinqent'ish guitar raunch, but the timeless black hole they operate from is one they dug themselves. To keep the fetichists happy, add a really crisp recording etched into a thick slab of black vinyl wrapped in a full-colour gatefold sleeve and what have you got? A born loser, baby!
http://www.sportingliferecords.com

If you dig: The Maggots, JSBX, the Flat Duo Jets

Morten

Vic du Monte's Persona Non Gratis
(Cargo Records CARCD071)
This is Vic's 2nd release in Europe in a year and we caught his act live back in April at RUST when the band opened for Brank Bjork and The Bros. While Vic is trying to ride the wave of his fame from playing with Kyuss, this is something completely different from those roots. The opening track is some sort of strange bluesy garage rocker with drunken-retarded sounding vocals. Strange vocal style. High on the Sly is next and quite a melodic rock track. Vic has a unique vocal style that mixes a bit of Glenn Danzig (Misfits) style with his own blues growl. There are some cool lyrics and great tracks here ranging from influences of country, rockabilly, punk and pure rock and roll. A great platter of moody music.
http://www.evilbitch666.com
http://www.cargo-records.de

Scott

V/A - Ana Barata/Speeder Garben - split 7"
(New Noise Records/Wasted Sounds Distribution)
D-takt, the Swedish variety of Discharge influenced, super fast and shouty punk, is really just a nice way to say crust, because that's what it is. Even so, it's actually better to listen to at home, especially after a long day on the job, slaving for the yankee dollar and all, and Swedish lyrics are fun.
http://www.skitsylen.tk
http://www.wastedsounds.com

If you dig: Amdi Petersens Armé, Discharge, Black Flag

Jon A

V/A - Voodoo Rhytm Compilation Radio Show Vol. 2
(Voodoo Rhytm Records)
Various VRR artists presented by Reverend Dan, host of the radio show "Music for Nimrods" on KXLU in Los Angeles. "Presented by" in this case, means that Reverend Dan talks in between some of the songs and I guess it is the recording of an actual radio show. That's not such a bad way to present the mixed rooster of Voodoo Rhythm. I don't know if Reverend Dan's rampling is as entertaining the fifth time you play this cd as the first, but again - who cares? The music speaks for itself - so to speak… So if you're not yet familiar with Wau y Los Arrgs!, King Automatic, Hipbone Slim and the Knee Tremblers, Thee Butchers Orchestra and many more, this is a fun way of getting aqcuainted with some of the newer names on the label.
Records to ruin parties are always recommended. http://www.voodoorhytm.com

If you dig: Lightning Beat-Man and other things that glow in the night

Morten

V/A - The Heartburns/Frankie the Damage - split 7" (Wanton Records)
A double dose of crude Finnish punk rock in the vein of Dwarves and Ramones. The neat cover design promises more than the actual record rewards, but it's still a record I might be prone to put on when drunk - which I suppose is pretty much what it was designed for in the first place. http://www.wantonrecords.net

If you dig: Ramones, Dwarves

Jon A