Alun Jones

Grande Fox – Empty Nest

Grande Fox – Empty Nest
Self-released
Release date: 19/02/2023
Running time: 41:00
Review by: Alun Jones
8/10

Thessaloniki, Greece: the home of Grande Fox, a psychedelic heavy stoner rock band who have presented us with this, their fourth released project “Empty Nest”. The band have been in existence for ten years, though they’re a new find for this listener. I was intrigued to see what sort of feast these Titans would bring to the table.

Yes, the music on offer here is essentially stoner rock, as evidenced best by the Kyuss meets Clutch thunder of ‘Backstab’ and ‘Route 99’. There’s some swirly psychedelia on display in the calmer moments of ‘Brutal Colors’, whilst final track ‘Birth of an Embryo’ has a doomy, Pantera feel. The highlight of the album is ‘Hangman’, which features a folky blues element – the description might not entice readers, but believe me – it’s magnificent in its Dionysian glory.

So, there’s plenty of experimentation in this album, which for the most part works very well. The only exceptions being vocals that move close to rap on ‘Rottenness of Youth’ and the riff of ‘Golden Ratio’ resembling Audioslave’s ‘Cochise’ too closely. Now I love me some Rage Against the Machine, but sometimes these explorations veer too near Nu-metal for my tastes.

Running at around 41 minutes, the only promo copy I had of the album was a YouTube video, which made it difficult to keep track of which song was which. However, despite my minor criticisms, I found “Empty Nest” to be an enjoyable and intricately crafted album. Grande Fox are certainly ones to keep an eye on: they impress with their heroics enough here that one day they could be sitting on top of Mount Olympus themselves. Yamas!

TRACKLISTING:
01. Backstab
02. Rottenness of Youth
03. Hangman
04. Golden Ratio
05. Deathblow
06. Overdose
07. Brainstorm
08. Brutal Colors
09. Route 99
10. Manganite
11. Birth of an Embryo

LINE-UP:
Nikos Berzamanis – Frontman
Lefteris Zaoskoufis – Guitars
Dimitris Loukas – Drums
George Chaikas – Bass

LINKS:

Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Alun Jones and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.

Worselder – Redshift

Worselder – Redshift
Ellie Promotion/ Season Of Mist
Release date: 17/02/2023
Running time: 45:00
Review by Alun Jones
8/10

January is over. Yet the cold still lingers, steel grey skies still shroud us. The iron glow on the horizon promises more snow. We stumble like children through the deep snow drifts of the French Pyrenees, our bodily extremities feeling icy cold. We are here in search of Worselder, Metal warriors who hail from these parts…

Here we have “Red Shift”, the latest endeavour from the mighty Worselder. It’s their first LP since “Paradigms Lost” in 2017, no thanks to the delay caused by the bloody pandemic. They’re back in full-on, skull crushing style here, though – picking up where they left off with the well-received success of the last album.

Part Power Metal, part Thrash, with a bit of old school Trad Metal, the Worselder’s music is aggressive and direct, no superfluous cheese. Opening tracks ‘Para Bellum’ and ‘Point of Divergence’ are furious Metal with chugging riffs and fast pace. It’s infectious, head banging stuff. There’s a ferocious Metalcore attack embedded in there too, particularly on ‘Pillars of Smoke’.

It nearly goes wrong on ‘Absurd Heroes’, where a truly ugly slap bass stinks things up in the intro. It’s only a minor setback though – ‘Atheist’ kicks the doors down with a killer riff and ‘The Exoteric Verses’ melds a haunting atmosphere with a Death Metal chant along. ‘Insurgents (Part 1)’ is a smart instrumental and good change of pace, leading to the frenzy of ‘Insurgents (Part 2)’. All wrapped up with the epic ‘Ascent to Rebirth’, it’s a solid effort.

The production is top notch, and the musicians are excellent, without being over indulgent or obvious with their playing. Worselder are a far more formidable band than I had initially expected, and “Red Shift” is a pleasant surprise.

TRACKLISTING:
01. Para Bellum
02. Point of Divergence
03. Pillars of Smoke
04. Absurd Heroes
05. Atheist
06. The Exoteric Verses
07. Insurgents (Part 1)
08. Insurgents (Part 2)
09. Ascent to Rebirth

LINE-UP:
Guillaume Granier – Vocals
Yoric Oliveras – Guitar
Jérémie Delattre – Guitar
Michel Marcq – Drums
Yannick Fernandez – Bass

LINKS:

Gang Green – We’ll Give It To You

Gang Green – We’ll Give It To You
Cherry Red Records
Release date: 13/01/2023
Running time: 02:49:00
Review by: Alun Jones
8.5/10

As a teenaged skateboarder in the late 80’s, Boston hardcore legends Gang Green were definitely on my playlist. They appeared on a Thrasher Skate Rock tape, what more do you need to know?! Merging Hardcore Punk with a more metallic edge, Gang Green added a technicality and Rock’n’roll, beer drinking party vibe to their unique take on Crossover / Thrash. It was mostly fun, though sometimes dumb, times – with a fast and crazy energy. Eventually finding a home on Roadrunner records in 1987, the albums Gang Green recorded for that label are collected here by Cherry Red Records.

Working through the discs chronologically, we’ll start with the first Roadrunner release, “You Got It”. Featuring what is possibly the worst album cover all time – the band in a sewer? Why is (vocalist / guitarist) Chris Doherty jumping through a fence? And where are his legs?! This atrocious shot always bothered me, so I’m delighted I get to bitch about it now (though it only appears a small pic!). Music wise, “You Got It” is chock full of belters: the storming Thrash of ‘We’ll Give it to You’ setting out Gang Green’s goods; ferocious Hardcore with ‘LDSB’ and ‘Born to Rock’. There’s even a surprise social conscience (and mellow intro) on ‘Another Bomb’. Plus, bonus track ‘Skate to Hell’ is worth the price of admission alone.

If Roadrunner were relieved that they’d done the right thing signing this bunch of unruly punks after that first record, ‘Older… Budweiser’ went even better. Armed this time with a great cover / title (thankfully), Gang Green delivered more of the same, but amped up even further. ‘Church of Fun’ bolts out of the gates; ‘Just One Bullet’ and ‘We Can Go’ show exactly how to meld Hardcore and Thrash into a furious, fun time. The Rock’n’roll edge that began on the previous record becomes more prevalent, adding a distinct flavour to the band’s sound (see ‘Tear Down the Walls’). The humour misfires on ‘Bedroom of Doom’, but the does-what-it-says-on the-tin ‘Ballad’ is a nice attempt to branch out musically before closing time.

On disc three, we have the live album “Can’t LIVE Without It”, recorded at the Marquee Club in London in 1990. Most of the live tracks appear already on this compilation, but it’s a solid recording of an energetic, relentless show. There are a bunch of non-Roadrunner tracks which add value for money; plus, the inclusion of the “I81B4U” EP and ‘Living Loving Maid’ single, which is great news for obsessive nerds like me.

Finally, the compilation album “King of Bands” rounds out the collection. If you’ve not had enough of hearing some of these songs twice already, prepare to experience some of them yet again with this “greatest hits” set. Although, there are two new tracks and three from Gang Greens first album on Taang! Records for VFM. The two tracks – ‘Thunder’ and ‘Rub It In Your Face’ are OK, but not up to the standard of older material. Still, this last disc seals the lid on this barrel of good times very nicely.

The history of Gang Green proves to be a fascinating tale. Predating Jackass by some years, the party hard doctrine of the band remains resolutely in place. Some of the lyrics are juvenile at best, out right sexist at worst (‘Cum In You’, oh dear); but if you can forgive that, the attitude and fun remains infectious. Yes, it’s all about partying and beer, but the music is still great. Not as Metal as COC, or as Punk as Circle Jerks, Gang Green added a rockin’ flare to their brand of crossover and brought the party home.

A great compilation featuring tons of interviews, info and photos, “We’ll Give It To You” is a comprehensive guide to beer-soaked thrash punk. It’s time to get out on your skateboard, rock out to Gang Green, and celebrate with a few beers. Afterward, that is. Ever Metal wants you to take care: don’t drink & skate.

TRACKLISTING:

DISC ONE – You Got It
01. Haunted House
02. We’ll Give It To You
03. Sheet Rock
04. Ballerina Massacre
05. Born To Rock
06. Another Bomb
07. L.D.S.B
08. Whoever Said
09. Party With the Devil
10. Somethings
11. The Climb
12. Sick, Sex, Six
13. Skate To Hell* (bonus track)

DISC TWO – Older… Budweiser
01. Church of Fun
02. Just One Bullet
03. We Can Go
04. Tear Down The Walls
05. Flight 911
06. Bedroom Of Doom
07. Casio Jungle
08. Why Should You
09. I’m Still Young
10. Ballad

DISC THREE – Can’t LIVE Without It
01. Let’s Drink Some Beer (live)
02. Bartender (live)
03. Lost Chapter (live)
04. We’ll Give It To You (live)
05. We Can Go (live)
06. Have Fun (live)
07. Last Chance (live)
08. Just One Bullet (live)
09. Born To Rock (live)
10. Rabies (live)
11. Voices Carry (live)
12. Sold Out (live)
13. Bedroom of Doom (live)
14. Bomb (live)
15. Alcohol (live)
16. Bartender *
17. Lost Chapter *
18. Rent *
19. Put Her On Top *
20. Cum In U *
21. Living Loving Maid **

DISC FOUR – King of Bands
01. Thunder
02. Alcohol
03. We’ll Give It To You
04. Bartender
05. Ballad
06. Fuck In A
07. Just One Bullet
08. Another Wasted Night
09. Bomb
10. Put Her On Top
11. Church of Fun
12. Rub It In Your Face

LINE-UP:
Chris Doherty – Vocals, Guitar
Fritz Erickson – Guitar
Joe Gittleman – Bass (You Got It / Older… Budweiser / King of Bands)
Josh Pappe – Bass (Can’t LIVE Without It)
Brian Betzger – Drums
Chuck Stilphen – guitar (King of Bands)
Mike Lucantonio – guitar (King of Bands)
Glen Stilphen – bass (King of Bands)
Kevin Brooks – bass (King of Bands)

LINKS:

Al’s Top 10 Albums of 2022

Al’s Top 10 Albums of 2022
By Alun Jones

A strong year for great music! It’s been a struggle this year to keep this down to just 10 albums, but here they are…

10. Brant Bjork – “Bougainvillea Suite”

A laidback, trippy journey through Brant Bjork’s sixties record collection. Ideal for summer evenings.

https://www.facebook.com/BrantBjorkOfficial

9. Captain Caravan/Kaiser – “Turned to Stone – Chapter 6”

Fantastic split album from Captain Caravan and Kaiser, which crept up on my unexpectedly and quickly became a favourite.

https://www.facebook.com/CaptCaravan

https://www.facebook.com/kaiserfuzz

8. Earthless – “Night Parade of One Hundred Demons”

Outrageously good album created by amazing musicians, Earthless are nutritious energy for the ears, mind and soul.

https://en-gb.facebook.com/earthlessrips/

7. Stoner – “Totally…”

It’s Brant Bjork again, here with Nick Oliveri in their stoner rock super group. Does exactly what you’d expect, and features one of the best album covers I’ve seen in a long while.

https://en-gb.facebook.com/StonerBandOfficial/

6. MWWB – “The Harvest”

Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard don’t disappoint with this heavy yet progressive album, brimming with new ideas and sci-fi experimentation.

https://www.facebook.com/mammothweedwizardbastard/

5. Nebula – “Transmissions from Mother Ship Earth”

Glorious heavy psych rock from Nebula, showcasing their savage riffs and outer space vibes.

https://en-gb.facebook.com/NebulaBand

4. Battalions – “King of a Dead World”

A monster of an album! Heavy, sludgey – that’s all you need to know. Brutal and brilliant! They’re from Hull!

https://en-gb.facebook.com/BattalionsSludge/

3. Crobot – “Feel This”

The most exciting hard rock band around deliver another energetic slab of groovy rock’n’roll. Unmissable!

https://crobotband.com/

2. Clutch – “Sunrise on Slaughter Beach”

It’s Clutch, what can you say? Clutch are legendary and they always come up with the goods. This latest feels slightly darker than previous releases, but has all the required Clutchness necessary.

https://www.pro-rock.com/

1. Sergeant Thunderhoof – “This Sceptred Veil”

A worthy triumph at the top of my 2022 chart. An album that has it all: heavy riffs, powerful playing, melody and invention – it’s an experience that the listener can truly immerse themselves in.

https://www.facebook.com/sergeantthunderhoof

Heron – Empires of Ash

Heron – Empires of Ash
Sludgelord Records
Release date: 02/12/2022
Running time: 37:00
Review by: Alun Jones
8.5/10

“Empires of Ash” is the new album from Heron, and if you like the Sludge, this is gonna be one for you. It’s the band’s third full length album, and you’ll know when you listen that there’s a whole mountain load of experience brewed up in this mighty concoction. Experience, plus what seems like a lifetime’s worth of melancholy and frustration given voice through huge, expansive slabs of atmospheric thunder.

Starting with ‘Rust and Rot’, Heron take us on a 9 minute plus odyssey encompassing thudding drums and menacing guitar. Vocals are guttural and brutal, the end result is a thrilling wade through a sludgey mire. Contrast this to the second track, ‘The Middle Distance’: a sombre yet beautiful (yes, you read that right) epic, which only erupts into molten fury after the three-minute mark. When the vocals come in, you’ll drop your pint.

‘Hauntology’ is another epic, and very aptly titled. Eerie yet calm and pensive, till again it builds to an enthralling outburst. ‘Hungry Ghosts’ is a more ruthless amalgamation of Conan with later period Danzig guitar flash. The final track, ‘With Dead Eyes’ has a melodic entrance, and once more decimates with a powerful vocal.

Whether it’s Doom, Sludge, Post-Rock or any other shade of Metal, there’s a wide variety of styles and influences on this album. I was lulled into a relaxed haze before being startled awake with fiery exultations on several occasions. Heron have really gone all out with “Empires of Ash” to create a record that is unique and imaginative.

Ozzy had trouble with a heron. He’d just had a new pond built on his farm, and one bird kept gorging on Oz’s expensive ornamental Koi carp. One night, we decided to lay ambush and surprise the heron with a siren and a shotgun when it flew in at dawn for breakfast. Bill Ward fell asleep, so we floated him out on the water on an inflatable raft, as he snored under the moonlight. When the heron arrived, I sounded the siren, Oz fired his gun into the air and Bill woke up startled, then fell into the pond screaming “I can’t swim!”. Oh, we did laugh. The bird flew off, never to be seen again.

TRACKLISTING:
01. Rust and Rot
02. The Middle Distance
03. Hauntology
04. Hungry Ghosts
05. With Dead Eyes

LINKS:

Vis Mystica – Celestial Wisdom

Vis Mystica – Celestial Wisdom
Dark Star Records
Release date: 02/12/2022
Running time: 24:00
Review by: Alun Jones
7.5/10

Confession time: I don’t actually like Power Metal. Widdly and flashy guitars; superfluous keyboards washing over everything; histrionic, high-pitched vocals – no thanks. I mean, I can dig Iron Maiden and Judas Priest – do they count? But otherwise, this particular metal sub-genre is not for me.

Vis Mystica are a Power Metal band. But they’re a Star Wars themed Power Metal band, and no one is more steeped in Star Wars lore than me. No one. You know the cantina scene in Episode IV? I can name all the aliens in that scene, what planet they’re from, and what they’re doing there. I’ve collected the action figures since 1978. I can beat anyone – anyone – at Original Trilogy Trivial Pursuit. Ask my other half, I’ve ruined a couple of dinner parties playing that game.

It’s not a huge claim to fame, but Star Wars fandom is all I have to offer in life.

So, let’s put my knowledge to use. To be fair, musically “Celestial Wisdom” is far better than I feared. The widdly guitars and pointless keyboards are present, but the music is fast and furious like a T-16 race in Beggar’s Canyon. The vocals are solid and not overly dramatic, not Gungan-level annoying at all. In fact, the first two tracks, ‘Whispering Winds of Fate’ and ‘Legacy of the Builders’ had me headbanging along like a Wookiee on a runaway Bantha.

Everything was going well till Track 4, ‘Lux Et Veritas’, when xylophone style plinky-plonk noises threatened to sink things faster than a proton torpedo in a two-metre-wide exhaust port. It all suddenly sounds like Christmas music. Thrashy, hyper-space speed guitars on ‘Beyond the Gates of Fury’ engage the nav-computer and manage to steer us back on course, thankfully.

Without a lyric sheet, it’s kind of hard to tell how much actual Star Wars nerd obscurities are present within these songs. There are no lightsaber or R2 unit samples to add context, so I found the theme lacking a bit. “Celestial Wisdom” is based around the Knights of the Old Republic comics/video games – alas, not my area of expertise – rather than the movies, so I may not have the wisdom I need to fully judge.

Whilst Power Metal may not be my usual cup of blue milk, I’ve got to give credit to the musicianship and imagination of Vis Mystica for this endeavour. The world needs more of this sort of thing. It’s far more fun than I thought it would be: genuine fans of the Power Metal genre will probably get a lot out of it. A bit more Star Wars next time, though, please lads? I can help with the reference material if you like.

May the Force be with you!

TRACKLISTING:
01. Whispering Winds of Fate (feat. Jonas Heidgert – Dragonland)
02. Legacy of the Builders (feat. David Michael Moote (Operus) and Ty Christian – Lords of the Trident)
03. The Plains of Silence
04. Lux Et Veritas (feat. David Michael Moote – Operus)
05. Beyond the Gates of Fury

LINE-UP:
Devin Dewyer – Vocals
Connor McCray – Guitars, Bass
Dillon Trollope – Drums

LINKS:

Brant Bjork – Bougainvillea Suite

Brant Bjork – Bougainvillea Suite
Heavy Psych Sounds
Release date: 28/10/2022
Running time: 41:16
Review by: Alun Jones
8.5/10

Brant Bjork must be a very busy boy at the moment. We’ve already had an album out earlier this year from his desert rock supergroup, Stoner, and now here’s a solo effort too. He’s a multi-talented, multi-instrumentalist singer/songwriter and no mistake, offering up sonic expeditions of varying styles and pace. Most of all, though, Brant seems to be a decent bloke who’d be ideal company for a beer or three.

For “Bougainvillea Suite”, we’re in a more laid back, but still rockin’ mode. The album is like a combination of Santana and Steppenwolf, full of relaxed but vital summer vibes. ‘Trip on the Wine’, our first song, has a similar stomp to The Door’s ‘Five to One’, but less angsty. The late 60s-early 70’s groove is maintained throughout, with ‘So They Say’ embellished with a sweet, melodic construction and ‘Broke That Spell’ having an early Purple raunch.

Stoner band mate Ryan Gut adds percussion and keys, whilst the final member of that trio, Nick Oliveri, pops up on ‘Bread for Butter’. This track and ‘Ya Dig’ are two of the more direct, heads-down rockers, whilst the extended blues jam of ‘Who Do You Love’ is trippy territory augmented with some almost Stooges-like lead guitar. This last track is a real highlight, it’s like a long-forgotten experiment involving all of the bands I’ve mentioned!

And that’s it: eight songs that whilst not easy listening, can be mellow, psychedelic and still rock your bones. “Bougainvillea Suite” would make perfect summer evening listening, with a beer and a BBQ as the clear sky fades to black, after good times with good friends and a long day shredding a pool. But it was released in late Autumn, so what do I know? Just buy it and enjoy.

TRACKLISTING:
01. Trip On The Wine
02. Good Bones
03. So They Say
04. Broke That Spell
05. Bread For Butter
06. Ya’ Dig
07. Let’s Forget
08. Who Do You Love

LINKS:

Battalions – King of a Dead World

Battalions – King of a Dead World
APF Records
Release date: 21/10/2022
Running time: 31 mins
Review by: Alun Jones
9.5/10

Battalions return with a pummelling new album, “King of a Dead World” from APF Records. The APF label can be relied upon for quality releases, and there’s no doubting that here. Born of Hullfire – well, they come from Hull – and unleashed in streams of molten lava from the deepest catacombs, here Battalions are channelling all of their experience into a recording of sheer, elemental power.

It falls on the humbled shoulders of yours truly to attempt some journalistic summary of what we have here. But in short – if you’re already a fan of (or just familiar) with Battalions, just go ahead and buy this now. If you’re a new or curious listener, be prepared for a lesson in dense, thick Sludge. With a capital ‘S’.

The music Battalions let loose on the world combines the heaviosity of Sludge with a persistent groove, underlined with the unrelenting intensity of Hardcore. First track ‘Green Boots’ demonstrates this perfectly, with a crushing riff that can make the listener nod their head and scream along.

Phil Wilkinson’s vocals are a harsh growl, well suited to the ferocity of tracks like ‘Parasite’. The guitars of Pete Cross are punishing but also full of variety, as shown on ‘Coughing Nails’ (great title). Meanwhile, Matthew Dennett on bass and Simon Harrison on drums manage to keep it all on track with precision.

‘Bones to Dust’ was another track that particularly impressed; a calmer start (by comparison) that erupts into a huge, bouncing riff which will sandpaper your face off.

“King of a Dead World” is chock full of great ideas and delivers on all of them. Though relatively short at 31 minutes, the album wastes nothing and doesn’t out stay it’s welcome – you’ll want to replay it again and again. It’s unforgiving, powerful and noisy – there’s no slumber on the Humber here. Instead, join Battalions on the Highway to Hull, it’s a full on, exciting ride and you won’t regret it.

TRACKLISTING:
01. Green Boots
02. Coughing Nails
03. Diagnosis Fucked
04. Bones to Dust
05. No Safe Place
06. Parasite
07. Light a Fire
08. King of a Dead World

LINE-UP:
Phil Wilkinson – Vocals
Pete Cross – Guitars
Matthew Dennett – Bass
Simon Harrison – Drums

LINKS:

Trouble – The Distortion Field

Trouble – The Distortion Field
Hammerheart Records
Release date: 14/10/2022
Running time: 01:03:00
Review by: Alun Jones
9/10

More Trouble! Another welcome re-issue from Trouble’s back catalogue courtesy of Hammerheart Records, here we have their 2013 album “The Distortion Field”, back in circulation. This was the last studio effort the band have released (at this time) – and with vocalist Eric Wagner (RIP) absent, replaced by Kyle Thomas (of Exhorder and Alabama Thunderpussy).

Sure enough, things get off to a solid start with a thunderous ‘When the Sky Comes Down’ and ‘Paranoia Conspiracy’, both reliably Trouble-some rockers. The album really picks up a gear or three with ‘The Broken Have Spoken’, a lumbering riff juggernaut that reminded me of Pantera. Then there’s ‘Sink or Swim’, a mighty, pacey mountain shaker with a chorus hook so big it could reel in a Kraken.

There’s little of the psychedelic, hippy journeys found on the Def American albums. Instead, there’s the almost ballad ‘Have I Told You’, which haunts like vintage Alice in Chains. The quality only dips with ‘Glass of Lies’, which is a little too barroom boogie for me – though the last section of the song thankfully reverts to a funereal Doom speed.

For the most part though, songs like ‘Hunters of Doom’ deliver exactly the kind of chugging riffology that the listener would expect. ‘Butterflies’ illustrates Trouble’s doom strategy perfectly again – slow, heavy crunch with another almighty chorus.

Add in the bonus track ‘The Apple from the Snake’ and this is prime Trouble. Newcomers may want to start with something from the band’s earlier work, but a re-issue of “The Distortion Field” is fantastic news for fans. Add this record to your collection and keep your fingers crossed for something new in the near future.

My mate Keith Moon was a troublemaker who needed no introduction – blowing up toilets, scrappy food fights and driving limousines into swimming pools. He was good as gold round at his old mum’s house, though. I went there once with Keith, and it was all very pleasant. Cup of tea, slice of cake, lovely conversation with Mrs Moon. Very down to earth. Until I got home later that is and spent the entire evening on the loo. Moony told me later that his mum – another practical joker – had laced my food with laxatives. Very bloody funny.

TRACKLISTING:
01. When the Sky Comes Down
02. Paranoia Conspiracy
03. The Broken Have Spoken
04. Sink or Swim
05. One Life
06. Have I Told You
07. Hunters of Doom
08. Glass of Lies
09. Butterflies
10. Sucker
11. The Greying Chill of Autumn
12. Bleeding Alone
13. Your Reflection
14. The Apple From the Snake

LINE-UP:
Rick Wartell – Guitars
Bruce Franklin – Guitars
Kyle Thomas – Vocals
Mark Lira – Drums
Rob Hultz – Bass

LINKS:

Eddie And The Hot Rods – The Singles 1976 – 1985

Eddie And The Hot Rods – The Singles 1976 – 1985
Cherry Red Records
Release date: 14/10/2022
Running time: 02:13:00
Review by Alun Jones
9/10

Yes it’s me again, sneaking in some more Punk Rock alongside your regular dose of Ever Metal. Because variety is the spice of life, right? Although to be honest, some trainspotter’s gonna testify that Eddie and the Hot Rods aren’t Punk, they’re “Pub Rock” or “New Wave”. Like I care.

This compilation from Cherry Red includes 40 tracks over two CD’s, full to the top of the pint glass with Pub / Punk / New Wave from Eddie and the Hot Rods. All the single A and B sides from 1976 to 1985 are squeezed in – in chronological order – leaving no stone unturned, to create a definitive journey through the bands career.

Starting with the first 45, ‘Writing on the Wall’, and including numerous energetic cover versions like ‘Woolly Bully’, ’96 Tears’ and ‘Satisfaction’, it’s easy to imagine being in a packed pub rocking out to the Hot Rods. These early tracks illustrate nicely how the band were really a revved up R’n’B band in the style of the Stones and early Who – just faster and with even more gung-ho. There’s a direct line here from the rebellious Rock ’n’ Roll of the MC5 – as evidenced by two collaborations with Rob Tyner at the end of disc one.

The Punk association really blossoms with the superb ‘Teenage Depression’; it’s like Mick, Keith and the other three time travelling ten years into their future and being inspired by the Ramones. The obsessive nature of this collection means we get three versions of all-time classic (and New Wave comp standard) ‘Do Anything You Wanna Do’ (including the US single edit and live version from a B side). It’s a good job it’s such a great song.

There’s a clue with that repetition where this compilation will find its audience. For the die-hard fan or seasoned collector, it’s a handy collection covering all bases. The booklet is perfect: details about every single and repro art of each record. It’s far more than a “greatest hits” set, though, so may be too much for the casual listener.

The last couple of tracks on the second disc suffer from heavy handed mid 80’s production, but it’s quality stuff all the same. Some will prefer to write the band off as coat tail riders, based on the boozy covers, but the sheer exuberance of the performances is addictive. “The Singles 1976 – 1985” shows Eddie and the Hot Rods at their very best; the final product is so chock full of detail it’s a treasure.

TRACKLISTING:

Disc One
01. Writing On The Wall
02. Cruisin’ (In The Lincoln)
03. Wooly Bully
04. Horseplay (Weary Of The Schmaltz)
05. 96 Tears (Live)
06. Get Out Of Denver (Live)
07. Gloria / (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (Live)
08. Teenage Depression
09. Shake
10. I Might Be Lying
11. Ignore Them (Always Crashing In The Same Bar)
12. Hard Drivin’ Man (Live)
13. Horseplay (Live)
14. Double Checkin’ Woman (Live)
15. All I Need Is Money (Live)
16. On The Run (Live)
17. Do You Anything You Wanna Do
18. Schoolgirl Love
19. Till The Night Is Gone (Let’s Rock) (with Robin Tyner)
20. Flip-Side Rock (with Robin Tyner)

Disc Two
01. Do Anything You Wanna Do (USA 7” Edit)
02. Quit This Town
03. Distortion May Be Expected (laughbagindub)
04. Life On The Line
05. Do Anything You Wanna Do (Live)
06. What’s Really Goin’ On (Live)
07. Why Can’t It Be (Live)
08. Media Messiahs
09. Horror Through Straightness
10. Power And The Glory
11. Highlands One Hopefuls Two
12. At Night
13. You Better Run
14. Looking Around
15. Wide Eyed Kid
16. Leave Us Alone
17. Farther On Down The Road (You Will Accompany Me)
18. Fish ‘N’ Chips Part Two
19. Fought For You
20. Hey, Tonight

LINE-UP:
Barrie Masters – Vocals
Steve Nicol – Drums, Backing Vocals
Dave Higgs – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Tony “T.C.” Cranney – Bass, Backing Vocals

LINKS: