“See there run away you said. To go you were it, you were it. To lay underneath the red sky there. To lay under her, I want her there.” - My Bloody Valentine
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| Horns up |
New Horizons
Thee Headcoats - The Sherlock Holmes Rhythm 'n' Beat Vernacular
One of many bands garage rock/DIY legend Billy Childish has had over the years, this release is exactly what you’ve come to expect and love from the Medway miscreant: plummeting raw garage riffing, humourous but pointed lyrics and a bare bones production that’s much fuller sounding than any ProTooled records. Check out ‘The Devil and God Entwined’ as proof.
The album can be streamed and purchased here.
Agnostic Front – Echoes in Eternity
Over five years since the return to form that was ‘Get Loud’, NYC’s finest have delivered again. Blending speedy old school hardcore punk, mid-tempo NYHC, Oi style singalongs and thrash in a way that is classic Agnostic Front, this is the sort of pick me up that one needs on the way to work in the morning. 15 songs in 27 minutes, gotta love it. ‘Tears For Everyone’ is a belter.
The album can be streamed and purchased here.
Drain - …Is Your Friend
The third album from the Santa Cruz crossover thrashers ups the ante from the previous two records: the riffs are faster; the vocals are more pissed off and the drums groove in a way that they previously haven’t. Despite the colourful cover, this is an angry LP that takes aim at the rat race, former friends and critics. ‘Nothing But Love’ is the daddy of the record.
The album can be streamed and purchased here.
Hateful Abandon – Threat
Over a decade on from the highly underrated Liars/Bastards, this new release has a darker, murkier sound that is much more akin to the anarcho punk/early industrial end of things (no bad thing of course!) and it makes for a suffocating listen. ‘Scavenger’ is a blatant nod to ‘Holy Money’ era Swans and yet manages to still be its own thing. An impressive feat.
The album can be streamed and purchased here.
Golden Oldies
KMFDM – Don’t Blow Your Top
While this second album sees KMFDM define the Ultra Heavy Beat in glorious fashion (take the thumping title track as one example), the lack of overpowering riffage as heard on later records make this one for purists. But for those who love that period before metal and techno infected the souls of manys an EBM act, there is much to cherish.
The Revillos – Rev Up
One of Edinburgh’s many fine bands, the Rezillos saw punk as a way to indulge in their love for 50’s sci-fi, comics and rock n roll. This, the debut album from the Revillos (what was left of the Rezillos after Jo Callis left to join the Human League) is more of the same but the less than glossy production gives songs like ‘Motorbike Beat’ a gritty sound that the Rezillos lacked.
Monster Magnet – Spine of God
Although not discussed in the way it should be, this debut LP from New Jersey’s finest psychedelic noiseniks connects the dots with 60’s psych, 70’s rock and 80’s noise, thus producing a raddled, drugged out slab of metal that still sounds unique. Although later releases would see the band downplay the psych/noise in favour of arena rock, this LP rules.
⏩ Christopher Owens was a reviewer for Metal Ireland and finds time to study the history and inherent contradictions of Ireland. He is currently the TPQ Friday columnist.
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