This 7″ vinyl comes out in two different versions (black and red wth two different sleeves.) Punk pioneers V2 take us back to 1977 with “Johnny Rocco”, a song telling a story about true Manchester characters and “Car Crash”, a track with a strong DEAD BOYS vibe. If you’re looking for the original sound of late 70s punk, then don’t look any further, this one is for you! /Laurent C.
https://still-unbeatable-records.bandcamp.com/
Manchester again with ED BANGER & THE NOSEBLEEDS, a band that was formed in Wythenshawe in 1976! In 1977, the band featured future PRIMAL SCREAM drummer Toby Tomanov. Then, ED Banger left the band in 1979 and later joinded SLAUGHTER AND THE DOGS while Morrissey (The SMITHS) and Billy Duffy (The CULT) briefly passed through the ranks!
ED BANGER & THE NOSEBLEEDS were reformed in 2013 by Ed (now Edweena Banger, and identifying as a trans woman) who also has a solo career. “Bite Back Rock N Roll” opens the album with a bang and sets the rock’n’roll mood for the whole album. It is as incisive as early ROSE TATTOO! Songs like “Nobody Tells Me”, “Freedom”, “Worlds Collide” or “Rolling Thunder” all have some raw ’77 punk energy mixed to glammy catchy hooks and melodies while “Can’t Stand The News” brings the NEW YORK DOLLS to mind. “Babylon” is more surprising since it has a jazzy/cabaret vibe and it actually is a nice interlude with saxophone and piano. Songs like “Walk Away” or “The Love Of The Night” will stay in your head for the day after listening to them while the atmosphere almost gets Brit pop with “One For The Road.”The band also gets back to the 50s rock’n’roll roots with “My Kinda Rocker” and offers us their own tribute to the STONES (“Rolling Stoned”) before taking us in the psychotic world of “Riding The Whirlwind.” The last song on the album, “Blinded” sounds more heavy rock’n’roll with a slight touch of DEAD BOYS thrown into it. Far from being a simple revival album, “Revolution X” is a great rock’n’roll record! /Laurent C.
https://www.edbangerandthenosebleeds.com/
Manchester’s legendary SLAUGHTER AND THE DOGS is actually now based in Lyon, France. Original singer Wayne Barrett surrounded himself with with four French punk rockers including Thib (NOT SCIENTISTS) and Simon (CLAIMED CHOICE.) Opening with the anthemic street punk “Manchester Boys” and its hooligan backing vocals, things quickly calm down with “Silent Cities” bringing some urban punk desperation and melancholy through a catchy mid-tempo song. You’ll hear a pop touch in “Good Times Are Coming Here Today” and “Ultimatum” is the kind of songs designed to make you sing at their show. The melodic side of the band can especially be heard in “The OK Man” and its acoustic guitar while their rock’n’roll roots come out in “Five Star British Hotel” and their angry punk side in the pychotic up tempo song “Cocaine Smile.” You’ll even get a bit of boogie in “Hooligan Blues” just before “She’s So Far From Home”, one of the catchiest songs on the album. “You Make Me Feel Brand New” brings a sweet pop touch while “Maybe If We Followed The Devil” puts an end to this album with a cinematic atmosphere. Good songs, great vocals and tight musicianship, well you should definitely check “il tradimento silenzioso” out. The album is out on Spaghetty Town Records (US) and Contra Records (Europe.) /Laurent C.
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This punk rock band from Berlin is definitely influenced by the ’77 scene but you’ll also get an indie vibe when listening to these songs. A bit of PIXIES in “Underdog” or even a little ARCTIC MONKEYS in “Scapegoat.” The vocals are snotty enough to please any PISTOLS/BUZZCOCKS fan and you’ll find enough guitar melodies to seduce Brit pop lovers, especially with songs like “Down” or “Bad Parenting.” The guitars actually remind me of The LIBERTINES at times. Since the band mixes both punk and pop so well, it’s not very surprising to find some RAMONES and BOYS influences in “Beat Of The Street” or in “Lovedrunk.” Bass player Imke did a great job with the backing vocals, they give a little HANOÏ ROCKS vibe in “Cat Caller” You”ll also get a bit of post-punk with “Filmriss” and “Stereo” and you’ll probably want to listen to “Adolescent Depression” again just after you’ve listened to it for the first time. I wasn’t expecting some blues to end this record but it actually was a good idea since “Blue” sounds like a jam with the ghost of Jeffrey Lee Pierce. This cool album is a Co-release by Family Spree Recordings (Spain) & Dirt Cult Records (USA). /Laurent C.
Another new release by Spaghetty Town Records! These guys from Houston, Texas may look like a mix of TURBONEGRO and some old-school heavy metal dudes but they sound like a real ’77 punk band. “Get Some” takes us right into the heart of the action with some infectious dirty punk’n’roll with glammy vocals! Songs like “Do Your Thing” (you’ll even get some wild saxophone in this one!) or “Buried In Leather” show us a band with the energy of old AC/DC and a raw garage rock production while the spirits of the DEAD BOYS and early TURBONEGRO can be heard in “Savage Heathen”, “Dynamite Tramp” or in “Good Time Motherfucker.” Early TOILET BOYS also some to mind at times (“247 Action”) as well as JOHNNY THUNDERS (“Scream and Shout”.) That’s probably enough for you to check this album out, am I wrong? /Laurent C.
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https://killerhearts.bandcamp.com/album/skintight-electric-lp
BAMBIES are a trio hailing from Montreal, Quebec in Canada. They are a trilingual, tri-national (Canada,France, Costa Rica) band influenced by 70s punk and powerpop. “Dirty Taint” takes us into the heart of the action with lots of youthful energy and a garage punk production. Songs like “Summer Soon” or “Stuck With You” stand somewhere the RAMONES and the EXPLODING HEARTS, and “Echo” and “Party” have a bit of NEW YORK DOLLS and BRIEFS thrown into them. The ’77 punk/powerpop influence can especially be heard in “Teen Engine” and in “Go Gore Boy” although a song like “Human Sake” has a big garage vibe. “Running Through The Night” is a well-crafted punk rock song and “RNR With You” offers us some crazy speed freak rock’n’roll moments. The vocals get a bit more melodic in the last song, “Moonies” and then you realize it’s already over. 12 songs you’ll love if you’re into 77 punk with a powerpop approach. /Laurent C.
After multiple singles, EPs, tours, van breakdowns, floors slept on, more tours and a pandemic, RAVAGERS debut full length, “Badlands” will finally see the light of day in September 2021.
Their second single “Down That Road”, a fine mix of powerpop and ’77 punk rock and their full length “Badlands”will be released in the US by Spaghetty Town Records and in Germany with Wanda Records.
The DeRellas probably had more singers than you can think of, so this time bass player Timmy stands behind the mic and it’s working really well on this brand new single “Inner City Rock’n’Roll”, a glam punk rock’n’roll song full of street energy bringing early MANICS to mind. The band will release their new album “Something’s Got To Give” at the end of the year and it should be a good one if it’s as good as this new song! You’ll definitely read more about it on here when it’s out… /Laurent C.
Veglam 