Back in 2007 I got to be the opening act (in a tour around Germany) opening for a killer band called The Cheeks, that’s when I met Chris and Kono. I’ve been a fan (and a friend) of their stuff ever since. They got back together and joined forces with Alex Schönert (guitar, backing vocals), Pele Götzer (bass, backing vocals) and Remco Reents (drums). This new band is called Velvet Attack (btw, brilliant name!) and it sounds amazingly well. Relased by “Soundflat Records” (one of the few strictly hardcore 60is labels left), their debut album is pure 60’s bliss. Produced by “Alaska Winter” (Pop Und Die Welt), stuff in here carries the same vibe (and flag) from previous releases by them, everything is wicked cool here. If you like 1960’s Psychedelic Pop and Rickenbacker guitars this is the album you need to listen right away. From the catchy “The Double Of Cylinder Man” to the Fuzzy “Daughter Of The Sun” these songs are custom made for nostalgia seekers, and they are filled with beautiful harmonies. The mid tempo breaks, the trippy bass lines or guitar arrangements are well thaught in every track. Some people might have a difficult time trying to figure out whether this album was released in 2022 or back in 1968, Songs like “Sound Of Tomorrow”, “Hellfire” or “She’s a Human Doll” are perfectly tributes to an almost forgotten era of music, a time when dressing in style and using loud Pop guitars was almost like a statement…..well, it still is. Knowing them when it comes to songwriting and recording I can tell that everything here was planned. The atmospheric and almost scenery “(It’s The) Dawn Of The Summer’ closing the album is a great example of knowing how to put together an album from the very beginning to the very end. It comes with a beautiful and stylistic artwork done by Eckhart Maronde and Kono. Definitely suitable for Love, The Animals, 13th Floor Elevators or The Zombies fans. /Juan Pablo Mazzola.
SNOTTY CHEEKBONES from Switzerland were already playing pop punk in the 90s alongside bands such as The OFFSPRING, SUM 41 or RANDY and here they are back with a new album untitled “Avanti”. Opening song “I Remember” is quite catchy as well as “Island”. “Idiot Parade” offers us some pop with slight reggae influences bringing NO DOUBT to mind while “Loudmouth” flirts with fast punk hardcore. “Spoiled White Kids” might be my favourite song on this album since you’ll hear some ’77 punk influences in this one! This record sounds like it was recorded in California in the mid 00s and that is not necessarily a bad thing. You’ll get the energy, the melodies and good spirit you need to put an end to 2021!
“2”, the second EP of Italian punk rockers ANIMOLS is about animals so it can’t be bad. It’s actually quite fun, some RAMONES influenced punk rock tunes sung in Italian with a garage production. 5 songs that will take you straight to Italy!
Last but not least, French veteran garage rockers SONIC ANGELS are back with 4 new songs. “Love Is The Law” takes us to an almost psychedelic garage land while “Up & Down” and “On The Radio” have more NYC early punk influences and “Farlopa” slows things down with some 60s garage vibes. You’ll dig it if you like it dirty! /Laurent C.
Veglam 