Apologies for lack of new material but due to it being christmas, we at KIF towers have been ‘holding fire’ with updates. Anyway, here’s a post to tide you over, happy new year!

With the new year just around the corner (I see you… *fires sniper rifle*) it’s time for my ‘ones to watch’ or ‘bands you should listen to, otherwise you’re a musically challenged individual and are not worthy of my time’ spiel. You may recognise some of the bands I mention (some I constantly champion on a regular basis, even screaming their name at people in the street) you may not. Let’s do this.

-

Rolo Tomassi

Sheffield’s Rolo Tomassi have to be one of the most consistent bands I’ve seen. Ruthless touring schedules, chaotic live performances, broken keyboards and boundless enthusiasm and energy, the 5 piece are practically unstoppable. Their debut self-titled EP was a favourite of mine and hopefully some more material will emerge in the form of their debut in the new year. From the new tracks I heard recently, it’s going to blow minds.

(Their self-titled EP can be purchased with an extra track from Holy Roar Records)

-

Dananananaykroyd

I still think this is the best band name ever. It makes me think of Batman. Scottish sextet Dananananaykroyd have been making quite a name for themselves on the underground circuit. Their discordant post-punk meets Black Flag guitar-thrash is catchy as hell and songs such as the explosive ‘Song 1 Puzzle’ and the jangly ‘Totally Bone!‘ burrow their way into your cranium like fleshborer worms (Warhammer reference, don’t worry!) Plus, they have 2 drummers; nice. Expect a mini album release in 2008 on Jealous records.

(‘Sissy Hits’ will be available via Jealous Records in January 2008. The single ‘Some Dresses’ is still available for purchase.)

-

BATS

Erratic guitars, stop-start riffs, odd shrieking and sporadic punk influences; Ireland’s BATS are a riotous act and no mistake. They’ve recently released their first Ep, entitled ‘Cruel Sea Scientist‘ on independent label Armed Ambitions and have toured with The Locust, Liars and Down I Go to name a few. If you like the sound of early ‘Trail of Dead playing faster with an Irish twang, then BATS should be in your record collection.

(‘Cruel Sea Scientist’ can be purchased from the band’s website)

-

Foxy Shazam

I was introduced to Foxy by a friend (thanks Steve!) and was blown away by their energy and passion. Normally this kind of ‘wacky sounding’ music makes me want to cut my ears off, but this is something special. They sound like a circus rock and roll band abusing a piano, whilst their singer croons/screams/chants himself hoarse over the cacophony of musical banter. Imagine a clean version of Turbonegro. They are set to start a tour of America through January and February, fingers crossed they come to our fair shores. Dance-tastic.

(‘Introducing Foxy’ is released in January 2008 on New Weatherman/Ferret Records)

-

Meet Me In St. Louis

Despite the problem of losing their singer (Toby left the band at the end of November), Meet Me In St. Louis are soldiering on and so they damn well should! (song in-joke.) Since the release of their ‘Variations on Swing’ debut, they’ve toured their faces off and are in the process of auditioning for a new vocalist as well as playing several gigs as an instrumental 4 piece. Look out for the jagged sounding, hyperactive rock machine at your local toilet circuit, even though they deserve greater and bigger rewards.

(‘Variations on Swing’ can be purchased from Big Scary Monsters records)

-

Beestung Lips

I discovered Beestung Lips after hearing the track ‘Men Not Worth Their Weight In Words‘ from a Rock Sound cover CD. This band ooze punk from their veins. It’s a furious rush of fast-paced hardcore rock that gives nods towards the low-fi scuzz scramblings of Jesse F. Keeler’s Femme Fatale as well as the sheer punk rock intensity of Hot Snakes and the abrasive noise of Jesus Lizard. With an EP out on Capsule Records and a trip over to the UK in March, this is one band you want to be stung by.

(The EP ‘Songs to and from the Iron Gut’ can be bought from Capsule Records here.)

-

By Ross Macdonald

I’ll keep this brief, as I’m known to prattle on a bit. It’s been an interesting year for music. Utterly amazing in places, steaming piles of festering cow shit in others. I think it’s like that every year though, swings and roundabouts, eh? Anyway, here are our highlights (a lot of them) and my low points (not so much) of 2007 in the musical world. Enjoy…

Top 5 Albums of 2007

5. Hopesfall -Magnetic North (Trustkill Records)

Their best work to date - Hopesfall pull out the stops with their anvil-heavy choruses and off-kilter space rock posturing. A powerful and surprising return.

4. *shels - Laurentian’s Atoll (shellsmusic)

Catastrophic noise-rock, melded with flashes of instrumental mind-twisting debauchery and throat-shredding screams from ex-Mahumodo vocalist Mendhi - incredible.

3. - Dillinger-escape-plan - Ire Works (Relapse)

Technical jazz metal, with glitchy electro breaks and haunting atmospherics, whilst vocalist Greg Puciato does his best to sound like a rabid dog. It will tear your face off. (Review)

2. Future of the Left - Curses! (Too Pure)

Dirty bass-filled punk rock meets intelligent and highly witty lyrical content. With Andy Falkous’s withering sarcasm strewn throughout, ‘Curses’ was a surprising delight for the die-hard Mclusky fan I have resting inside me. (Review)

1. Jetplane Landing - Backlash Cop (Smalltown America)

Fugazi-esque rock with elements of rap, electronica and punk, as well as references to 60’s black arts movement, Dizzy Gillespie and Les Savy Fav, the Irish 4 piece return in blistering form. (Review)

(Notable praise towards the following bands and the albums they released this year: Baroness, Pig Destroyer, Les Savy Fav, Cutting Pink With Knives, Yakuza, Gay For Johnny Depp.)
-
Top 6 Gigs of 2007 (yes so good there is a 6!)

6. The Blood Brothers- ULU (3rd July)

Fuzzy sound quality in places, but the energy the Seattle 5 piece had was incredible. Moreover, they played ‘The Shame’ - says it all really. Epic. Also, the fact that we met Johnny at the end added points before we were crashed by screaming girls… (Review)

5. Angelspit - electrowerkz (17th October)

Throwing shapes with glow sticks like my life depended on it with Australians cyber punks finest! Never have I enjoyed such a repetitive dance thump in the back of my mind! Extra points for pure theremin talent but again poor sound quality at some parts. (Review)

4. Polysics - The Spitz (12th June)

One of the hottest and most tiring gigs I have ever been to. Chaotic synth punk/j-pop from Japan’s Polysics meant I couldn’t stop grinning for weeks. A cover of ‘My Sharona’ was a true hit that practically melted the venue to a pulp due to the frantic dancing from everyone! (Review)

3. Down I Go - Every time I’ve seen them.

The UK’s only Dinocore/Disastercore/Robotcore and now Tyrantcore mob are an exciting, vicious and stupidly entertaining live act. Onstage banter, history lessons, dinosaur advice and songs about Turkmenbashi cannot be beaten. (Review)

2. The Bronx - Astoria (Kerrang! Tour 27th January)

The Bronx remain to this day, one of the loudest punk bands I have ever seen. Matt Caughthran is a born entertainer; even a supposed broken ankle didn’t stop him jumping in the pit during ‘They Will Kill Us All.’ Brutal.

1. Brand New - Hammersmith Apollo (13th February)

The most emotional gig I’ve ever been to. Brand New pulled at my heart strings for over 2 hours and the sight of everyone singing along around me made it the perfect gig experience. Gig of the year, no question.

(Notable live highlights include: Rolo Tomassi, Cutting Pink With Knives, An Emergency, Meet Me In St. Louis, Tim Ten Yen, Adebisi Shank, A Scholar and A Physician, nervous_testpilot, MC Lars, The Locust.)

-

Top 5 accounts that made us smile

5. The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster crawling from the ashes with a new ep

Just as you were thinking the only way you was going to get any kind of similar ‘b-line’ material was from The Horrors (am I actually saying this?) the 5 piece Psychosis Rock band unhinge their ghoulish tunes in a form of a breath taking EP ‘in the garden’. With 4 new studio tracks and a “Live In The Arena Of The Unwell” cd (including 9 of the 10 tracks not on a shop cd before) it shows that the Brighton band are not buried yet.

4. Rocket from the Crypt bringing a bundle of plastic joy!

Not only is the Californian deceased band (*sniff*) finally releasing a dvd/cd pack of all the tracks they played on their last gig, BUT they are releasing another all systems go!!!! How can these guys keep finding b-sides?!?! This way we can pretend that they are still going!

3. Truckfest Disco Shed

Dancing to ‘Young Folks’ by Peter, Bjorn and John, whilst trying not to drop my warm can of lager and trying to request motown/indie anthems was a particular highlight of my only festival experience this year. A classic night.

2. ArnoCorps returning to the UK

GOOOO!!!!!!!! Hardcore action-adventure rock-n-rollers, ArnoCorps (pronounced ‘Arnocore’) have promised to return to our delightful country for a summer tour in 2008! What are you waiting for? Get watching Predator/Running Man/Terminator etc., put on that camo-warpaint and prepare to be a goddamn hero!

1. Speedo returning!!!!!

This is in fact the ground breaking news for the world this year! After watching him perform in London’s last ever Hot Snakes performance it was a true milestone. Not only has his endless tracks from a number of bands been a real benchmark for our generation but live he sounded even better! Keep it fast were lucky enough to speak to him on two occasions, but when asked about the future of RFTC he didn’t want to say a lot. This doesn’t matter now as he is back with a new album in March and talk of a tour! rather then repeating ourselves why not click on these links (here and here) for further details!

-

Low point news - Not going to describe these as the title says it all:

The Locust team have their van broken into, with all their gear, passwords, computers etc taken .

Fopp suddenly shuts downs all over Britain.

Some Girls are laid to rest.

Blood Brothers call it a day after 10 years.

Meet Me In St. Louis part ways with vocalist Toby.

Fickle Public split after only 1 album.

-

Stay tuned for my tips for 2008: some surprises guaranteed!

-

By Ross Macdonald and Jason Kahl

Yes folks, get ready to slap a healthy wad of bacon fat in your hair and style that quiff, get that black shirt/white tie combo, with the white braces out of the cupboard and perfect your best ‘WOOP!’ because Rocket From The Crypt have apparently set a date to release the posthumous CD/DVD package of their last ever show, recorded on Halloween back in 2005. According to Pitchfork Media, on February 26, the San Diego sextet will release ‘R.I.P.‘ through Swami Records and Vagrant, which they were part of for the Group Sounds and Live From Camp X-Ray albums. The extensive set list features 26 Rocket classics that spanned their 10 album career (yes,’On A Rope’ is featured!)

-
Also, more news on the new ‘formally-known-as-Speedo’-project: an album release date is expected on the 25th March, followed by tours and maybe a trip to Europe! Woo! Yeah!

I leave you with some more RFTC related video-goodness in the form of the trailer released by those wonderful people at Vagrant Records:

-

Video

Get the Flash Player to see the wordTube Media Player.

-

Source: Pitchfork Media and Punk News

Oh no! A band that has a ska/skacore elements to their music! Flee! Run! Save yourselves before you start actually having a good time(!) God forbid you should be distracted from being the miserable, cyncial indie tossbag that you strive to be 99% of the time! (This anti-anti-ska rant was brought to you by the number 14 and the letter ‘S’)

The Suicide Machines were a punk rock band that existed for an impressive 15 years, from 1991 to 2006 where they officially broke up, mid-tour whilst promoting their 6th album, ‘War Profiteering is Killing Us All.‘ Ironic much? Well, perhaps not. In fact, war profiteering had jack all to do with the band’s implosion. Disputes between band members wanting to take time out led to the group deciding not to carry on (mid tour) and The Suicide Machines were no more.

If you’re still reading this, you’ll probably want to know some more information on the band’s sound. They were known for their fast, aggressive punk rock sound, skacore leanings and controverial political messages (particularly on their last 2 albums.) Some would perhaps state that the band didn’t really bring anything new to the genre and I’d be inclined to agree; however what they did bring to the table was well accomplished, fast-paced, insistent punk rock that was deeply rooted in the skate as well as the political rock scene.

Like many bands, they evolved over the course of their 6 albums, going from a predomniant skate-punk/skacore-thrash on ‘Destruction By Definition‘ and ‘Battle Hymns‘ (which showed an even more aggressive side to the band; one which would appear later on their last album.)

Their 3rd album, a self-titled effort; was aimed towards the pop-punk loving market and contained an impressive cover of ‘I Never Promised You A Rose Garden.’ ‘Steal This Record‘ followed this, showcasing the band’s heavier side, mixed with the pop-sensibilities of the self-titled effort. It also featured the band covering the R.E.M. track ‘It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)’ -

(Keep It Fast fact: last time I DJed, I played this song at the start of my set and the soundman commended me on such an excellent choice of song, saying the production was wonderful and wanted to know who the cover was by. I felt proud.)

Their fifth album ‘A Match and Some Gasoline‘ saw a return to the skate punk/hardcore sound (and a somewhat love for the hated font that is, Comic Sans MS) and the beginning of their anti-Bush regime beliefs - ‘Your Silence‘ in particular, made a statement about how not voting, means you never have a voice and no real say - in effect, you as a person are dead to the political system and to your country and that saying ‘politics doesn’t concern me’ you are already sentencing yourself to death.

Their last album, ‘War Profiteering is Killing Us All’ is perhaps their most antagonistic record and strongly opposed to the Bush administration.

Where are they now?

Vocalist Jason Navarro and drummer Ryan Vandeberghe are both part of Left In Ruin.

Guitarist Dan Lukacinsky currently plays in Japanese band, The One Thought Moment (who don’t sound a million miles away from The Suicide Machines!) and also, Bayonetting The Wounded.

-

Sounds

Click on the player below to hear ‘New Girl‘ one of their most well known songs, taken from the ‘Destruction By Definition‘ album. (Fans of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater will remember this!)

Get the Flash Player to see the wordTube Media Player.

-

Links

The Suicide Machines
Sideone Dummy Profile

-

By Ross Macdonald

As I belly flop onto my settee like it was my early coffin from all the drink I have consumed over the weekend in Leeds, I slowly reach to my controller to flick the tv on and be confronted with the coca cola advert with the red trucks… This could only mean one thing.. I have either died happy and gone into a land of tv adverts I liked as a kid, or it is that time of year again.. CHRISTMAS!!

Along with the mass amount of booze and salty lardy grub we stuff down our throats, we also get a nice chance to watch some master pieces such as Jurassic Park and Jingle all the way! Then there are all the tunes.. So many revamps of old classics covered by such shite as boyzone, it makes you want to throw up your turkey. But there is hope! No no not Cliff Richard, the Essex duo, Kunt and the Gang.

Kunt is now holding the electronic pop touch such as other Essex legends Depeche Mode and Yazoo have done in the past.

Since the band released their debut album ‘I Have A Little Wank And I Have A Little Cry’ in 2005 on indie label Disco Minge Records, they have been on the road ever since showing that no place is too big or small. From pubs to clubs and even supporting scum such as babyshambles, they really will do anything.

The band are well known for their risque lyrical content, dealing with many taboo subjects including masturbation and their fantasy to engage in sexual intercourse with Carol Vorderman, co-host of Channel 4’s Countdown programme.

But in front of all of that they have just released a Christmas cd!

It is a 4 track festive treat that Santa will be emptying his Christmas sack over!

The track names are as follows:
All I want for Christmas is you (to bring me off)
Santa’s sack
This Christmas
Come on Cliff, admit you’re queer

By going onto the official website you can buy the cd, with a personal signing for �2!! How grand is that? Well to temped you even more you can have a listen to the first track All I want for Christmas is you (to bring me off). Enjoy!

Get the Flash Player to see the wordTube Media Player.

We have also interviewed Kunt and the Gang which you can read by clicking here!

Band - Adebisi Shank
Album/EP - This is An EP By A Band Called Adebisi Shank
Label - Pop U Lar Records
Release date - now
Sounds like - Instrumental bliss

-

This is a review of the EP of a band called Adebisi Shank.

-

I nearly left this review as that single sentence above, (after this review, you’ll probably wish I had) but I thought against it, as:

a) Not many people would get the joke.
b) It’s not really a review is it? It’s just me being pretentious.
c) I’d already made said joke in a live review of the band’s set a few days ago.

-

Trying to describe a band like Adebisi Shank is a bit like trying to teach a cat how to play snooker. Pretty impossible; but with the right perseverance you’ll probably reach the ‘holding the cue stage’ until you finally crack and end up trying to stuff the unfortunate creature into one of the pockets.

There are so many things I want to say about this EP, but the real trouble is actually getting the words out. My fear is that this review will turn into a half-arsed meandering ramble about the 4 tracks on offer and really not do the band, or their music, justice.

First impressions are as follows. It reminds me of Oxes - this is a very good thing. Ok, so both bands are devoid of vocals, but it’s not that which makes them similar. It’s the outrageously nonsensical range of bizarre sounds and huge riffage that brings to mind comparisons to the Baltimore trio. Also, Battles seem to be an obvious influence, particularly on ‘You Shouldn’t Be In White‘ which sounds like it should be sound tracking some horrific inter-stellar spaceship battle scene. Yes, we have reached critical mass with the amount of effects pedals this band use, hurrah!

‘Horse‘ opens proceedings with a cacophony of guttural and slightly meandering bass that seems to explode in all different directions like a bearing in a pinball machine. The guitar work at the 1.39 mark is truly remarkable, interspersing wild glitch-filled squeals and erratic twists and quirks. It all climaxes in the last 35 seconds in an incredible rush of speaker-shredding riffs and monstrous noise-rock fury.

The steady drum into of ‘Jump Cut’ relaxes the listener after the pounding delivered by the heavy-weight ‘Horse.’ This second track sees Adebisi Shank mellow their sound, taking it into a more dream-like status, but still retaining their underlying sharpness and their ability to generally ‘fuck up’ what you feel music should sound like.

As previously stated, ‘You Shouldn’t Be In White‘ has “spaceship disaster movie” tag written all over it and very little else needs to be said on the matter, apart from the fact it’s one intense, mind-bending 4 minutes of swirling aural ecstasy; sounds merge into one before being fired out the other end like fragmentation grenade.

The last track, ‘Caddyshank‘ is perhaps the heaviest of these 4 songs, bludgeoning the listeners’ ears with its opening salvo of noise-fuelled vigor. It then continues to sound like nothing else I’ve heard before, as the over-indulgence on effects pedals leaves my mind a withered husk, before striking with and incredible post-rock-esque build up, that gradually falls and then fading out in a squeal of reverb and electronics. The end.

The EP can be purchased via paypal from the band’s myspace. It is also available for streaming purposes from their last.fm page.

-

Sounds

To watch a video of the song, ‘Caddyshank‘ click on the player below.

Get the Flash Player to see the wordTube Media Player.

-

Links

Adebisi Shank
Pop U Lar Records

-

Words: Ross Macdonald
Photo: Alex Sinclair
Video: youtube user ‘urjeurje’

There are so many horrid stories out there where top quality underground bands try so hard to make it big and end up:

1) Working in Farmfoods
2) Taking their creative side to a new low by inventing things that involve bread in their dad’s shed
3) Becoming a Fred Durst tribute act.

All of these things are truly shocking- well, disgusting really! What is worse is bands such as My Chemical Romance get snapped up when others such as New York hardcore Rockers Gay for Johnny Depp can’t get a American record deal!

Anyway, enough of me blabbering on as there is hope for everybody out there trying to make it big! This comes in the form of band for the day.

Sound interesting? Well Keep It Fast interviewed the BFTD team to find out how it all works and most important, how bands can get money and a record deal:

1) How would you describe ‘Band for the Day’ to the ever rushing musicians in todays world?

BFTD is a new way for unsigned musicians to get their music to the public. In a sentence, BFTD is a totally free site that lets you make money from your music, get noticed and win some great prizes, including a Recording Contract. BFTD is all about voting - bands gets votes by people texting in a vote, buying their track with their mobile or pc and by the number of times their track is listened to. Every 24 hours the band with the most votes becomes Band For the Day, the stats are reset and the process begins again.

BFTD was set up by two full time musicians who realised that the internet was meant to give bands the chance to be heard by everyone, what has actually happened is that every band is fighting against each other, trying to stand out in some way against the white noise that the internet has become. BFTD is a very focused site. It places all bands on a level footing and lets the bands that want to succeed stand out.

2) What was your current status when you first came up with the idea?

We hit upon the idea about a year ago. We are both Jazz Musicians so it started off as an idea to put something together for Jazz Music in Scotland. The more we talked about the idea the more we realised we wanted to do something bigger than that. We spent a long time getting everything right, making sure the company was formed correctly, ensuring we had the proper contracts drawn up, doing lots of market research and testing, trademarking the name and making sure we had a unique and thoroughly thought through project before we got where we are today.

3) What bands have appeared since you started the website? Any that make you glad that your site is up?

The growth of the site has overwhelmed us. We weren’t sure how quickly people would catch on to the idea of the site but it would appear that there are a lot of sharp-thinking bands out there that know a good opportunity when they see it. I’ve been really impressed with the quality of the bands that have signed up so far. I really like Sona Cocoon, The Utopians and Darklight but I’d have to say the standout band so far is Jakil. Amazingly they’ve already entered the Hall Of Fame, which is where bands go when they’ve won BFTD 3 times, and it look like they are well on their way to entering it again. They’ve really embraced the idea and have driven people to their page and got people to text in votes for them. They’ve done really well and deserve all the success they have had so far, which is exactly what the site is all about.

4) If such a person as David Hasselhoff went on your site as new name of say “Mekkah Golden Hoff’s Deluxe” would he still apply to be ‘Band for the Day’?

I would welcome David on board, though as he is a signed artist the site isn’t really for him. It is a shame that such classics as “Do the Limbo Dance’ will have to remain off the site for the time being.

————–

Sounds like you cannot lose, so check them out by clicking here. Enjoy but please remember the Hoff sadly will not be there…

Band - Gay For Johnny Depp
Album - The Politics Of Cruelty
Label - Captains of Industry
Release date - November 2007
Sounds like - 4 guys obsessed with some actor who likes to dress as a pirate.

-

Apparently, no American label will put out Gay For Johnny Depp’s debut, ‘The Politics of Cruelty.’ Even though they like the band’s music, their very name has put the money-grabbing macho-bastards on hold in investing in the band - what a load of complete cockbags. Oh well, their loss really; thank god Captains of Industry don’t give two fucks about the groups camp-sounding moniker.

After hearing their second ep, ‘Blood: The Natural Lubricant‘ I thought “ok, maybe GFJD will have mellowed a bit, you know, changed direction, maybe made way for a bit more experimentation (hopefully not prog)” Well, I was about as wrong as a big sign that says ‘WRONG’ in bright red flashling 3D letters, which launches explosive barrels of fire that spell out ‘INCORRECT SUCKA!‘ for the whole world to see.

The wondefully titled ‘Cumpassion‘ opens proceedings and already you can feel the razor-like slice of Marty Leppard’s voice, as he cuts deep wounds in your ear canal with his almost sandpaper-meets-broken glass rasp. “Oh compassion, it’s just my passion all over your face” he hollers. Hmm….nice. Guitarist Sid Jagger manages to distort his instrument beyond the recommended safe-listening barrier, creating a slavo of screeching riffs to accompany Fabrizio Coxboi’s rumbling bass and JJ Samanen’s incongruous drumming.

‘You Have A Theory, I Have A Gun‘ is a blantant anti-war song, indicating the futility of the war effort and the pointless waste of human life. It’s all summed up in the 5th line, with vocalist Leppard screeching “when you go, you’ll never come back, never come back…”

‘Lights Out‘ follows this with it’s jagged rock meets bizarre pop stance, as Leppard tries (and fails) to refrain from sounding like he’s rubbed a cheese grater on his voice box. This brings me to a point about the vocals, which are really unsettling. It sounds a bit like the girl from the exorcist chewing on a mouthful of wasps, whilst now-defunct noise terrors, Chariots play at twice their normal speed through a battered microphone.

I won’t go through it all, but as you can expect the rest of this ‘blink-and-you’ll-miss-it’ album features more of the same. The instrumentation is a relentless, caustic attack on the mind; it actually blurs boundaries between the genres of punk rock and noise rock in such a savage way. The lyrics, as you can guess reference that man who played the wimpy Ichabod Crane, as well as heaps of sexual inneundo and implications of fornication with the actor. ‘Very Little Happens Between 3 and 4 In The Morning’ is a good example of the band’s brilliant homoerotic lyrical content (and one in which they ‘out’ a certain member of KISS!)

By the time the warped and slightly perplexing closing track, ‘I hate our Freedom (Fuck You, Gladys, I’m on Vacation)‘ finishes you’re left feeling completed drained, sweaty, horribly violated and wondering what the hell has just happened.

Overall thoughts? It’s not as immediate as the ‘Blood: The Natural Lubricant‘ EP and some of the tracks lack the addictive quality of their older songs, but this is probably down to plain old unfamiliarity with new material that will soon wear off with repeated listens (although I’m still unsure about the ‘filler tracks’ which seem slightly pointless.) To avoid any pointless fence sitting, I’ll say this: I like ‘The Politics of Cruelty‘, it’s a great album, full of intense, abrasive, psychotic songs that well and truly mess with your mind and make you doubt your own sanity. Recommended to fans of The Locust, The Blood Brothers and Tim Burton films. I’m off now to listen to something a bit more manly - got any Queen?

-

Sounds

To listen to ‘Lights Out!’ by Gay For Johnny Depp, click on the player below.

Get the Flash Player to see the wordTube Media Player.

-

Links

Gay For Johnny Depp
Gay for Myspace
Label

Band - Down I Go
Support - BATS, Adebishi Shank, Thrown To The Wolves
Venue - Cross Kings Pub, Jester Bar
Damage - �4!
Drinks - London Pride (it’s yeasty!)

-

I actually couldn’t think of a good pun for the title, except for ‘Going Down in London‘ but I felt that was to risqué. So you’ll have to stick with the long-winded one above, got that? Good. Let’s get down to business.

The Jester Bar in Cross Kings is tiny. It’s slightly smaller than the ground floor of my house, but much narrower and those suffering from claustrophobia shouldn’t stay down there for more than a minute. It’s small, cramped, dingy and akin to being trapped inside a very garishly painted coffin and it’s about 10 degrees to warm. Saying that, not only was it completely devoid of a stage (brings back memories of Hitchin’s Club 85) it was quite a quaint and cosy venue, even if it did resemble Homer Simpsons‘ basement.

First band, Thrown To The Wolves are an interesting prospect; featuring two vocalists, (one who sounded like an angry Andrea Zollo and the other screaming as though he’d consumed Dani Filth’s voice box) doom-laden riffs and a giant of a bass player, they ploughed through an impressive set of Baroness-esque heavy rock, coupled with jagged guitar noise and guttural roars. Terrifying and strangely warming at the same time; parts of their set were akin to having your head split open by a bass drum. The only disappointment was the lack of merchandise - note to Thrown To The Wolves; get in a recording studio and get these songs on tape; promising stuff.

-

This is a review of the set performed by a band called Adebishi Shank.*

-

Deviating somewhat from the barbed metallic attack and instrumental meanderings, Irish 5 piece BATS decide to the put fear of god in everyone with their hyperactive and unhinged post-punk noise, which you can’t help but smile at. A furious triple-layered guitar attack from a really promising act; with the set highlight being the handclap/chant of “BATS spelled backwards is STAB‘ (audience participation is a must) before launching into another murderous blast of noise punk.- fucking brilliant, please come back soon guys.

-

At half 10, Down I Go saunter on to the stage (or rather the area where the instruments are kept) and begin their last set of 2007 (the band are taking time off from touring to record their 3rd album, “This is Tyrantcore.‘)

“Apparently someone from a magazine is here to review us” says vocalist Pete, “So we better play well!” However, a cry from the back of the room indicating said person has “left” resorts to much laughter and amusement from both the band and assembled crowd. After a quick run through of how the set is to be divided (Dinosaurs, Disasters, Robots and Tyrants) they rip straight into “Fight By The Volcano‘ like a Velociraptor stripping flesh from Robert Muldoon’s mutilated body (look up Jurassic Park on Wikipedia for this reference.) It doesn’t let up from here; after 3 more dinocore treats, including a brutal version of “The Hunt‘ (head banging should be made compulsory) we reach the disasters.

Notable highlights include the schizophrenic “A Wasp In A Jar‘ (Great Plague), “Time To Sell‘ (Stock Market Crash) and the wonderful “Sticky Nightmare‘ (the sight of a room full of people screaming “It’s a sticky nightmare!‘ as loud as they can is quite a spiritual and hilarious experience.) “Stay At Home And Die‘ rattles eardrums to the point of bursting, drowning the crowd in waves of thick guitar sound and crunching bass.

The set closer; “Turkmenbashi‘ has now become a staple ending to their live shows and you really couldn’t ask for a better track. As the song winds down; everyone is encouraged to sing as loud as they can 5 simple words: “Turkmenbashi, father of the Turkmen!‘ They respond in thunderous volume, drowning out the band completely. Never have I felt so united amongst such a group of strangers (save the 3 friends I was with); tremendous.

This is possibly the best small gig I’ve been to this year - I very much doubt I will find 4 similar bands, all playing the same night, for �4.

-

I remember reading a particularly interesting post on a message board once that said “British rock music was dead.‘ I would quite like to have taken that person in a headlock and thrown him into the crowd and then defy him to repeat said statement. British/Irish/Scottish/whatever rock isn’t dead; you just need to get off your arse and discover it and not sit around watching the same old mind-numbing toss that’s on MTV2 all day, complaining that music is going to the dogs; it’s not. Rant over, go listen to all these bands now, this is an order.

-

*(Can you see what I did there? Anyway, Adebisi Shank utterly blew me away. An instrumental 3 piece that had more effects pedals than all the bands Justin Pearson has been in. Whilst their drummer demolished his kit in the best way possible; i.e. hitting it repeatedly, the masked bassist and live-wire guitarist proceeded to play some of the most mesmerizing and intricate rock music I’ve ever heard. It fell somewhere between a more vicious sounding Battles and an even more disturbed version of Baltimore’s rowdy rebels, Oxes. Erratic time changes, coupled with the strangled squeals from the guitarists pedals, the trio pulled off one of the best performances of the entire evening - utter chaos. Fast, incensed and incredibly danceable Adebisi Shank are a fantastic live band, essential listening.)

-

Links

Down I Go
BATS
Adebisi Shank
Thrown To The Wolves
Undergroove Records

-

By Ross Macdonald