In an alternate dimension the god of ‘genres we used to like when we 16 but now deny all knowledge of now because it would dent our indie street-cred to the very core’ sits on a throne made of denunciation and regret. On his right hand sits the baseball cap wearing, cut-off sleeved, swear-o-thon that is nu-metal. On his left hand sits the Hawaiian shirt wearing, trombone-parping frivolity that is ska punk.  Yes, we have now reached the flip-side of ‘forgotten bands and genres’, with yet another feature, running through six of my personal favourite ska punk bands. There are quite a few names I wanted to include; Big D and the Kids Table, Reel Big Fish and The Pietasters to name a few, but really the focus will be on the six that really did influence my music taste and had a significant impact in developing my love for all things brass-filled.

-

Band: Capdown
Time active: 1997-2007
Sound: politically-charged, fast-paced skacore. The band experimented with elements of dub, hip hop and hardcore in their sound, making them truly standout from the legions of other chequered-loving acts that surrounded them. Vocalist Jake Sims-Fielding saxophone playing was a particular highlight, as where his sandpaper larynx and unusual, slurred singing voice.
High points: their live shows were always a riot and they packed out toilet venue after toilet venue and lived on the road during their 10 years together. Debut album ‘Civil Disobedients’ is considered by many underground music fans as a benchmark in UK punk rock. Touring with many high-profile punk bands such as Less Than Jake, Pennywise and Lagwagon. Being part of the Deconstruction tour, an incredible live set at Reading Festival in 2001, and tours with Bad Religion and Hundred Reasons.
Low points: The six year gap between their second album ‘Pound For The Sound’ and the radically different sounding ‘Wind Up Toys’ was a killer. With a couple of superb singles and 1 live album released between then, their fanbase drifted and soon lost interest in what was once one of the UK’s most prolific bands.
Fast fact: The first gig I ever went to was Capdown at the lovely establishment known as Hitchin’s Club 85. It cost £4- great night that. Also, their name stands for Capitalist Downfall.
Recommended listening: both ‘Civil Disobedients’ and ‘Pound For The Sound’ are strong albums, with the former having a more scrappier, punk rock edge as opposed to the slight hardcore leanings of the latter. Plus, ‘CD’ has ‘Ska Wars’ the band’s notable anthem.
Where are they now?: split up in November 2007, 9 months after the release of ‘Wind Up Toys’. Bassist Boob and drummer Tim are both apparently working with Simon Wells from Snuff/Southport in a new band called The Maccalites. The whereabouts in the musical world of guitarist Keith, sax/vocalist Jake and keyboardist Eddie are unknown.

-

Band: Lightyear
Time active: 1997-2003 (the band split up and reformed between 2006-2007 to play benefit shows.)
Sound: insane ska punk chaos from 7 men who would frequently get naked, use big cardboard pirate ships as stage props and generally twat about having more fun than any other band in the world ever. They retained a heavy, brash punk rock sound that was stuffed to bursting with parping brass and the quick-fire vocal delivery from vocalist Chas and trumpet player Neil.
High points: Their live shows, which were utter bedlam, plus like many bands of this ilk, touring their arses off. Shows with Capdown, Mad Caddies, Save Ferris and Nerf Herder, Suicide Machines and a place on the Concrete Jungle tent at the Carling Festival in 2002. They were also kicked off Steve-Os MTV Jackass tour for being too rowdy.
Low points: From a fan’s point of view; splitting up. From their point of view – very little. The toll of playing 300+ shows in 2 years must have drained and pushed the band to the point of exhaustion in their heyday.
Fast fact: I’ve seen Lightyear perform live on 8 separate occasions, which is more than any other band. Also, vocalist Chas signed a bit of paper to me saying ‘Clits, my dogs.’ What a guy.
Recommended listening: Their debut ‘Call of the Weasel Clan’ is a great place to start and is probably one of the most consistent albums I own in terms of quality.
Where are they now?: defunct, but probably ready to reform one last time, should the great weasel signal be displayed in the sky…

Visual: Click on the player below to see Lightyear dressed as Bully, MR T, Marty Mcfly and Egon!

-

Band: Less Than Jake
Time active: 1992-present
Sound: despite several band members being hardcore metalheads, Less Than Jake’s sound is characterized by its third-wave ska punk tomfoolery and cheeky pop-punk bounce. Throughout their 17 years as a band, their sound has evolved into brass-tinged punk rock sheen from scrappy beginnings. Most of their songs stem from real life experiences and are about real people/areas in and around Gainesville where the band are located.
High points: Being one of the biggest and well-known ska punk bands in the world, Less Than Jake have built up a solid reputation in the mowhawk circles, thanks to their live performances, prolific song writing, solid back catalogue and commitment to their fans, not to mention the release of their 1998 album, ‘Hello Rockview.’
Low points: ‘In With The Out Crowd’, an album which saw them depart from their ska punk sound that flooded so freely through their past releases. However, their return in 2008 with ‘GNV FLA’ saw them combining this new pop-punk edge, with their brass backing to greater effect.
Fast fact: The band name stems from the dog of their drummer, Vinnie Fiorello. In Vinnie’s house, the dog was treated better than everyone else and the name was born.
Recommended listening: ‘Hello Rockview’ (not because it has ‘All My Best Friends….) but due to the fact it’s simply their best work, flows nicely, terrific selection of songs and the brass element has never sounded stronger. ‘Borders and Boundaries’ is also a great starting album, as is 1996’s ‘Losing Streak‘ for a more rough ska-punk edge.
Where are they now?: still going strong and are set to appear on the Vans Warped Tour this year.

-

Band: Adequate Seven
Time active: 2000-2006
Sound: More funk-punk orientated than the ska leanings that other acts in this article display; but the A7 were familiar touring buddies of Lightyear and Capdown so they deserve a place. Riot-provoking hardcore funk, with a driving horn section, dancing trombone player and a superb collection of catchy, uplifting songs.
High points: signing to Household Name Records, releasing ‘Songs of Innocence and of Experience‘ in 2003.  Their touring schedule rivaled Capdown’s for shear weight of artists involved, including Hundred Reasons, Fishbone, Lightyear, Cypress Hill, The Slackers and European tour with the Suicide Machines (see SM feature here) They went on to release their second album through their own label, before recording a live album and then splitting up in 2006.
Low points: splitting up really! They seemed to be at the top of their game, but I’m guessing the stress and pressure of touring finally called an end to proceedings, which is a real shame.
Fast fact: Their debut album title is taken from a William Blake poetry book.
Where are they now?: Defunct. Although I’m reliably informed that some members are working on new bands (vocalist Jamie is in a metal band now!) and bassist Will Davies is now in Attack! Attack! who are signed to Rock Ridge music and will be featuring on the next Guitar Hero. Nice work!

-

Band: Jesse James
Time active: 2000-2007
Sound: brass, brass and more brass. It was like someone had stuck the horn section from a marching band in a punk rock outfit and told them to get on with it. The horns were more in league with those of Rocket From The Crypt than the noisy frivolity of Reel Big Fish. Their live shows were never quiet, and relied on a barrage of sound and blasting energy, backed up by the quality of their songs and the passionate nature in which they were delivered.
High points: recording their second record ‘Mission‘ with Ryan Greene, (NOFX producer), being signed to Deck Cheese and Golf Records, both popular ska punk labels at the time,  ‘Shoes‘ being a massive and I mean massive underground hit and a stint in the punk tent at the Carling Festival in 2002.
Low points: losing members every so often and the pressures of touring.
Fast fact: their infamous ‘Dear Jesus’ video being banned by UK tv and they were the first band I ever reviewed for my University newspaper!
Recommended listening: Both the ‘Shoes’ and ‘Hotwired‘ Eps are a good starting point, but the debut ‘Punk Soul Brothers’ is worth a listen as is ‘Mission’.
Where are they now?: saxophone player Pete and guitarist Ben are now both part of tyrantcore 4 piece Down I Go.

-

Band: Leftover Crack
Time active: 1999-present
Sound: Like Dani Filth fronting a skacore band who can barely play their instruments. The Crack have a no-nonense, anti-everything style of raucous, mangled punk, with a vocalist who possibly eats broken glass for a living. As well as being fiercely anarchistic, angry and anti-government, Leftover Crack are actually one of the first bands to fuse ska with death metal. You’re probably shaking your head at this, but really, it’s not that bad honest. Plus, they sounded pretty good most of the time.
High points: Having a strong following in the underground community and generally being a band that inspires hope, if a somewhat misguided yet angry hope within people.
Low points: Death of drummer Brandon Possible in 2004, plus numerous bannings from various venues around New York, Canada and vocalist Stza’s continuing trouble with the PoPo.
Fast facts: Their name is an oxymoron and their second album was delightfully entitled ‘Fuck World Trade.’ Stza’s previous band, Choking Victim released an album called ‘No Gods, No Managers’ and featured no barcode.
Recommended listening: ‘Medicore Generica’ is 33 minutes of fucked-up skacore that has more crust than a steak and ale pie from a local truck stop.
Where are they now?: Still together (despite more line up changes than Zao) and set to tour America in June.

Sound: Click on the player below to listen to ‘Gay Rude Boys Unite‘ from ‘Medicore Generica.’

-

Links

Capdown
Lightyear
Less Than Jake
Adequate Seven
Jesse James
Leftover Crack

-

By Ross Macdonald

It appears that Million Dead’s debut album ‘A Song To Ruin’ is a bit like frog hair and hen’s teeth, (Amazon marketplace want £14 for it used and what I assume is the Japanese release is going for £52!) so the good people at Xtra Mile Records are re-releasing the 2003 pot-hardcore noise-a-thon, complete with bonus tracks and a dvd featuring their last ever London show in September 2005, the last show with Cameron Dean (ex-guitarist) and all the promo single videos. Not bad that. The asking price of £20 on Xtra Mile’s website is a bit steep, but I think there’s been a mistake as ’£19.99’ has been crossed out and replaced with ‘£19.99’ again, so could be a typo of sorts.

In any case, those that are familiar with Frank Turner’s work, but never really heard the stuff he did before ‘Sleep is for the Week’ or ‘Love, Ire and Song’ should seriously consider getting ‘A Song To Ruin’; plus the inclusion of single-only release ‘I Gave My Eyes To Stevie Wonder’ (which is one of their best songs) and ‘Medicine’ is a nice touch.

Frank Turner is set to release a new album in September entitled ‘Poetry of the Deed’ (pun-tastic!) in September via Xtra Mile and Epitaph. (Cheers to Punknews for this and the above info!)

If anything, this news has made me put ‘A Song To Ruin’ on again and it still fucking rocks, especially the bit at the 2:30 mark on ‘The Rise and Fall’ where the drummer starts screaming. EPIC.

-

Video

‘I Am The Party’ (featuring some nice MTV2 tags at the top) by Million Dead.

-

Links

Million Dead Myspace
Fansite
Frank Turner
Xtra Mile

-

By Ross Macdonald

As Alec Empires infamous ‘the past, the present, the future’ tour creeps closer into our ‘awesome, radical’ gig calendar, keep it fast would love to give the grand news that the forthcoming record ‘Shivers‘ will be released on May 8th.

The track titles for this 7 track mini album (estimated playing time over 30min Alec has added) are:

Control Drug

Shivers

Baby Skull

Vampire State

t.o.t.

If You Live Or Die (2009 version feat. Robbie Furze/Big Pink on guitars)

1000 Eyes (The Golden Foretaste of Heaven Film version 2009)

Note: iTunes will have a full concert as a bonus available. (more infos soon)

The first dark, controlled, electronic riot track ‘Control Drug’ can be played from the player below:

.

You can also watch a 5 minute taster how the track ‘Shivers‘ will sound from the player below:

.
Last but not least if you are one of those Nic Endo fans who is still bidding on that poster of her and haven’t even looked up when Alec and Nic are playing, the dates are below:

30.04.2009 Vorselaar (B) - Edma
01.05.2009 London (GB) - The Underworld
02.05.2009 Manchester (GB) - Satan..s Hollow
03.05.2009 Glasgow (GB) - Ivory Blacks
05.05.2009 Norwich (GB) - The Waterfront
06.05.2009 Amsterdam (NL) - Paradiso
07.05.2009 Hengelo (NL) - Metropool
08.05.2009 Reutlingen - franz.K
09.05.2009 Jena - Kassablanca
23.10.2009 Berlin - K17
24.10.2009 Cottbus - Gladhouse
28.10.2009 Linz (A) - Stadtwerkstatt
29.10.2009 Wien (A) - Szene
30.10.2009 Ingolstadt - Paradox
31.10.2009 Leipzig - Lagerhof

More dates to come soon!

If you can I would go for the London gig as that evening will be 10 years to that day since the Atari Teenage Riot was in a huge Berlin Riot!

Not really ‘hot off the press’ as every other blog in the web-universe has covered it already, but we might as well run with it. Yes, the purveyors of songs about jerking off, being unsuccessful with girls and shagging dogs are back. Blink 182 confirmed this on the 8th of February at the 51st Grammy Awards, an event which saw all three members appear on stage for the first time in 4 years. According to their website, the band is currently working on a new album and planning a world tour.

Cash in? No not really. Tom Delonge has been flogging that Angels And Airwaves toss to death and making a packet out of that and Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker have done well with their +44 project, so it does seem that old differences have been put aside for them to carry on and good luck to them. It does beg the question: what the hell are they going to write about? I don’t think I could stand another Green Day-style ‘we’ve gone all boring and political’ collection of half-arsed attempts at songs. This perhaps means they’ll revert to their frat boy hijinks, which certainly had their charm, but Hoppus is about 36 now and Delonge must have eclipsed his toilet-humour days when he went all ‘U2-space-rock’ on us. If they were to write stuff similar to their last album, the self-titled one with the crap cover art, then I’d buy it. Mind you, if they wacked out (pun intended) ‘Enema of the State Mk2‘ I’d buy that as well.

…

Actually, listening back, they’re still funny and write damn good songs.

-

Video

Here’s some live footage of the Blink boys playing one of their best songs that isn’t an overplayed single (note: I couldn’t find a decent version of ‘Wendy Clear‘, which is the best Blink 182 song ever.)

-

Links

Blink 182 Official
Blink Myspace
+44
Angels and Airwaves

Just before you down that pint of sherry and accidentally open your Mothers ’special’ present that burns the back of your retinas out we want to congratulate Kunt and the Gang!

Since our Christmas introduction post to the cheeky chaps last year, they have been the most popular post by far!

We spoke to Kunt and this is what he would like to say to all his fans:

“I would like to thanks all the fans that have kept me at the top spot this year, especially any of them who are fit birds and i would like to give them a special personal thank you by offloading some love on to their knockers should i ever meet them in person.“

To celebrate we have a completely non festive but funny as fuck song / video enjoy!

–

–

Why not shove these up your stocking!

Original introduction post
Interview with the duo
Their Kunt-space!

That’s right, its time to find those tattered criminal damage baggy trousers and over sized “fruit of the loom” Slipknot hoodies while I reminisce with a small tear in my eye about the bands that manly of us thought were unstoppable… Of course most of them are shit now.. Below is a brief look at some of those memorable bands:

Band: Static X
Time Active: 1994 – Present (however did not release their first album until 1999)
Sound: Heavy pounding repetitive riffs that thump at all pacemakers within a 12 mile radius. A vocalist that spits out so many words at a high speed that I wonder if he has mastered the art of ‘inward singing‘
High Points: ‘Wisconsin Death Trip’ sold over one million copies in the United States alone, and was certified platinum in 2001. This brought a huge instant injection of fans, including myself (like many I’m sure) having the logo as a tattoo on my 18th birthday!
Low Points: Losing their more industrial edge with their yawnathon 4th album ‘Start a War’. Then before the album was released  to the public, guitarist Tripp was fired due to two sex scandals which added publicity for all the wrong reasons.
Fast Fact: Vocalist Wayne Static is known for his vertical hairstyle in which his hair is held up in a vertical position with hair spray, a process that takes about 20 minutes to complete.
Where are they now?: Still going strong in America with thumbs up all round on their 2007 release ‘Cannibal’, the return of original guitarist Koichi Fukuda and now recording their 6th studio album!

Band: Coal Chamber
Time Active: 1994 - 2003
Sound: Early work was every teenagers rebellious dream. Chunky goth-edged tracks often blended with nightmarish Korn-themed guitar twiddles. The lyrics were also dead easy to remember and sung in a way which everyone thought they could impersonate. Later work seemed forced, a effort to listen to and above all boring.
High Points: Making a “I want money” move and going for a more “accessible 2nd record” named Chamber Music. With a pat on the back from guest vocalist Ozzy for their cover of Peter Gabriel’s “Shock the Monkey,” this launched them into the mainstream with notable radio airplay to boot.
Low Point: The second album sounded like a watered down shit version of the first!
Fast Fact: The term “nu metal” was first used for a review of a 1996 Coal Chamber concert in Spin magazine in the form “new metal”.
Where are they now?: In June 2005 Singer Fafara stated that Coal Chamber’s hiatus is permanent and will not be reforming at any time in the future. He has also described a Coal Chamber reformation as “like repeating the 4th Grade again”. He is now in groove metal band DevilDriver. Guitarist Meegs Rascon went on to form rock band Glass Piñata.

Band: Crazy Town
Time Active: 1995 - 2003
Sound: A selected carbon copy of other bands. They possibly just brought Linkin Park’s debut album and tried to perform it themselves. Oh and to make sure no one cottoned onto this they put a couple of Xzibit’s tracks in to give it that “real street” feel.
High Point: Their third single “butterfly” from their debut album (which uses a small sample from Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Pretty Little Ditty”) peaked at number 1 on the American Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2001. Everybody from bakers to the homeless couldn’t get the fucking riff out of their head as it was played all the time.
Low Point: By the time the second album Darkhouse came out in 2002 nobody  gave a shit. As predicted it flopped, and like a tiny wet fart against a flame it faded.
Fast Fact: There have been many lineup changes, with a total of 9 different people playing over the 9 years they were active.
Where are they now?: They have all gone and created already doomed bands and there is talk of a new Crazy Town album is in the guff-filled air with the title “Crazy Town Is Back”…. Oh dear…

Band: Powerman 5000
Time Active: 1991 - Present
Sound: Like flicking through a vast selection of 1950’s sci-comics while the guitarist punches you in the back of the head on his down stroke to the industrial beat. The tracks are full of meaty riffs and electronic beeps and samples that still leave you hungry for the next track. However they have now moved away from their industrial roots and now focusing on a more pop punk feel.
High Point: The release of second album “Tonight the Stars Revolt!” brought the track “When Worlds Collide” into every teenage boys bedroom as it was featured on the “oracle in a disk” Tony Hawk 2! This over the endless months playing it would leave even kids that only enjoy Snoop Dog wanting more of Powerman 5000! Oh and the album did sell over a million copies….
Low Point: The third album had to change its time of release due to everyone illegally downloading. But then after a new release day had been announced singer Spider canned it deeming that it sounded too much like its predecessor.  Because of this two long term band members Dorian 27 and Al3 left.
Fast Fact: Frontman Spider One is the younger brother of Rob Zombie.
Where are they now?: The band are now recording their 6th Studio album with only Spider One as the original member.

Band: Slipknot
Time Active: 1995 - Present
Sound: The first words I ever read about them was that they were the “sickest band in the world!” I wouldn’t go that far, but for a 16 year old with my only music store the local Woolworths, I was hooked! The steady textbook guitar grinds were nothing to talk about, but mixing turntables with baseball bats against crates and faster-than-fast drums has really got them where they are now. To finish off the tracks Vocalist Corey used overly angry husky rap/shouting to make every teenager having puberty issues feel that he understands everything your little mind is going through.  Now I demand that you punch a brick wall and then do a shit on the neighbors front lawn.
High Point: The debut album hit England like a kick to the love spuds! Within about 10 minutes of the release everybody was wearing t-shirts, hats, gloves and even fake beads induced by the 9 man army (that may be a lie)
Low Point: The release of the second album lacked everything that the first had pouring out of it, however it did reach no.1 in the uk charts so at least their satin lined pockets were not affected…
Fast Fact:  When sampler #5 Craig Jones has been asked what he would do if he wasn’t in the band he has answered in two forms: “If I wasn’t in the band today, I’d be driving forklifts in a warehouse all day long.” and “I’d probably be out killing people!”
Video: Click on the video below to watch a live version from my personal favorite track ‘Spit it Out’… Just look at that pit!

Click on this link to read part one.

Hearing something truly original is a dying art – fact. Back in 1999 a band was formed that tore up the template for how music should sound. Well, they did around Rotherham anyway. thisGIRL (originally called ‘Girl’ but suffering from American Nightmare syndrome, they were forced to change it – good one, Phil Collen) were an fascinating band.
I discovered them during my first year at university through a guy I worked with on the uni newspaper known as ‘Bob.’ He was from Greece, and his real name was a combination of ‘I’s’ ‘O’s’ and ‘N’s’ and was pretty unpronounceable, so ‘Bob’ was quite fitting; plus he was a massive NOFX fan. Anyway, Bob told me about this band thisGIRL that were playing at the The Boat Race (local music dive in Cambridge, now sadly a wine bar for smug-fucks to enjoy £18 glasses of vinegar-tasting bile) and said I should come along. Unfortunately by the time the Rotherham 4-piece came on the stage, I was significantly intoxicated. But, I do remember seeing the chaotic form of vocalist Liam Creamer throwing himself around the small stage like a dented ping pong ball, whilst guitarist Chris Shepherd, drummer Ryan Jenkinson and wheel-chair bound bassist Matt Westley (broken foot!) kept everything in check – sort of.

After a few months of searching, I managed to find ‘Short Strut To The Brassy Front’, their debut album released by Lockjaw records. Despite being a little rough around the edges, it was a sincere and passionate piece of work, emphasising the band’s unique heavy structure, coupled with their punk tendencies and graceful instrumental breaks. Creamer’s vocal range swung from a hoarse scream, to club-singer style croons, backed up by his trademark yelp and sometimes garbled pronunciation. Tracks like ‘Lifts, Curves and Separates’ and ‘Using Radars To Communicate’ show how thisGIRL switched from the heavy/quiet dynamic is such a graceful and delicate way, that you hardly noticed; whilst ‘Stop Making Sense’ and ‘Three Minute Spanish Film’ proved just how volatile and explosive they could be.

I didn’t see the band again, until early 2006, but they went on a number of quite high profile tours, with various bands from alternate ends of the music spectrum, including: Scottish-odd balls Biffy Clyro, industrial-we-will-never-split-up-metallers Pitchshifter and Hell Is For Heroes as well as gigs with the excellent Glassjaw and the not so excellent, The Used. Quite bizarrely they supported Deftones at Brixton Academy in 2002, and played with Limp Bizkit at that free gig in 2003 at Finsbury Park. Due to the meathead nature of the red-baseball cap wearing cretins that attended, Creamer and Co were bottled. Several fans even took the time to fill bottles full of piss, which made their way to the stage, only for Creamer to take one and empty the contents over himself.

Between 2002-2003, they released ‘…has fangs too’, a 3 song EP that juxtaposed their ability to build up a thunderous wall of sound and moments of spaced-out, euphoric rock.  In the coming months they released the ‘Demos for the Family’ EP, a rare 4-tracker, comprised of demo sessions, 1 of which made its way on to their sophomore album. The ‘Demos…’ compilation saw thisGIRL’s style change yet again, opting for a more light-hearted, almost pop-rock approach to their every altering sound.

In 2004, they signed to Drowned In Sound records and recorded and released their second album, the confusingly titled ‘Uno.’ With ‘Uno’ thisGIRL departed from their trademark scrappy alt-punk, quiet-loud dynamic and shifted into a more upbeat rock outfit, emphasising the use of groove-filled bass work and faster passages of distorted indie. ‘Master Blaster’ best exemplifies their unstable nature; sounding like a stoner’s paradise, whilst ‘Hallelujah’ followed a more conventional path of polished-punk rock. Songs like ‘Inshallah’ utilised dream-like string passages and ‘Drake’ sowed seeds of dark, almost film-noir-style slow jazz, which again proved how impossible it was to pigeonhole thisGIRL.

After a tour through January and February in 2006, the band remained quiet, concentrating on recording several demos, before announcing they were to split in November 2006. There were no details as to the reason behind the split, just that the band known as thisGIRL would be laid to rest. They promised to return in another shape/form in the future. Their last gig was at The Point in Cardiff on December 14th.

ThisGIRL were one of those bands that real came into their own as a live act. They made their albums sound flat when they took to the stage. Creamer would spend most of the time running through the crowd, tangling his mic-lead around fans, singing in people’s faces, climbing over everything, whilst Westley and Shepherd would be jumping about so much, they seem to get stuck in mid-air. This left Jenkinson; the only one who ever sits still, to bludgeon his kit senseless. I’ll miss thisGIRL, they really made music feel exciting and invigorating and were a band that I can honestly say, were totally unique but incredibly awkward.

-

Where are they now?

After disbanding, Creamer, Westley, Shepherd and Jenkinson concentrated on other projects, before re-convening with a keyboardist in tow and formed Skeletons, who have been getting the kind of press coverage and feedback that thisGIRL always missed out on.

-

Sounds

Click on the player below to listen to ‘Don’t Be A Kite’ from their second album, ‘Uno.’

-

Video

Here’s a live video ‘Sahara‘ one of the more heavier moments in their career. This shows just how frantic their lives performances were. (Might take a while to load as I think it’s high quality, oooh!)

-

Links

Official site (no longer updated)
Myspace
Skeletons

By Ross Macdonald, with help from Wikipedia.

One dark and chilly night when Mr Tim Burton was suffering a high fever and weak at the knees, he clambered into his crushed black velvet sheets hoping for a dream-filled night of marshmallows and furry things….. But as the night drew colder, a hungry Incubus with a taste for ‘The Dresden Dolls’ albums took advantage of poor old Burton. All was not lost that night however, as Portsmouth’s answer to everything sinister was born…. Mister Joe Black.

His sound is like an old lady, covered in Disney-endorsed syrup, in a mobility chair charging backwards, on fire, heading towards a Victorian style Pillow factory.

With his first full length album ‘The Bible Of The Waltzing Cynic’ he picks your brains to find all those little things you were scared as a child and bring them back into reality. From the Scarecrow in the moonlight at the end of the road, to that time you shit your pants at McDonalds, he knows all.

With a nice list of tour dates a head of him and even a nod from the likes of Creature Feature he is not doing half bad.

Keep it fast had a chat with Joe Black about preachers and arse tattoos:

Do you ever get different reactions when performing on the street than on stage?

People seem a lot less shocked on the street surprisingly. They don’t seem to mind their children hearing….

What is the most bizarre thing somebody has said to you after a show?

“Sign my arse; I want your signature tattooed there!”

If Fred Durst ever tried to make a comeback (again) and wanted to use one of your tracks for his background beat, would you be interested?

The Limp Bizkit paedo man? Of course I’d let him. There would be no greater honour, except being Patrick Moore’s bitch- that would be pretty good.

Have you any thoughts on ‘expanding’ your music to use other instruments over time, or would this be betraying the Joe Black genre?

The album uses around 15 instruments on average per track. That can’t be done live, but we make up for it. I’ve recently expanded the live show to around 4 people, but it varies.

If a megaphone-wielding preacher implied that your music was from the belly of Satan and you should cease instantly, what would your reply be?

Yes indeed it is, and we know where you live, we know where your brother lives, we know where your sisters live, we know where your mother lives, we know where your father lives, we know where your brain washed adopted children live, and we are not happy my dear sir. Now make amends for this comment, or I shall strike you down like a clubbed seal!

—-

Below is a video that captures the mind of Mister Joe black entitled ‘Child Catcher‘

If you want to hear more simply go onto his myspace here.

Back in the day (mid-1990s, early 2000) nu-metal was big - Pavarotti big. Nearly every music channel had some sweaty bald man in a black t-shirt jumping up and down, screaming about how he was beaten by his dad with a tyre iron. Behind him would be 3 –4 other guys (all of similar appearance, save for ridiculous facial hair) trying to mash together their varied styles of five-string slap bass, two note power chords and jazz drumming. Atrocious, right? Yeah, but at the time it was one bandwagon that I duly jumped on and enjoyed. Of course, I would deny all knowledge of owning the first Papa Roach album when talking about the new La Quiete 7” with my peers down the local straightedge club….

This somewhat embarrassing new feature will briefly (and god to I mean briefly,) skim over 10 or so nu-metal acts from the past (chosen by Jason and myself) for you to cringe over. Angst-ridden rock has never sounded so good.

You’ll notice we’ve only included a few acts, as some are really too appalling to mention.

-

Band: Papa Roach
Time Active: 1993 – Present (they self-released a lot of early material on eps.)
Sound: The ‘Roach have moved away from their rap-core metal tag (as seen on ‘Infest’ ) and now sound more ‘hard rock’ apparently. I.e. a watered down version of Eighteen Visions.
High Points: ‘Infest‘ going Platinum 3 times. Woah. Also, ‘Last Resort’ reaching number 3 in the singles chart in the UK.
Low Points: That ‘lovehatetragedy’ album. *Vomits* Plus, looking like world class douchebags.
Fast Fact: In an early incarnation of the band they had a trombone player.
Where are they now?: Still going strong…if that’s the word. New album released in August, called ‘Metamorphosis.’ Drummer Tony Palamero has left the band due to personal reasons.

-

Band: One Minute Silence
Time Active: 1995-2003
Sound: Formulaic but anarchistic rap-metal that progressed into a harsher, more desolate sounding territories before their split. ‘Fish Out Of Water’ was a particular favourite, despite the nonsensical lyrics and comedic singing.
High Points: Extensive touring schedules, including: support for metal-gods Anthrax on one of their US tours and a European one, as well as dates with Machine Head, Slipknot and Sepultura.
Low Points: Hard to say – they were a hard working band, but their music offered little experimentation. Perhaps the hectic touring was too much? Also, would they still be relevant nowadays, what with the progression of British metal (i.e. Johnny Truant, Down I Go, Maths, Throats, Rolo Tomassi, etc.)
Fast Fact: The band’s name comes from showing a mark of respect when someone close to you/important/respected dies.
Where are they now?: Vocalist Brian ‘Yap’ Barry formed Pink Punk (spoken word/hip-hop project, quite good) in 2006 and released an album called ‘Zoo Politics’ on Freeport Records. Although OMS haven’t ruled out the idea of reforming, it seems unlikely.

-

Band: Spineshank
Time Active: 1996 - 2007 (reformed September 2008)
Sound: Their distinct nu-metal sound was complimented by erratic industrial beats, especially on ‘The Height of Callousness.’ Vocalist Jonny Santos maintained a husky drawl to his voice throughout their recordings that was certainly an acquired taste. He constantly sounded like he needed Imodium tablets/or a packet of tunes.
High Points: Making it big with their second album, ‘The Height of Callousness’ and their breakthrough singles ‘Synthetic’ and ‘New Disease.’ Plus, joining Ozzfest in 2001, tours with Disturbed and Hed (PE) and being nominated for a Grammy for ‘best metal performance’ in 2004 for their track ‘Smothered.’
Low Points: Losing Santos really. At the height of their career his departure led to the end of Spineshank. Mind you, I’d have kicked him out for that ridiculous haircut.
Fast Fact: TV host Daisy Donovan actually went on tour with Spineshank in 2002 as part of her ‘Daisy Daisy‘ show, (a crap version of Louis Theroux.)
Where are they now?: Santos plays guitar and sings in rubbish metalcore act Silent Civilian. The 3 remaining members of Spineshank continued for a bit with a new vocalist, but amicably split after 3 years of not much happening. A sad end really. (UPDATE = according to wiki and myspace, Santos has re-joined Spineshank and they’ve begun recording a new album! Hit up their myspace to hear an exclusive track!)

Video:Fancy laughing at 4 angry men shouting about being artificial/checking out a hott girl? Click below to watch the video of ‘Synthetic.‘

-

Band: Disturbed
Time Active: 1996-present
Sound: If you were to look nu-metal up in the dictionary, a picture of Disturbed would probably be under the entry. Their style is typical of the genre, albeit with vocalist David Draiman’s trademark ‘monkey yelps’ and unusual singing style on their earlier material. Nowadays, they seem to go under the ‘alternative metal’ tag.
High Points: The release of their first album ‘The Sickness’ sold 4 million copies and projected them into the metal circuit, making them a staple band of the genre. They’ve also had 3 consecutive number 1 albums, which I find incredibly hard to believe. I guess people like derivative American meathead metal!
Low Points: losing bassist Fuzz due to personal differences in 2003, but apart from this the band seems to be going from strength to strength.
Fast Fact: Their most well known song ‘Down With The Sickness’ was covered by Richard Cheese and used in the film ‘Dawn of the Dead’ (2004 version.)
Where Are They Now?: Disturbed have just released their 4th album, ‘Indestructible’ (best album cover ever alert) and are currently planning a tour of Australia in August and September with God-botherers P.O.D. and lamest band ever, Alter Bridge. Exciting times.

-

Band: Limp Bizkit
Time Active: 1994 –2005 (supposed hiatus)
Sound: Idiotic frat boy rap-rock, featuring over-the-top profanity, abysmal lyrics and some neat scratching courtesy of DJ Lethal.
High Points: Selling 54 million albums worldwide is nothing to be sniffed at and ‘Significant Other‘ their sophmore effort, went number 1 in the Billboard 200. Also, that free gig they did in 2003 at Finsbury Park was a nice gesture.
Low Points: Too many to mention. How about: losing Wes Borland twice, that shitty remix album, Results May Vary, The Unquestionable Truth, the Britney Spears thing, Durst being heckled at the 2003 Summer Sanitarium Tour and walking off stage after 6 songs, being generally a walking joke, etc.
Fast Fact: For Christmas several years ago, I was given a censored version of ‘Chocolate Starfish….‘ by my Auntie. Needless to say, it was actually funnier/better than the original uncensored version - hearing ‘Hot Dog’ with all the ‘fucks’ blanked out was particularly amusing. The album has since vanished.
Where Are They Now?: Hiatus. Apparently Durst and co. are supposedly working on the follow up to ‘The Unquestionable Truth’ but if I was them, I wouldn’t bother (although the ‘Home Sweet Home/Bittersweet Symphony’ cover they did was actually ok.) Borland is currently working on his Black Light Burns project, having severed all ties with Limp Bizkit, calling the ‘Greastest Hitz’ album they released back in 2006 ‘a pile of shit.’ Personally, I’m hoping for a second Big Dumb Face album.

-

Links

Papa Roach
One Minute Silence
Spineshank
Disturbed
Limp Bizkit

-

By Ross Macdonald

There is a lesson to be learnt about bands and that is always give them a chance as you may just find a gem. Of course at the same time there can be some terrifying ‘how are these famous??’ bands, such as 30 Seconds To Mars. But before I start one of those fucking annoying comment wars like on every youtube video, (no YOUR mum) I will cut to the chase…

One of my links led me to Lancashire’s Alternative to every music genre, Bikini Black Special. The 5 piece seem to have put on their dark worship robes at a full moon and thrown into the pot every type of music they can think of. But instead of a explosion of shit occurring on the final synth loop, these guys have completed the impossible. Or have they? Actually they have!

With a beautiful female vocal range mixed in with snapping bites from the male backing, it makes you listen to the lyrics rather then the usual Friday night pub band where they are just shouting to the drum beat (bark, bark!). As for the music itself, it is better to just watch the video at the bottom of this page.

Keep it fast spoke with Bikini Black Special to find out what is going on in their subversively seductive minds:

When you walk onto the stage to an audience who doesn’t know who you are, how do you try and make an impression to the crowd?

By standing impassively in a line, as if the Pet Shop Boys had somehow magically reproduced and staring, just… staring. Alternatively, usually what we do speaks for itself, just go in hard and loud and kick the whole thing off as we mean to go on.

Is there any difference between the tracks you record and performing them live?

Not really, no - we’re pretty proud of the fact that we do this big wide studio sound out there in the big wide world. We make a few more mistakes live, like.

Do you have any BBS followers? If so do they dress up for the occasion?

There’s a few dotted around - we keep seeing more and more of our world-famous Zombie Invasion t-shirt in the crowds, and occasionally bump into them on the street. We have a pretty wide fan base, ravers, metallers, old folks, and of course the fairly intense acoustic folk contingent - so they all dress quite variably.

Have you had any offers to have your music featured in a b-movie? If not would you accept offers?

Some animators wanted to use BBS tunes for the soundtrack to a movie about an alien invasion being battled by a tea drinking private investigator. Never heard any more about it. We’d be delighted to be on a B-movie soundtrack though, especially if we could be extras in the movie, zombies or aliens or something. Even better if there was a scene in the movie with zombie/alien band playing in some zombie/alien bar. It’s the dream.

If you were performing live and there was a power cut, could you still give the crowd a good time? If so how?

Using Laura’s firelighting skills, Paddy’s culinary skills, and Bobby and Andy’s raw physical strength and powers of intimidation, we’d cook Jonti and give everyone a good feed.

———

Below is live footage of them playing the track Nagasaki… Enjoy!

Links:

Bikini Black Special official myspace page