Sex Pest - Sexx Pest Epp

This cd-r took a while to get to me due to all of the recorded bunch being trashed due to being accidentally burnt on an oven which probably explains why the once ripped recordings up on my computer as "Virtually Dojo" by Red Shift. At least the mp3's were titled even if they were the titles of some other band's songs. The band take their name from a description of one of the main character's from the English comedy "The Inbetweeners". Lyrically a couple of the songs reflect the group's chosen handle.

Fast chaotic 80's Californian punk sums up "Give Me Fuck" though the vocals here aren't exactly melodic as the singer sounds like a sick corgi in heat puking up a pizza otherwise The Adolescents are the band that comes to mind. "Maybe Bloody Never" is a slower near sludgy jam with simple drumming and laidback guitar until the inserted mosh parts where the whole band go full tilt. The lack of total speed is a plus as there's a threatening dark edginess that thrashing instruments just doesn't always bring. Rock and roll is stripped to the bare bones in the garage rock of "Day Dream" although Sex Pest defiantly refuse to follow the verse chorus verse structure. However, The 13th floor elevators cover that rounds off the EP follows that standard. The talkback radio samples with a mother talking about an acid trip she found in her son's bag that begin and conclude the song were well chosen.

With only three original songs, the obvious route is to state that this recording isn't long enough and well, it just isn't long enough. It's a tough ask to give some variety in less than a handful of songs but these dudes have pulled it off. Ha! They even admit to the action in one of their songs. The cover to this CD-r is printed up better than some official releases I've received with lyrics, recording info and band members names. Not even sure if you can still get this EP or how. The Sex Pest frontman, Sam was responsible for the excellent Ratking mp3 blog which had some great NZ downloads but has disappeared and been replaced with http://wizardmasterdeath.blogspot.co.nz/. There's a download of one of the Sex Pest's rehearsals there that preceded this outing so that may be worth a look and a listen otherwise try Sam's email address: slwrightson@gmail.com.

3.5/5

Here's the cover song.





Small takeover on facebook

Hosoi Bros - Snorlokk 7"

Hosoi Bros are back with a vengeance with two songs committed to 300 7 inches vinyl. Instead of doing a Peter Jackson and playing around with a big budget in a fantasy world created by some dead dude who had way too much spare time Hosoi Bros chose to invent terrifying and creepy creatures of their own that would have made Ronnie James Dio weep(with tears of joy) such as the Wine Witch and now the Snorlokk.

The title song, Snorlokk is based on super fearless fast early Maiden meets Motorhead style riffing accompanied with raw vocals coupled with shouting of the title before some super fast guitar soloing that is almost possible not to notice. Yngwie Malmsteen if by any chance you're reading this, there's no way this solo would be considered guitar wanking unlike a certain somebody elses. "Amber Lamps" is equally down, dirty and raucous but not as fast. I love the cartoon cover with the image of the band, who have clearly been cursed into transforming into Sunn o))) under a crescent moon. These bros rule and need to put out a full-length soonish.

I've already posted the video to this single but I'm going to embed it because often a great video can take your attention away from the song.

4/5







Hosoi Bros on bandcamp

Hosoi Bros on facebook






Small takeover on facebook

Winter Sounds - "Runner"

Winter seems to be a recurring theme round this place after reviewing Dot Dash’s “Winter Garden Light” album, the next on the pile is a band who go by the chilling moniker “The Winter Sounds”. It’s clearly just coincidence rather than satisfying a compulsory musical genre theme name , which is compulsory for hardcore and death metal and would probably see this particular band called XXWinter Youth SoundsXXX or Winter Death Sounds of Foetus.

It’s highly appropriate that “The Winter Sounds” were previously aligned with Dot Dash because both bands share a clear love of eighties music although “The Winter Sounds” are obviously fond of synthesiser bands. In the info package that was given to me, there are comparison to New Order and The Cure but on “Runner”, those comparisons really aren’t there as the band doesn’t possess the sound or the quirkiness of either. Listening to the album’s opener, “The Sun Also Rises”, the first band that came to mind was Ultravox, then The Comsat Angels and the title is a definite throwback to the Norwegian pop of A-ha. However there’s a joyful poppiness that is closer to Erasure though I’m willing to bet these guys own the lion’s share of Steve Lillywhite produced albums. However, here is a modern sound with a strong Muse influence which is especially obvious on “Young Love”, although it could be stated that the prog rockers wear their 80’s influences on their sleeves as much as or even more than “The Winter Sounds” do.

The fourteen year old version of myself would be all over this and wouldn’t care that it sounds like a whole lot of other bands beginning with ABC. The present grumpier version of myself thinks if you’ve sold off your eighties synth pop albums and really want to start again without hunting through bargain bins then “Runner” is likely a worthwhile re-starting place.

3/5

The Winter Sounds



http://www.facebook.com/thewintersounds



Small takeover on facebook

John 3:16 - Visions of The Hereafter - Visions of Heaven, Hell and Purgatory

When you've been writing music reviews for a number of years, you get to witness bands improving, getting worse and far more commonly just completely disappearing. Sometimes from the ashes of the disbanded comes another project and John 3:16 is one of those. The project comes from Phillipe Gerber, who was the founder of French alternative band, Heat from a Dead Star, who the more attentive may remember were reviewed in this here blog a while back. As John 3:16, Gerber previously released a 5 track EP entitled "Sinners In the Hand of an Angry God" and now there's a 9 track album.

The album starts off with "The Ninth Circle" possessing a post-rock style and fools the listener into thinking that they're in for an entirely instrumental album until the vocals kick in which have an undeniable contemplative nature resembling a cross between a shoegazer and a group of chanting monks. The ambient "Throne of God/Angel of the Lord" has a shimmering guitar sound that isn't miles away from Mr Gerber's previous band or for a more recognizable comparison, Mission of Burma coupled with chants that are reminiscent of Enigma. Loud drums open the 7 minutes of shoegazer ambient drone that is "Abyss of Hell/Clouds of Fire" with a simmering pleasantness that totally betrays the song's title. Fans of instrumental post-rock will have that excited smell of urinated underwear when hearing "Ascent to The Blessed/To The Heavenly Paradise".


Despite all the religious titles whether or not the religious overtones of the chosen monikers of the project are the actual beliefs of Mr Gerber is entirely unclear and up to the listener to interpret. Throughout the album are some fine tracks here and the level of musicianship is undeniably high. Personally I have trouble paying attention to the entire album for the full length of time but that's a complaint I have with instrumental albums and almost every post-rock album I've ever heard so despite the best effort to be objective as with all reviews subjectivity filtered through personal tastes weigh higher however I am likely to listen to "Visions of The Hereafter - Visions of Heaven, Hell and Purgatory" again purely as background music despite or maybe because this music would be perfect for a Wim Wenders movie or a nature documentary.

Check out the album for your self by clicking on the bandcamp site below.


3/5

John 3:16 bandcamp site



Small takeover on facebook

Dot Dash - Winter Garden Light

Regular readers of this podunk blog might recall that a while back I posted "Learn to Fly" by Wahington DC band, Dot Dash and compared the song to The Cure. That was the only song from the band's debut that found its way into my ear canals however the band were recently in touch and let me know about their sophomore effort, "Winter Garden Light".

The band have the sound of a London post-punk band to the point that it's not difficult to imagine them sharing a stage with The Dissociates, because both bands share that early eighties English sound yet manage to sound fresh along with hooks so catchy they could land a whale. While listening to "Winter Garden Light" band comparisons don't easily come which is no bad thing, although album closer,"Devil's Road" is reminiscent of Ian McCulloch's solo debut, but my guess is that if you own albums by The Jam, Echo and The Bunnymen, The Smiths, The Cure and even Straitjacket Fits then this is an album well worth investigating. Winter Garden Light is a shining beacon in a ravaging storm and a likely candidate for album of the year.

4.5/5



Investigate their bandcamp.


Small takeover on facebook

Danko Jones - Rock and Roll is Black and Blue

Danko Jones “Rock and Roll is Black and Blue”

The legacy of Canadian trio Danko Jones endures. “Rock and Roll is Black and Blue” continues with their merging of Phil Lynott tinged vocals with a potpourri of 80’s glam metal (that’s what hair metal was called back in the day, youngsters) occassional AC/DC riffs and punk rock. The band are aware of the past rock history and have managed to create their own sound through the pastiche.

“Get Up” is definitely a nod to the ghosts of rock and roll past as it borrows from The Knack’s best known song. “Legs” doesn’t win originality points in the title stakes but luckily doesn’t sound like mid-80’s ZZ Top although the guitars are buzzing but there’s not the same overproduced sound that was going on with the bearded ones at the time of their more commercial albums. “I Don’t Care” has a sliding metal guitar groove without heading to groove metal waters. At this stage, “You Wear Me Down” sounds like filler to my ears but I picked out filler in the band’s last album and came to love the whole damned affair. “Always Away” screams out single due to its rock radio-friendliness that could easily sit between Black era Metallica and Foo Fighters. “Conceited” rocks like hell due to the rhythm section sitting well above simmering.

It’s clear that Danko and company have been listening to both the Misfits and Danzig in recent times as “Baby Come Home” features a Glenn Danzig style howl and “I Believed in God” has undeniable MISFITS. Due to the final song “In Your Arms” sounding like it could have come off “How The Gods Kill”, I gave the band’s name a second look just to check that it wasn’t now Danzig Jones.

While “We Sweat Blood” remains my favourite outing from the band, Danko Jones have proved that they are hear to stay and are still capable of bringing it, I really hope they don’t turn into mere clones of the man with a million evil internet memes.

3.5/5

http://www.dankojones.com/

Razorywyre, Beastwars, Methdrinker S.F.B.H. Sep 28

Arrived at the San Francisco Bathhouse in time to see Methdrinker setting up. ALthough they have songs on a few releases out there, they were a totally new band to both my eyes and ears. Before heading up the stairs I heard someone describing their music as mind-numbingly slow. They were Eyhategod type sludge wallowers and had a guitarist and drummer co-handling vocals. The band were great live and were a perfect warm-up complement for the heaviness of Beastwars.

Methdrinker

Beastwars, really, were the band I wanted to see despite the show really being Razorwyre's album release party. The band seemed to be on fire and tighter than I'd seen them before, maybe because their own album was recently released outside New Zealand and also because they had a new album in the works. The band's singer comes across like a drunken sailor as he bellows out the band's lyrics which lends itself perfectly to the heavy vibe of impending doom. If Killing Joke really are the sound of the apocalypse, then there are bound to be arguments whether Beastwars are the sound of the warm-up or the aftermath.

Beastwars

Razorwyre have improved greatly live since I last saw them which is going on for over a year ago. The band's blend of heavy metal is closer to NWOBHM than it is eighties thrash metal, which is why I have often found that I don't make it through all of the band's set and once again I didn't. The other reasons were I had work the next day and Beastwars were the band I had turned up to see.

Razorwyre

Compulsory bandcamp links

Methdrinker

Beastwars

Razorwyre



Small takeover on facebook