|
Released by Dirty Old Man Records this is another 2 bands I have not come across yet on my travels so to the music...
First up is Wasted Life from Stoke on Trent originally formed in 2007 various line up changes and now they are a steady tight unit Ready to play some punk rock so on goes the CD and here is my thoughts.
 Track one GANGLAND after a quick radio static start this track kicks into a catchy tune led by a catchy little Guitar riff that leads into a steady upbeat Punk song with Great gutsy vocals and some great terraces backing vocals, the sound is strong and has been mixed well and this is a very promising start.
 KICK ME sees the band change there sound slightly on this jumpy rock n roll edged song very catchy and with some great guitar work that compliments the steady rhythm section and a growled Howling vocal from JJ that even though its as gruff as a Wolf with a mouth full of Glass you can still hear every word Quality track.
 1977 is up next guitar leads us in to another jumpy little jaunt with a reminisce about ..you guessed it 1977 like the crowd backing vocal following every line and I always like the opportunity to shout ANARCHY haha good little laid back solo and some great bass and drum thumping make this another one for the yes Bin OUT CLASSED is 4th of the 6 that WASTEDLIFE have on offer and another high end guitar riff leads us into a slightly quicker song, the verse has a kind of nervous tension about it and an urgency to drag you to the chorus but sadly the chorus doesn’t quite match the verse it stubbles through and thankfully the chorus is short and its back to the verse which is just blinding
 Oi YOU! No that’s the title is next bang straight in this one with some great Oppressed style to it complete with woahs, stop starts and another jumping pogo powered chorus straight from the streets of UNDERDOG PUNK and then just to finish off a great little unassuming solo that makes this a real gem of a track and hand claps too JOIN IN FUCKERS!! Last up for WASTED LIFE is UNFORGOTTEN HEROES the slow fade in to the topic of today Bringing our boys home from the pointless war a good steady beat and rumbling bass keep this track on the road to freedom with the customary Guitar work on top and JJs venomous Gravel shoot clear snarl, great track to finish there half of this Cd and as the gun fire fades one thing is clear I will be seeing these guys LIVE as soon as possible..
 So to Band two of this split CD and a worrying moment will they be good or shit will they compliment each other or make you wonder why they did a split cd well here goes. Second half of this CD is RATMONKEY another band I know nothing about and after a brief history lesson about Rats raping tree monkeys its into first offering RATMONKEY haha surprise that and a great start bursting out of my speakers a slightly cleaner sound with some old school edges this crazy bunch lead through a upbeat gibbon of a song and Yes I like it
 DON’T TELL ME IVE GOT CANCER is pure genius in a diagnosis and a thought many of us must agree with this on reading the title may seem like a piss take for all those poor bastards that get and don’t survive this CUNT of a disease, but NO it’s a great way of looking at it grat lyrics great song well done guys and having been unable to control myself as I walked round tescos singing Don’t tell me I got Cancer I can inform you its CATCHY AS FUCK…
 NO RELIGION is next up a rumbling little tune that doesn’t really do it for me the jumpy vocal chorus and lack of anything to make me sing along leaves this one as a ok track but not my cup of crucifixion Next wait a minute its pretty vacant NO its UNION JACK with a familiar feel to the guitar intro this soon breaks into a great little grimy beast of a song the back forth vocal is just brilliant and has me smiling as I listen again and again the fade up section midway with the haunting bass riff backing wastes no time slamming you back into this track Like this one a lot so Listen too it!!~
 END OF THE DAY follows on and again a haunting sliding bass riff in the verse leads this track forward and gives this band a very versatile sound from the straight up UK punk to the almost new romantic tinged lipstick crushing jangle and the urgency of the American punk pioneers TROUTLIPS well there a topic and one that most people will have seen and have an opinion on this freakish obsession with altering the body to what distorted picture I know not but sadly in the lip department it usually ends in the barnicle of a look The fish face look, as to the track upbeat and cranked up this runs away like motorhead with Toy dolls thrown in to confuse you, great little track straight forward and understated but it holds you till the end great guitar sound on the lead break too
 SOUTHERNER starts with an awkward drum rhythm that feels as if its struggling to keep time and then breaks into a bouncy little stutter beat of a song with an obvious homage to The Mighty MACC LADS and I love it short and sweet but all good and a worthy addition Ok last on this set is MAD MICK and another great thunderstruck tune it’s a rocker of a tune and a great way to end with some tastey metal tinged guitar and a Great set of lyrics about Hungerford which I am sure the younger of us will not remember Great track to finish on
 So 14 tracks of Punk goodness and two more Great UNDERDOG bands that need to be supported I for one will be looking to attend live performances by both bands and would be even happier if they were on the same line up as the two compliment each other well Thanks to Vince at Studs and Punks for sending me this one it’s a winner!! This Rant of a review written by
Woodstock Punkrock |