Released at the back end of 2009, this landed on my desk courtesy of Vince at studs and punks.

It's like finding a box of chocolates where the bit of paper that tells you what the different wrappers indicate every time he sends me something to review, and of late there have been a couple of unexpected centres!

This eponymous offering from Viki Vortex & the Cumshots is a 7:43 gallop through some heavily 50's and 60's influenced rock n roll based punk/rockabilly. 

The opening track, BAD GIRL TOO, has a real 50's skiffle feel about it, the thumping bass line reminds you of the old tea chest basses of yesteryear and the whole skiffle motif is reinforced by the jangling guitar and the predominant snare drum.

STUPID LIFE has a sense of urgency about it. A slightly dirtier guitar sound gives more bite, and the driving bass lines sits atop drum work which again has the snare drum in yer face.

WATCH OUT opens with a guitar riff which is a bit slow and ponderous and for me doesn't add anything to the song. The song proper is another adrenaline rush for beginning to end. The bass lines are simpler, the guitar more aggressive, whilst the drums retain their heavy snare based sound.

CRAZY BLOODY FOOL brings this demo to a close, and is  my favourite of the four tracks on offer. The guitar has a bit more distortion and has more balls, some great bass lines that work well with the more expansive drum work.

The vocal delivery on all the tracks is direct, powerful and has a gravely edge with just a touch of angst. It has definitely grown on me.

There is a rawness about all the tracks that has a real 'live' feel about it, but it's too raw for my battered and bruised aural system. The vocals are too quite in places, the drums can be quite overpowering in places and the mix is really muddy in places. Which is a shame as there is some great stuff on this CD, and it hasn't stopped the band making its way to the top of my bands to see list, I just feel it doesn't show the band at its very best. In these days of digital recording a lot of material can end up sounding too perfect and over produced, so to retain an element of the 'live' vibe is commendable, but may be this has gone a little too far the other way.

Never the less an interesting band and one I would urge you to check out.

Viki Vortex & The Cumshots are;

Viki Vortex - Electric Bass, Double Bass & Vox
Steve Manuell - Guitar
Theo Theodotou - Drums

Respectfully Submitted By
A Man Called Moose

Having heard these 2 tracks via mp3 shot down the email and then live i picked this up the last time i saw citizen keyne and was eager to hear the real product, nice little cd. To look at its done old school stylee made to look like a little single complete with grooves and 45 rpm haha this will be a little collectors item and as there are only 100 i suggest you get yours quick…why? Read on and you will see why.

Track one – POLICE STATE the needle drops and the scratchy hiss of a real record is the first thing you hear soon replaced by floyds guitar and matt on the drums signals the start tap tap!

And away we go with a crisper tighter punk sound than the last cd, with some great overdubbed guitar work and great tight bass and drums this is an upbeat blitzkrieg of a track with some great musical touches, sound effect police siren and a nice little solo, oh and the wonderful line ”theres a nipple on his head” if this is a peek at what to expect from the next Citizen Keyne cd then bring it fuckin on! class in a glass and a great live track too.

Track two – PUNK NOT FASHION here's another one (the next album is gonna be a monster) starting with feedback led drums it soon kicks into a fists in the air tune a little slower than police state, more at the usual Citizen Keyne speed this is a stomper from start to finish from the chugging rubbling verse to the simple but mammoth chorus that once in your head will never leave.

Every venue will sing with these words and while we are on the subject, the words of this song are ment to make you think and sit up and take notice of the fact the underdog is being pushed to one side ignored and unwanted by those that seem to not want nor care for the future of punk, and are insistent on living only in the past,whether it has any effect or even raises any questions remains to be seen sadly the apathy of the armchair crew will probably win the day but hey this is punk and standing up and shouting about what pisses you off is one of the many things you can do if you wish within the punk genre, and this is exactly what this is, a group of loud proud punks standing up and putting there thoughts and anger out there for all to love or loath.

For me this band can do no wrong, not only are they very talented and hard working but they truly are passionate about what they do and what other underdog punk bands do, time and time again i witness them supporting others and that for me goupled with everything else makes a fucking group of legends, long may they continue and if  you want to hear some great punk rock played by punk lovers then get this single and the two cds that came before it also get out there and support citizen keyne after all this is punk not fashion (i feel a tshirt coming on haha)

So that was quick two tracks over too soon, congratulations boys two great songs, great sound and a big step up for you in my opinion.
 
This rant of a review from

Woodstock punkrock

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