The Reverend Beasts - s/t (2019)

The Reverend Beasts are the new rock 'n' roll sensation from Thessaloniki, Greece and, without even knowing, I was always waiting for them, especially after the disbanding of De Sades. Well, the Reverend Beasts more or less pick up where the unjustly late De Sades left things off, only this time with more garage appeal stepping on Radio Birdman as much as on Roky Erickson as much as on the Sonics as much as on the Dirtbombs etc; I think you get the idea and more words would be unnecessary. Seven new songs of pure garage rock 'n' roll are delivered  in our hands, making it the ideal way for the Reverend Beasts to introduce themselves and to make us anxiously anticipate a full-length release. I know I do.

Bat Signal - Loaded Gun (new single 2019)

Bat Signal from Thessaloniki, Greece just got a brand new single out, and it's an explosive piece of action rock 'n' roll that places them straight in the first division of the Greek underground; and those who have a knowledge of Greek rock 'n' roll's history know that this is no small statement.

In other news from the band, stay on the lookout for Bat Signal's official video for another brand new song hitting the streets in a couple of months (more or less) and, if you're somewhere close, check them out on their spring european mini-tour with Konepistooli and Warning!.

In the meantime, and if you haven't already, why not get a taste of their masterpiece of "midnight rock" debut album Straight out of Midnight and get your hands on one of the few remaining vinyl copies?

Private Function - Talking to Myself (new track 2019)

Private Function are the new aussie rock heroes as far as I'm concerned, as they encapsulate all that I have ever loved about aussie rock. To be more specific, if you're a fan of the sounds of Radio Birdman, the Sunnyboys, the Lime Spiders, the Celibate Rifles, Cosmic Psychos etc. (you get the idea), and you want even a bit more punk edge, then Private Function are just the case for you. Apart from their brand new single that comes with a smooth video, check out their 2017 EP Rock in Roll and be on the lookout for their next record, like I am.

The Dahmers - Down in the Basement (2018)

How would "today's top swedish rock 'n' roll band" sound as a title, considering the weight this statement carries? A bit out of nowhere? A piece of shameless exaggeration?

Well, it's true that there is a general outbreak in the rock 'n' roll scene out of Scandinavia and central Europe the last two decades, mainly due to bands like the Hellacopters, Turbonegro, Gluecifer, the Hives etc that emerged in the '90s. Of course quantity rarely goes hand in hand with quality and, although it's a good thing that rock 'n' roll continues to blossom screaming that it's anything but dead, at some point there comes a time that we're starting to have just a bit more than the amount of Hellacopters worship bands we actually have need for. I remember in the '90s when the Black Sabbath sound was celebrated, since they were then 20+ years old as a band and numerous tribute albums were being released amid the general worship. Well, if you think about it, it's 2019 and this is how old the Hellacopters actually are now, so it's no wonder they have reached a god status among today's scene with bands copying their sound and tribute albums coming out here and there (there are two of them being released as we speak, for instance). 

All this introduction was so that I can say that the Dahmers, although swedish rock 'n' rollers themselves, are anything but another Hellacopters copycat band, with their distinct energy and personality characterizing their every song. I can't begin to tell you how happy I was the day I discovered them and realizing what I had found. The Dahmers released their first demo back in 2012, and, apart from numerous singles and EPs, they have released two albums so far, Demons (2014) and In the Dead of Night (2017). But it wasn't until last year when they released Down in the Basement (a compilation of all their tracks off their single and EP releases) that I finally crossed paths with them. Imagine a grown man driving to work in the morning and not being able to stop talking to himself about what a great fucking band is playing from the speakers and that every song coming up is his new favourite. Well, that was me for many days after I put the Dahmers on my car playlist.

Musicwise, the Dahmers are moving successfully on so many different levels, that the final result, although subconsciously taking your mind to familiar sounds, is anything but worn out or trite. Apart from the horror punk thematic they start off with, they bring you '90s rock 'n' roll, classic punk, garage, blues, '60s pop, all at just the right proportions. How many times have you come across an album with absolutely not even a notion of a filler song? Is it possible that an 18-track album doesn't have a mediocre moment? Well apparently it is, with Down in the Basement. As I said above, every time I listen to it, I literally have a different favourite song, which usually is the song playing each time. Thus, I see no need in highlighting certain tracks, the album's flow is just perfect.

Initially, I was going to wait until the Dahmers have a new release (maybe in 2019) to write about them, since Down in the Basement is a compilation (and this is the only reason why I didn't include it in the 2018's best albums post), but their music still continues to steadily overwhelm me after all these months, and I just couldn't wait for something like that. I really have no idea how else I'm supposed to urge you to get out there and discover the Dahmers, as, if they continue like this, they are surely bound to be the next best thing in the Scandinavian rock 'n' roll scene, and, if they don't, well that would be the definition of unfair. I'm already making plans on catching them somewhere in Europe this summer where they are supporting the mighty Dwarves on several dates, as this is a dreamy lineup I don't see getting over to Greece. If they're playing somewhere close to you, don't even dream about missing that.

Belated obsessions: The Dirtbombs - Dangerous Magical Noise (2003)

This is an album I've been in love with for as long as I remember myself being a conscious garage/punk/rock'n'roller. Mind you, not a death or thrash or doom metal fan (phases I've identified as during various and younger periods of my life). I'm talking about being a fan of "music with guitars" in general; that is, being able to distinguish the "rock 'n' roll" in a song, no matter where said song is placed genre-wise, be it within the aforementioned harder genres or within softer ones.

It could be said that Dangerous Magical Noise adequately encompasses everything the phrase "Detroit Rock City" meant during the '90s and '00s. Mick Collins, the mastermind behind the Dirtbombs, was done with the Gories; his first band where a raw and bassless garage/punk made its mark in the early '90s. The Dirtbombs, in their beginning, featured two drummers and two bassists, apart from Collins himself taking care of guitar and vocals. Collins' widened musical spectrum was now obvious (made clear by other projects of his, like Blacktop,  King Sound Quartet and the Screws, among others) and the Dirtbombs were the vessel. Initially, the band used to only release 7" vinyl singles, until their debut full-length Horndog Fest in 1998 and Ultraglide in Black in 2003, the latter being comprised entirely out of covers on classic R&B songs. In 2003, the band decided to adopt a more straight rock sound and merge with the already fuzzed-out nature of their sound. Thus, Dangerous Magical Noise. 

This is one of those records where everythig seems to be perfect and every song is a highlight on its own. The Dirtbombs make the perfect combinations out of garage rock, punk, glam rock, blues, R&B and here they deliver 15 (counting the 2 bonus tracks as well) sweaty tracks of pure rock 'n' roll daring you to stop swinging and singing along; something impossible. Speaking about 21st century american rock 'n' roll, Dangerous Magical Noise is definintely one of its milestones that needs to be studied by everyone involved.

To my knowledge, the band still exists to this day, with their last full-length Ooey Gooey Chewy Ka-Blooey! being out in 2013, and their 2011 album Party Store featuring covers on classic '90s techno tracks(!). Do a favor to yourself and discover the gem (of historical proportions) that Dangerous Magical Noise is, if you haven't already.

LINK

R.I.P. Lemmy

Ian Fraser Kilmister

1945-2015

R.I.P.

Oblivians - Desperation (2013)

Eric Friedl, Greg Cartwright and Jack Yarber had called it quits 16 years ago to go into other projects (personal or not); including South Filthy, Jack Oblivian & the Cigarillos, Knaughty Knights, Tennessee Tearjerkers, Greg Oblivian & the Tip-Tops, Reigning Sound and Bad Times, among others. Scepticism is something given here, as in every case of a "lengendary" get-together after such a long time. And this happens because, in many cases, the only motive is none other than to recreate past glories and cash on them today as much as possible. Thankfully, this is not the case here. Apart from the occasional reunion shows the last years, Oblivians are back with a new record bearing the old familiar feeling, yet with a slightly new approach. The "dirt" has been somewhat tuned down (as opposed to epics like Soul Food and Popular Favorites, that is) but the Oblivians edge is still definitely present, now in a more mature and substantial form. Enjoyable foot-tapping garage rock drenched in bluesy and country humidity is what you get; and make no mistake about it. We're already almost in the middle of the year, so it's not too soon to talk about a possible best rock n'roll record of 2013. So be sure to check Desperation out sometime soon and, while you're at it, kill a punk for rock n'roll.

Belated obsessions: Los Tromos - Boooo (2005)

I've been stumbling on the Los Tromos name for years now and I always wanted to check them out, but never got around to it. This changed when Fuzztastic Planet 2013 was announced; this gave me the motive I needed. I got hold of their 2005 Boooo album and, to put it mildly, I was blown away.
This is the definition of cool music which gets even cooler by the relaxed and "easy" way these guys are performing it. The genre is basically rock n'roll, but the band makes a habit of crossing over to other areas, be it surf, alternative, garage, americana; at times they even show some postrock/shoegaze wannabes how it's done. Boooo's 38 minutes flow almost unnoticeably, as one great tune follows another. This is an album that can haunt your lazy summers for a lifetime, an album that speaks directly to your mind, despite the fact that most of the songs are instrumental. Don't make the mistake I've been doing up until now; that is putting off discovering Boooo, even eight whole years after its release. And join me in praying that Los Tromos will be back together in a more permanent manner and will offer us more great stuff in the future.

ΜΟΝΟ KVELERTAK

Despite the certain danger to look outdated and retarded, I feel I need to make a Kvelertak post. The above video of a kick-ass tune announcing their return in a month or so with their second album "Meir" compels me to praise these six Norsemen that debuted musically with their revolutionary self-titled album back in 2010.

The exact reason I hadn't personally discovered them up until some time ago eludes me. For some reason, I had never given the time or the attention they deserved. And, despite all the outcries and jeers I'm bound to collect from hipsters and/or self-proclaimed music messiahs everywhere, I ought to scream that Kvelertak are my new favourite band from this decade so far and they certainly look like they have all the potential to become big. And we're talking BIG.

Blackmetal, punk, hardcore, rock n'roll, hard rock, heavy metal; all blended under lyrical themes of norwegian folklore wrapped inside a party mood. In writing, it might look confusing and contradicting, but their sound makes perfect sense and should appeal to all fans of extreme music with guitars. Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Slayer, Turbonegro, Hellacopters, Zyklon, Amorphis are few specific influences off the top of my head, but one could find dozens of different things in here all combined in an explosive result. Kvelertak are accused of unsuccessfully combining opposite musical elements, of being mainstream, of somehow being too happy and too "party-ish" for this kind of music..but does this all really matter against the feeling of being 15 again after you've discovered a new kick-ass band that makes you sing its tunes all day inside your head and compels you to grab your air mic and your air guitar?
If you haven't already, go listen to KVELERTAK; and this is the best advice one can get out of me these days \m/