Comeback Kid have posted a new track on their myspace.
The track, Broadcasting, taken from the album of the same name, is the first release since Scott Wade left the band around a year ago.
The new album, which follows up Wake The Dead which came out in 2005, will be out in the shops on February 20th.
Check out the song by clicking here.
If you give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day! If you give a man a fishing rod, he’ll break it up for firewood, or swap it for a fish?! I’m going nowhere with that really, but I heard it the other night and thought it was really funny.
Never have I set foot on an Almost deck, so when the opportunity revealed itself, I grabbed it with both feet and have been popping away ever since.
The ‘Winter’ deck from Almost comes in at 7.6″ and totals 31.3″ in length. This 7 ply, Resin 7 vehicle was definitely built for the technical playground, but even though I’m not highly skilled in switch crazy flips to fakie rendezvous grind, I still enjoyed burning this piece of wood on all kinds of skate-able grounds.
To the point then, this stick shows early signs of bulimia, but at 7.6″, it’s hardly a disease and would be considered a good size for all the David Beckham’s of the skateboarding world. It’s a flat ride and leaves concave to a bare minimum. It’s got a sharpish nose and tail, but looks don’t really bother me that much, it serves its purpose and does it well!
The most remarkable feature of the deck is its weight, its light and very tight, which makes for springy pop and comfortable trick management. It’s a stiff bugger and has remained strong for a good 4 weeks of bashing, not showing any signs of weakness, just the usual wear and tear and severe graphic loss.
My only disappointment with this skateboard was its magical powers! I was really hoping to find the skills I’ve been hiding for years, but I haven’t yet mastered the “Deawon” level that I strongly believe is hidden within my talents, so where drawbacks are concerned, I guess that would be it. I still get a kick out of messing up a flip trick on flat ground, grinding my teeth and screaming…”ALMOST”!
This board also comes with a matching scarf and tea cosy (beanie), it’s a winter deck after all and believe you me, the core is yet to hit British shores.
Live FAST, Ride Fast.
Go to www.almostawebsite.com for all the trimmings.
7/10
2P
24.01.07
• Louie Barletta – Laser Flip / Fakie Airwalk c/o Slap magazine Ph. Mark Whiteley
• Jason Cooper – Nollie FS boardslide to fakie.
• Chey Ataria – BS nollie heelflip.
• Yann Garin – BS nosegrind BS 360 out.
• Eric Koston – Early grab BS lipslide.
• Will Harmon – FS flip.
• Chris Troy – Fakie bigspin boardslide 270 out.
Top 5 warning signs:
1. Don’t rape one trick
2. Avoid multiple company tattoos
3. Don’t vent your anger on the kids
4. Skate shoots over fashion shoots
5. Don’t sleep with another skater’s partner
Pic of the week:
Indian Summer in Brighton. Jason Lunstone from Chilled Heat catches Finn Casey leap whilst legend Justin ‘Pastey’ Ashby rejoices.
“Suffer the joy…” Ahh, an oxymoron that announces a road movie about the trials and tribulations of the Toy Machine skateboard team! A much anticipated chapter to the Blood Sucking Corporation’s book of deeds, Suffer the Joy illustrates a team that has defined skateboarding through several eras. Would Ed Templeton and co. do it again..?
Well, to begin let me state the ‘joyous’ moments of this opus. It seems things have settled at the Toy machine camp after several mix and match line-ups that had the company a little lost for identity at times. Toy machine is good and healthy again (possibly due to the boss’ vegan ethics..?), and this new release puts the team back on the map as movers and shakers of the ever popular skateboard trends.
The emotional wardrobe of each rider is laid bare as almost every spec of skateable terrain gets a good thrashing. Add to that a slick choice of background music ranging from Hawaiian strumming to classic Sonic Youth, and artistic visuals of a strong calibre, and this video is a treat to watch. Essentially though, one must strip away the fancy packaging and comment upon the skateboarding itself- the key element that brings these 35 minute promos together, n’est ce pas?
So, to remain on a positive tip, I’d have to say that Johnny Layton is a beast. No chasm is too deep, nor breadth too far for this man’s ollie. Let Johnny’s ender play testament to his abilities. I’ll give you 50 tries and Reese Forbes legs and you still won’t make it! The other heavy hitter, and newcomer to the team, is Nick Trepasso. Some of you might remember Nick from old Bootleg dealings, but forget all that because the ripper has scrubbed up (or down..?) and brought some smooth skills to the table with extra flick and catch to boot. Is this Nick’s second chance at catching the limelight? I think so.
Before Nick, the previous new face for Toy machine was Matt Bennett who also brought a trick with him: the Bennett grind in other words a backside 180 to backside smith grind (opposite to a Barley grind). With the albatross of being a one trick wonder around his scruffy neck, Matt shrugs off the pretence and puts out a sick part full of regular and switch bangers. Pay attention to this part.
Finally, good ol’ Ed. T. This guy has nothing to prove, but he still skates as hard as possible despite the age difference. Classic but brief, Ed’s part acts as a reminder of just how much influence the old dog has had on street skating; Just count how many impossibles, his team mates throw out.
Now, I must refer to the suffering… I know fully well that Ed is an artist and Toy machine is a company based around aesthetics as much as it is around kick ass skateboarding, but a few faces on the Toy machine roster look like a mock up for the next Gap catalogue. Floppy hair and dirty denim, brown cords and lazy lines are laced through Austin Stephens and Josh Harmony‘s sections. Are you really pro..?
One scumstash skater who is, is Billy Marks. When will a part do Billy justice. I’ve seen the little gnarler skate in the flesh and I know his abilities, but whenever it comes to putting out an anticipated part, all I get is retinal infection from epileptic hammer-fest footage. I actually think Billy is as good as a certain Caswell berry, but that’s my opinion, so who cares..? Last but not least, Diego Buchieri.
With a section that falls victim to the same symptoms as Billy’s, Diego attcks the good old bank/curb combos, and the pre-requisite gaps. Diego’s gnarly, I won’t deny him that, but I’m afraid a good portion of his section was old footage, or footage that has long since been one-upped notably the ender. Sorry.
I’ll end this review with the honest truth: I really liked this new Toy Machine video. I think Suffer The Joy definitely sets itself apart from the rest of the chafe, and deserves a place of your shelf. But I saw this video (and I’m certain many others did too) on the internet, leaked to the infamous Youtube site. That’s a shame and I hope, that having read this you’ll hunt down a copy and purchase it.
Ralph L-D
08.01.07
Photos are circulating from the Transition Extreme website depicting a brand new indoor wooden skatepark being built in Aberdeen.
The Transition Extreme skatepark is set on the old site of some disused tennis courts at Queen’s Links, next door to the Patio Hotel and near to the Beach Ballroom and Leisure Centre.
When the derelict skatepark of yesteryear left abandoned due to legal and funding problems, approval for the new site was given and building got underway in March 2006.
As you can see by the pictures (c/o Alex Irvine), the facility is massive, boasts a roof and walls which will shelter the facilities from the often harsh Scottish climate and the ramps look like the real deal. Shredding is predicted to start as soon as the climbing walls (another area of the Transition Extreme project) are installed.
Wexford, on the Irish East coast, has just received a brand new concrete park after 3 months of building.
There were no snags with the local council and the design was approved with flying colours. The park blends bowl riding and street skating to create an interesting course with enough space to accustom everybody who wants to enjoy it. A Jam is hopefully going down on St. Paddy’s Day, march 17th, whilst the grand opening is due for April.
We particularly smile at the bank siding atop the platform because of it’s particular fly-out potential.
Word has it that there is more concrete being poured down East Staffs way in the form of a plaza…
Thanks to Steve Crawford from Freestyle Skateparks for the info, and Grant Masterson from Gorey Skate Club.
Cargo
27.01.07
When one of the most technically gifted DJs on the planet comes to your town, you go out and see him. No ifs, no buts, no hair washing – you get off your backside and you hotfoot it to see him. After having witnessed yet another crap display from my football team, I needed a pick me up and thankfully the trip to Cargo provided it.
Mr Doris was on the decks when we strolled into the sparsely populated main room, with the bar area behind us heaving, but it didn’t take long for the bodies to transfer to the dance floor thanks to the funky sounds coming across the airwaves. Ugly Duckling, Skeelo, and Digable Planets were all thrown into the mix before breaking out into a funkfest.
With everyone hyped and ready to go, Kentaro stepped to the stage. Standing by the side of his turntables, I had a perfect view of the maestro as he began manouevering his hands faster than it takes for Palace’s defence to self destruct. With the video screen behind him being manipulated in time to the cuts on his turntables, everyone in the crowd was transfixed.
After fifteen minutes of breaks and a similar amount of time of hip hop, the fun really kicked in. Don’t get me wrong, the first half an hour had people dancing, but when the DnB kicked in, the shit was REALLY popping. Every time you thought the bass was at its most brutal, he kicked it up a level. By the end of his set, the crowd was baying for more, near-clambering on the stage to get more tunes pumping out.
Kentaro played the perfect set. He showcased his incredible ability as a turntablist and merged that in with a killer set list. Too often DJs get so caught up in the cutting that the music loses out, but not with him. It was a superb night and the smile on his face said it all. He loved us, and boy oh boy did we love him.
Konichiwa bitches.
Abjekt
Photo by Chris McShee
Biffy Clyro, The Bronx, The Audition, I Am Ghost
London Astoria
27.01.07
It’s that time of year again; when UK’s best selling rock magazine delves into a pick n mix of bands, and draws out an assortment of styles, before heaving them into renowned venues across the land to bring in the new year with as much noise as possible. This year’s roster was without a doubt, the most obscure yet.
Opening the evening were Long Beach’s Post Hardcore/Goth outfit, I Am Ghost. The concupiscent movements from what looked like a Satanist magician drew enough movement from the crowd to consider this performance a success. While I was more intrigued by the violinist’s ability to thrust her wrist back and forth faster than Sid from Skins wanking hand, I can’t deny that they got some action from the already sweat drenched audience. Sticky icky icky. Oo-ee!
Unfortunately, this is more than can be claimed from Chicago’s The Audition, whose mediocre set proved to be a perfect lullaby for many crowd dwellers. Frontman, Danny Stevens, as hard as he endeavoured to create some movement in the crowd, barely got more than an arm’s stretch from the yawning assembly. I won’t continue to focus on this band, as if I’m honest with you, my attention didn’t either.
Half way through the night now, and amongst others I’m beginning to question Kerrang’s choice of bands. Chants of “Mon’ the Biffy!” had already begun, and this was starting to simply resemble a Biffy Clyro tour. But before many punters had the chance to sleep off their boredom, LA’s The Bronx jolted everyone upright with their musical equivalent to a line of Charlie.
Viciously gorgeous riffs and yelps from a band that oozed character was a delight to hear in a room that was starting to overflow with glumness. The solid performance was amplified by superb frontman, Matt Caughthran, who spent as much time on stage as he did in the crowd. Intense gulps of a down to earth broth served up by this fantastic group make nights like this worthwhile.
But as Biffy Clyro mounted the stage like donning a raging bull, the jittery, powerful riff of recent download single, SemiMental, immediately tamed it. The Astoria had become transformed into a magnificent bouncy castle, or perhaps more like a dyslexic House of Pain concert? Either way, it was something else I tell you. Continuing to please the crowd with live favourites and cult classics, All The Way Down, and Toys Toys Toys, Choke, Toys Toys Toys, Biffy reigned supreme with an illustrious setlist that was delivered first class.
New single, Saturday Superhouse sounded wonderful live, and marked the gig as a enormous promotional tool for 4th studio album, Puzzle, which is to be released in the late spring. Unfortunately the night finished on a flat note with an early finish, and no time for desired encore. But looking back, they really didn’t need one. Le Biff are one step closer to becoming Scotland’s biggest export. And it’s phenomenal.
Joe Moynihan
Photo by Katy Pigg
It’s pissing down again and you are about to go outside to deal with your daily grind, but wait – your hoody will not be able to deal with the damp and your jacket needs to be water resistant to bat off the moisture…..what do you do? Get one these Enjoi umbrellas of course!
That’s right – the Enjoi family have brought us the brolly of a lifetime, so slip one onto your bag and fend of the rain in one simple lunge to the skies! Available in the brightest colours ever created so you don’t lose it on your travels.- Genius.
Chuck Bangers
29.01.07
Yes! After a brief hiatus in the high seas, Dave Carnie is back at the helm of his fleet, Whalecock Skateboards.
Carnie’s creation has set full steam ahead on satire and any skateboard duties will be taken care of by the one and only Morrissey. Ha! Who needs another Uber-am when you can have a middle aged man in touch with his sensitive side?
Check out the Cock Blog for news updates and interviews with many a man. This weeks interview: Bill Weiss, the only man to land a naked 540 during a contest run.