Following the release of their critically acclaimed debut earlier this year, hip hop supergroup Random Axe will play their first UK show tonight at London’s Scala. Random Axe consists of drum loving Detroit super producer Black Milk, Stones Throw’s Guilty Simpson and Brooklyn street rapper Sean Price.
The group’s self titled album is available now, entirely produced by Black Milk, and featuring guests Danny Brown, Roc Marciano and Melanie Rutherford.
As if that wasn’t a strong enough line-up, support this evening will come from Jehst, who himself has released one of Crossfire’s favourite albums of the year with ‘Dragon of an Ordinary Family’.
Tickets for the event are still available from Ticketweb, so no excuses for missing this one.
Rack n Ruin has been knocking out bangers for a couple of years now and with a string of hits under his belt including Soundclash, Righteous, Territory and more, he’s guaranteed to blast the speakers each and every time. As we gear up for the Crossfire Halloween Massacre, we had a quick chat with him to show you what to expect come the 28th.
You’ve been on the scene for a little while now and have mixed up sounds from Soundclash with Jessie Ware to Territory – do you just make tunes as you go along and see how they turn out? Or do you set out to make certain styles before you get going?
It depends really. Some days I have an idea in my idea and will stick to that but some days it’s just experimentation. If I’m working with a vocalist, we’ll generally get the vibe going together and then go from there.
You’ve done remixes for the likes of I Blame Coco and Nas/Damian Marley – how did they come about and do you approach them any differently from your own original beats?
Island Records approached me after hearing Soundclash and asked me to do some remixes, this then led to the work with Coco etc. I approach remixes in lots of ways, but usually I listen to the original and think of a way to make it more interesting and more suited to the dancefloor. It is different to making original tunes unless you start an original with a prominent sample.
There are loads of talented MCs out there, who have been the best you’ve worked with and are there any you still want to jump on one of your tracks?
P-Money is very talented and a fast writer. Old skool jungle dons like Navigator and Slarta John are also amazing. I’m very lucky to have worked with such sick MCs. I’d really like to work with some MCs from the States next.
How did you hook up with Black Butter Records and how good a fit are they for your tunes?
My manager runs the label and we’ve been there from the start of the label so it nice and my sound has progessed along with the label. I really like their output so it’s all good!
What are your top three tunes playing out at the moment?
Bax by Mosca, Signal by me and P-Money and everything by Hostage!
It’s the Crossfire Halloween Massacre you’re playing at, so who would be the last person you’d want to see trick or treating you when you open the door?
Evil clowns freak me out so probably one of them!
And money’s no object – what would you dress up as for the Ultimate Halloween outfit?
That’s a hard one. Always loved the Jason films so probably him, a bloody hockey mask!
Get on Rack N Ruin’s latest release below and find him of Facebook.
Crowns will drop their debut single Kissing Gates on November 14th through Ship Wreckords.
The UK group will also be heading out on tour as support for the King Blues throughout the start of November, the dates for which are below. Also below is a video of the band having some fun around the beach and beyond to the tune of the single.
2nd November – Roundhouse – London
3rd November – O2 Academy 2 – Birmingham
4th November – Academy 2 – Manchester
5th November – The Arches – Glasgow
7th November – Waterfront – Norwich
8th November – Lemon Grove – Exeter
Now just down to Jerry Only, it’s hard to face this new Misfits album without some trepidation. I will confess to being a big fan in the olden times, first reading about these New Jersey Horror Punks in the pages of Sounds magazine, and then some of the more informed ‘zines, before chancing across a copy of their seminal Beware Of 12” for the princely sum of one pound at a record fair in ’84. That record, and the amazing Static Age recordings of the band in their primitive ’78 state, are pretty much the essentials for me. All I’ve needed.
I went and saw Danzig on their first UK tour in ’88 (supporting Metallica) and figured that was as close as I would get to a taste of the Misfits legacy. Then, in the mid-Nineties there was a regrouping of sorts with Only and his guitarist brother Doyle in the line-up. It wasn’t enough for me to go see them initially, but then curiosity got the better, and I stumped up for a ticket to see them at The Camden Underworld. I was suitably entertained, and they put on a crowd pleasing show, high on theatrics and all the hits (from hell). I recall also having a hilarious time one night with former ‘fits guitarist Bobby Steele and drummer Joey Image, whose Undead we put on in Brighton. But my time with the present-day Misfits was done, and in the ensuing years I’ve been only vaguely aware they still existed, and continued to tour.
The Devil’s Rain is 16 all new/original tracks, with Jerry on bass and lead vocals, augmented by one time Black Flag alumni Dez Cadena on guitar, and some young dude on drums. They do a pretty okay job of retaining the Misfits sound, namely Jerry trying to sing like Danzig, and songs loaded with rousing choruses that celebrate B-Movies and Sci-Fi – indeed the track listing reads like an obscure films directory – Land of The Dead, The Black Hole, Twilight of The Dead, Curse of The Mummy’s Hand – and it goes on and on all the way to the closing Death Ray.
If you still hanker for a shot of modern day Misfits then this album ticks a lot of boxes, but expect music that’s often more Rock than Punk, and is just a bit too formulated and dramatic, but I’ve no doubt Jerry has his heart in the right place and has given these songs his very best shot. It’s high on horror business, but just don’t go expecting all hell to break loose.
Son of Dave kicks off his UK tour this week and has announced a free download to celebrate it.
The track, Ain’t Nothin’ But The Blues, is released as a single on October 30th as a download and 7″ vinyl and was originally recoreded by Steven Albini. Get the free download below along with the tour dates:
13/10 Kendal – Brewery Arts
14/10 Manchester – Band on the Wall
20/10 London – Hoxton Bar & Kitchen
22/10 Brighton – The Haunt
27/10 Liverpool – The Masque
28/10 Selby – Selby Town Hall
04/11 Bristol – The Fleece
05/11 Torquay – Blues Festival
Game has announced some UK dates as part of his R.E.D. album tour which is kicking off in the States soon.
The LA rapper will touch down in Dublin on November 20th for the first of five dates culminating in a show at London’s Forum on November 26th. The dates are below and the tickets are on sale now. Check out our review of his latest album to see why you need to be at these shows.
Nov 20th – Olympia Theatre Dublin
Nov 23rd – O2 Academy Newcastle
Nov 24th – O2 Apollo Manchester
Nov 25th – HMV Institute, Birmingham
Nov 26th – HMV Forum, London
When Dilated Peoples MC Evidence announced he was signing to independent rap heavyweights Rhymesayers Entertainment, a number of eyebrows were raised. However, two years down the line, the LA native has finally dropped his second solo album and the label has proved the perfect home for the record, continuing the tradition of fine releases.
This album doesn’t try to be fancy – there’s no sampling obscure hipster indie acts, there’s no turns with Evidence trying his hand at singing – this is a straight up, no holds barred, rap record and it’s all the better for it. Mr Slow Flow laces slamming beats from the likes of long-time friend Alchemist and legendary DJ Premier to fantastic effect, permeated by quality guest spots from the likes of Slug, Aesop Rock, Prodigy of Mobb Deep and Raekwon.
His distinctive voice delivers perfect line after perfect line with lyrics that are both meaningful and yet never convaluted. It says a lot for his talent that he’s able to rap in the way he always did and yet still seem fresh and as such is certain to gain some new fans on this record as well as please his legions of old fans who loved his Weatherman LP so much.
So yes, this is a rap album, nothing more, nothing less. But when you hear his flow over the beats on It Wasn’t Me, You and To Be Continued, you won’t want anything else. Evidence is an underrated gem and hopefully this album will turn more people onto his undoubted talent.
Evidence has dropped another set of visuals from his new album.
It Wasn’t Me is taken from his Cats & Dogs album, out on Rhymesayers Entertainment and is a perfect example of what to expect from the record. Crank it and get your neck snapping, this one bangs.
Don’t forget Evidence is part of the Rhymesayers European Tour which hits London’s Electric Ballroom on November 7th alongside Atmosphere, Blueprint, Brother Ali and Grieves & Budo.
The UK Premiere of Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest will be shown exclusively by The Doctor’s Orders and Soundcrash.
The film will be shown at Koko in London and will be followed by an exclusive live performance from Phife Dawg on November 21st. Doors are at 7pm with the film starting at 8pm. Below is the trailer for the film, which contains interviews with the likes of Common, Beastie Boys, De La Soul, Mos Def, Ludacris, Pete Rock and more.
Bolt Thrower have posted an update to celebrate their 25th anniversary.
To celebrate their “24 years of not splitting up” the band want to organise a “Bolty Birthday Bash” which reunites some of the bands they became friends with over the year for the free event.
On October 24th, Metal Blade Records are re-issuing the band’s three albums Mercenary, Honour Valour Pride and Those Once Loyal on Gatefold coloured vinyl, limited to 1,000 pressings each.
Following the release of their critically acclaimed debut earlier this year, hip hop supergroup Random Axe will play their first UK show tonight at London’s Scala. Random Axe consists of drum loving Detroit super producer Black Milk, Stones Throw’s Guilty Simpson and Brooklyn street rapper Sean Price.
