Fresh news on the new skatepark build in West Ealing dropped into our inbox just now. It seems the park has had a complete re-design by Freestyle Skateparks from the previous plans so get hyped on this little number to be open on the Bank Holiday weekend in August if the build all goes well.
The last minute decision to swap a session at Stockwell for Bay 66 this Saturday worked for 250 pro gazers as the Supra team descended into West London following a packed signing session at Slam City Skates. Watch the footage that has been posted online this week by Ravenous filmer Martin Kennelly featuring Stevie Williams, Tom Penny, Terry Kennedy, Lizard King and many more.
We hope that Ben Grove’s head is now in one piece too after skating like a loon under the influence of too much fun. Good times.
‘The Redemption of…’
Overground Records
Well this was a surprise… I had no idea that Zounds had a new album in the works.
With a legacy that dates all the way back to the early Eighties, and a handful of cracking releases on Rough Trade and Crass, Zounds were strictly on the Anarcho-side of the divide. Never that prolific, theirs, and founder/songwriter Steve Lake’s solo outings, has been a strictly intermittent operation – a less is more situation (if you will). I last saw one of these rare gigs at the tail end of last year, in the close confines of Brighton’s autonomous café The Cowley Club, and they nailed a righteous set that had an enthused crowd of local punkers and agitators jumping and singing in raucous appreciation of the infectious music, and stirring messages.
So, I was keen to hear this album, as I’m sure a few new numbers were aired that night at The Cowley. Jeez, as a result, I’ve been playing this disc end-to-end repeatedly. A total grower. All the key Zounds components are present; sparky guitar lines and sharp melodies to Steve’s passionate and sardonic vocals. The opening number “Cry Genie Cry” and its accompanying Bowie lifted riff, has Steve lamenting that he “still don’t know what he’s supposed to be”… oh I know that feeling, I really (really) will work out one of these days what I want I’m going to do with my life… a quandary I’ve been in for the last… err… 30 years, ack! Elsewhere, Steve interjects on a world consumed by consumerism, civil liberties being squeezed, humanitarian crisis, and war… fuckin’ war, and why we’d be better off making love, man. And that’s Zounds in essence, dreaming of a more peaceful world, I can’t argue with that…fanciful thinking perhaps, but we all need something to hang on to.
A fine piece of work!
Pete Craven
‘Last Rites’
Metal Blade
Be forewarned, for from the ashes, Pentagram has risen. Doom titans Bobby Liebling and Victor Griffin have finally reunited and again unleashed Pentagram’s classic 70’s doom thunder with Last Rites. Alongside bassist Greg Turley, who played with Pentagram in the 90’s, and drummer Tim Tomaselli of Griffin’s band Place of Skulls, Liebling and Griffin have managed to again set the wheels in motion towards reclaiming their rightful place on the altar of doom after almost two decades in shadows and turbulence.
The first track, Treat Me Right, stands strong as one hell of a launch pad for the album. Albeit with more production and thicker distortion than the likes of the reigning self-titled album—later reissued as Relentless—Griffin stays true and lures you from the get go with a familiar crushing wall of guts and gravel. He cuts out while you’re led by a quick drum build up only to lean straight back in, neck and neck with the classic, demanding, soulful voice of a now sober, crack-less Liebling. It’s definitely a loaded (re) introduction track; a proclamation of their resurrection and return from obscurity.
Call The Man, the second track, emerges with an eerie intro of bends and death clock bass drums, culminating in a march of very heavy, very 70’s doom riffage. The following track, Into The Ground, picks up right where the last left off, plowing on with surging bluesy doom shred.
For those of you who feared, as I did, that the new album would not retain Pentagram’s true form, or that it may not deliver, you can all rest easy. The album is solid, rich, and very well put together; an even balance between re-recorded songs and demos from the 70’s—Call The Man and Walk in Blue Light for example— and new material.
Tracks like 8, Everything’s Turning to Night, and American Dream drive home Griffin’s inherent musical depth and emotion as well as exhibiting a throatier, still flawless Liebling. Together they play with all the force and strength of the band’s golden years.
Each track—even, to some extent, the ballad Windmills and Chimes—continues to stand musically true to form, reeling off more of the Pentagram of old with a slightly more modern, or perhaps “cleaner” edge—if I can get away with that.
The albums Relentless and Be Forewarned will always reign in strength and style. But I take no issue with the newer, thick distortion and sound of Last Rites. It is a triumph.
Shane Herrick
Mastodon’s singer/guitarist Brent Hinds has appreared in a rad local restaurant advert. Watch this and get ready to order a Leviathan burger next time you pass this joint.
There’s nothing like watching fresh footage of Daewon Song so stop reading about Daewon’s new Almost collab 12’er on DVS Shoes and push the play button.
Yet again, the master delivers another historic video edit to add to his already pristine collection. Amazing.
Scottish gnarler Div Adams features in this photo blog feature on the Thrasher site this week that is full of rad photos from what looks like a great session stateside. The pools were also skated by Robbie Russo and Tom Remillard so click here for the story.
Artist, writer and legendary skateboarder Mark Gonzales has a new book coming out titled ‘Instead of Eros Avenged‘ via an independent publishing house called Nieves this July.
The book will feature select drawings, paintings and mobile phone photographs. The photographs depict a life of joyful and chaotic spontaneity, showing Gonzales posing with fans, hanging out with family and friends and of course, performing wallrides with text by Christopher Churchill.
Get this on your shopping list as you know this will be one to have in your living room at all times. For the latest on Gonz’ travels to the UK, click here and watch the video of The Obstacle jam in London below.
Check out Muska’s rain flip from the Supra tour.
Hold Tight Henry has some more recent footage of sessions down at Southbank that went online this lunchtime. Have some tricks from Casper Brooker, Paddy Jones, Sam Taylor and many more.