Category: Features

The Stupids were a shining beacon of light, colour, fun and energy in the harsh black n’ white world of UK 80s punk. While all around these Ipswich teenagers bands screamed and raged with paranoia of nuclear war, depression, misery, riots and the oppressive system of government and stage, Stupids, although still caring and fearful of such matters, strapped on their skateboards, harnessed every single drop of their teenage energy and set about to have as much fun as a human being could possibly have. Songs about skateboards, food, dogshit, insects, dumb stuff, having fun and more skateboarding flowed from every pore.

Their debut album ‘Peruvian Vacation’, released in 1985 is a ferocious rush of youthful energy that detonates in every direction, setting the Stupids off on a journey that would see them heralded by John Peel, garner much-media attention and tour the world. Many members passed through their ranks before the band conked out in 1989. Various members split off into different directions and musical worlds. Feeling the punk rock itch again in 2008, founding member and Stupids guru/drummer/singer Tommy Stupid reformed the band with original guitarist Marty Tuff for the ‘Kids Don’t Like It’ album, released alongside their back catalogue on Boss Tuneage Records. Picking up exactly where they left off, the Stupids exploded into life, touring around the world for another lap of honour.

Back again on Friday 11th of April at the Black Heart in Camden, the band return for their first London gig in three years so we caught up with Tommy to reminisce and bring us up to date with arguably the most important skate punk band the UK have ever had.

When you initially reformed The Stupids in 2008 what were your hopes and aspirations for the band this time around, were you happy with how the band was received all of these years later?

I think for 15 minutes we thought more people would be as excited about our new record as we were. We were pretty astonished that we’d made a full LP that we were really happy with, but it took much longer for the message to get out there. Unfortunately other aspects of our lives took over in the meantime (both good and bad) so we had to put things on hold again about a year after we made it, at the end of 2009.

It wasn’t until earlier this year (2014) we decided to get things rolling again. With new bass player Wild Johnny Stallion in tow (John Roscoe) we quickly got back up to speed and immediately went out and toured France for 10 dates solid with an superb bunch of guys called Swine Punch from Lyon.

Why France in particular? Do you prefer cheese and wine in your older ages these days rather than dog logs?

Because they asked! We can sense when a kindred soul reaches out and extends a genuine invitation. It was 10 days solid of hardcore travel and gigs with possibly the nicest bunch of French guys you’ll ever meet. It was awesome. Seek out Swine Punch.

When you returned to playing live, did you still get the same energy rush out of it as you did as a teenager?

Of course not. Nothing beats the reckless oblivion of being a rampant 15 year old with a giant boner and on stage…..but nearly.

You cited the Stupids’ return as ‘unfinished business’, is returning to punk every so often an itch that you need to scratch?

For me, I’ve always “been a punk”. It did indeed feel like a return to the music after a decade of total immersion into dance/rave music culture in the early 90’s. Punk attitude in its base form goes far beyond the template that’s generally set out for it: Leather jackets, distorted guitar, Sex Pistols, Maximum Rock ‘n Roll etc. Rave culture originally felt very punk in its wreckless freedom of expression and ultra DIY attitude. Apart from that, yes, I desire punk rock, it is my wife.

Talking of scratching, if you look back to recording the hip hop style track ‘Stoopie Boys’ track what memories spring to mind?

Another one of those stupid 15 minute ideas where you think its going to be amazing etc and then it wasn’t/isn’t. Aside from that, it was great! At the time i was living in a squat with this guy Sean from God Told Me To Do It, on Woodstock Road in Finsbury Park and we were both enjoying the phenomena that was NYC Hip Hop. Schooly D, LL Cool J, Beasties and so on. I had recently bought a terrible drum machine to help me record 4-track demos (Yamaha RX21) so we dragged that down to RMS studios, Marty programmed it and then used an AMS delay (or was it a BEL……., can’t remember) to drop in scratches and samples, and we all “rapped”. Great fun, but shit. The Clarks Commando’s is my fave line and I still use the expression “pull a def U-ey” to this day when I’m driving.

The Beasties were killing it on the hype front at that time, you’d hit the cover of the NME on 22nd August 1987 with a great big feature on skateboarding, shit kicked off…

It’s pretty crazy thinking back on it all. Nothing was planned, no pre-conceptions of any kind, just teenagers going nuts doing what we thought was cool and reacting to what we thought was cool. There have been a handful of moments in my life where “pop culture” – for want of a better term – just spins into overdrive and everything seems to come together all at the same time and you have total synergy. 1987 was one of those times. It was completely random that 3 dorks from Ipswich were being courted by the cream of society, from Big Audio Dynamite to David Bowie to Smash Hits centre spreads and NME front covers. It beggars belief – a bit like a Chauncey Gardener situation, but we didn’t think about it for more than 30 seconds and thought it was a laugh a minute. I know it upset the old Vicars of the UK Hardcore scene at the time as it went against the punk rock rules, but we all seem to be able to have a civil conversation these days.

Ph: Tommy and Stevie from the NME cover shoot in 1987 shot by Lawrence Watson.

Do you remember playing on the side of Mon’s ramp in Oxford back in the day whilst a skate jam went down? What other spots did you skate back then, Meanwhile 2?

I definitely remember playing Mon’s Ramp Jam, that was NUTS. I’ve forgotten most about it and I would love to hear more about it. We never played Meanwhile 2 but we were there almost every day in the late 80s skating the shit out of it. That is absolutely my all-time fave spot. I love the fact it’s still there. One side sharp, the other round with a small curved transition at the bottom and then FLAT. Very odd set up but i love it and would be happy to go and skate it tomorrow. You need wide trucks though to be able to grind it. Totally unique spot.

What rig did you ride back then?

Oh there were looooads. The first “wide set up” I had was a Sims Kamikaze with Indy’s and Kryptonic Blues. I made the mistake of swapping the deck for a Vision Agent Orange which snapped about a week later. After that a Santa Cruz Rob Roskopp 3 mini, a Madrid John Lucero Jester, a Bullit mini that I copped off Pushead, an Alva Malba, a Madrid Bill Danforth, a Caballero with Boneite, a Hosoi Hammerhead………………..I could go on.

We have been working on a lengthy Latimer Road vert ramp feature here with Dan Adams, Lance Mountain and many others in the last 6 months that should be ready soon. Did you delve into any vert at the time?

I didn’t. Vert skating was boring for me cos I was scared of the height. I could sometimes manage a backside grind or an edger if the ramp wasn’t too big. For a time Latimer really was the primo UK skate spot. I do remember going down and watching Lucien Hendricks skating but I always preferred banks. Even to this day I prefer banks and bowls.

Reading an old Stupids interview in Kerrang! Magazine recently from 1988 you are very critical of bands at the time (Anthrax, Suicidal Tendencies) that used skating to make their image look cool but didn’t actually skate unlike the Stupids members. Do you still skate?

I do still skate, however the Stupids haven’t written a skate song for a very long time. We stick to relevant themes like organic produce, divorce and those annoying dicks who go to festivals and bring bongos.

Have you checked into what skateboarders are doing lately?

I do, I love skating. For me it’s about the flow rather than the tricks and I enjoy watching someone skate with style and energy rather than micro technical tricks. Saying that, Rodney Mullen is my all time skate hero.

The punk scene is very different now to how it was when The Stupids were first around as we enter an era of nostalgia and reissues, but what do you think is better about the scene now? Or worse?

Obviously I’m older so I can afford to buy more records and go to more gigs. Personally I think punk is a wholly nostalgic scene these days. There’s no real descent, no real attempt at subterfuge.

So, let’s talk about this deluxe re-issue of ‘Peruvian Vacation’ that is due out soon. It’s an epic record and a firm favourite for us in here. What will be included on it? Will any more of your back catalogue be getting luxury re-issues?

Aston and Julie at Boss Tuneage Records have made a huge amount of money over the last few years, especially with the Stupids stuff. I believe it’s kept them in Ferrari’s. Anyway, their way of thanking us for elevating their lifestyle was to re-issue the re-issues in an even more decadent and luxurious fashion. Peruvian Vacation is a double LP affair with the various demos and extra tunes from that era and the first time on vinyl in most cases. It’s going to be fucking amazing! Next up will be another one, no idea what but it’s going to be velvet and gold and just ultra lush.

Peruvian Vacation has a very memorable intro with its ghoulish bells, ripping guitar solos and the sound of you shouting ‘fucking shit’! Explain the setting of how that album was recorded.

At the time cross-over metal was the absolute THING in hardcore and we wanted to take the piss. We were in Andrew Fryer’s parents attic in Stutton, Suffolk, (Treetop Ave Studios) and we made use of his tape echo and his copy of BBC horror sound FX. We co-opted Ed Shred, (or Wenn as he was known in those days) to act as Satan and we did it all very quickly…….you know, 36 hours. Peruvian Vacation was insanely cheap and fast to record. I laugh when I read stuff like “the first Ramones album cost $1000 to make”, well, Peruvian cost less than £100. So piss off.

Recording in a house must have had its limitations then, it must have been a blast…

Yep. We caused the ceiling to collapse onto Andrew Fryer’s parents bed. Other than that……jeez……we used Dolly Mixtures equipment without asking them! All the drums and guitar amps…..Dolly Mixture. We also recorded over Andrew’s sister’s show tunes groups master tapes, which you can hear at the beginning of This Is the Norm…..that might have someone from Dolly Mixture in it too! So, all you hipster dicks that shop at Rough Trade east and buy Dolly Mixture re-issues….piss off.

Did Bruce Springsteen ever get in touch by the way?

I think he might have touched Wolfie at some point.

You’ve had a lot of people come and go over the years. You now have Ipswich legend John Roscoe on bass (formally of bands such as Perfect Daze and Sink). How did that come about?

Our last bass player finally left about a year and a half ago and at the time I was up to my neck in a Klute LP and running my rather shit drum and bass label, Commercial Suicide, so I said to Marty, I can’t be arsed to look for another bass player but if one falls into our laps then I’m up for it. That weekend I was up in Ipswich, bumped into Johnny, mentioned we’d stopped because of the bass player and he just said “I’ll do it” without even asking. So, for the first time in my life, a bass player fell into my lap. I think he seriously regrets it now.

What part of the Stupids career so far are you most proud of?

`Peruvian Vacation’ and ‘The Kids Don’t Like It’, because they’re both two very real, full on band albums, the rest were kinda studio albums.

Do you intend to record a new Stupids album any time soon? Any new tunes in the works?

We do, aye. This ones going to be a dub step album with a touch of hipster house.

Hipster house is so next year, can’t wait for that! We guess you are still a keen punk record collector and listen to a lot of new bands. Who’s on your recommended list at the moment?

Whether they’re new or old, I don’t care, but at the moment I’m bang into Pusrad, Deep Sleep, punk or not I love the Sleaford Mods, they’re about the most truly punk band around at the moment. Ummmmm, there’s a Die 7″ I quite like. I loved Tremors, dunno what they’re up to. Of course there’s tons and tons of other stuff.

What can we expect from the Black Heart gig on the 11th of April, you’re first London gig in 3 years?

45 minutes of sweat.

And lastly… have you ever seen a grown man naked?

Yes, one time and I’m afraid the details must remain with me.

The Stupids play the Black Heart venue in Camden, London next Friday 11th April. They will be joined by Leeds’ Jaded Eyes, who feature members of Voorhees, The Horror, John Holmes, Dead Pets, Geoffrey Oi!Cott and many many more. Grab the remaining few tickets left from here.

White Glove – Division Street

Let’s kick this off with some fun shit by Portland trio White Glove who bring a wedge of dope, lo-fi steez to the table. Their ‘Summertime’ EP just hit the web this month ahead a full album release. Track it down. – Zac

Bad Breeding – Age of Nothing

Mixing British punk vocals with forceful, raging hardcore and severing noise, Stevenage based Bad Breeding have only one track on offer right now after their 5 months in existence but what an introduction. This debut track absolutely fucking rips. Look out for this lot on the road whilst they hone their craft, they will be ones to watch this year without a doubt. – Zac

Jay Reatard – ‘Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle’

He may have passed away with an overdose back in 2010 but Jay Reatard left this dope Nirvana cover as part of an Record Store Day tribute album that will be available in April. He sounds like a dalek on this making it even more creepy than before. Ceremony’s cover of ‘Tourettes’ from this release has got to be the stand out. Until then, this is a great taster… – Zac

Pusrad – Smartrams EP

Pusrad feature ex-members of absolutely mental 80s high-speed jazz-hardcore-freak-out Swedish band Raped Teenagers and time has not mellowed them. The latest Pusrad EP features four songs on one side of 7” vinyl, of which only one track exceeds the twenty-second mark. Yet, in that twenty seconds Pusrad cram in time-changes, middle eights, versus and choruses, all played at hyper-speed with spot-on precision and timing. They really are something quite special. Blink and you’ll miss them. – James Sherry

NO – ‘Great Space’

It’s fair to say that The Shitty Limits were one of the best things to happen in UK punk rock over the last ten years; since their split they’re fractured into a zillion different bands and projects and here’s another. Not only do NO have one of the best punk rock band names ever, they also create a blistering high-speed noise that is smothered in feedback, fuzz, filth and distortion. How could you possibly say No to that? – James Sherry

Solids – ‘Cold Hands’

From Montreal, Solids are the finest two piece band to have graced my ears as of late. Their debut album Blame Confusion is out now and a sure must have for 2014. Crammed full of scuzzy, post-punk belters, all of which travel faster than full throttle, ‘Cold Hands’ is where this album reaches climax. It sounds absolutely unstoppable. – Dave Palmer

Rasputin’s Secret Police – ‘Zoe’

This duo are so underground it hurts. Locked away in the basements of Philadelphia for over 13 years, exclusively available to those in the know, Rasputin’s Secret Police are finally reaching out to a wider audience with this stonking new track. Lyrically a jab at a less than loyal ex-girlfriend, you can hear the sentiment in singer/guitarist Brandon’s sincere vocal, coupled with a groove so tight it feels like it could snap at any second, this is impossible to listen to and keep still. – Dave Palmer

Viet Cong – ‘Bunker Buster’

Canada’s music scene goes from strength to strength with various new bands emerging that are on our radar this year. Viet Cong is a new project you should be aware of that featuring ex members of ‘Women’. Their stunning new track delivers beautiful musical jamming and spacious sounds that will melt your ears. The full album cannot come soon enough. – Zac

Silo – ‘Stationary’

After 13 years of silence, Danish rock trio Silo are set to release a new album for April 2014. The first glimpse of Silo’s new twisted metal sound comes in the form of ‘Stationary’. Digitally sculpted guitars and dark, synchronized beats create deep, industrious drones. This is one to close your eyes to and let the monotonous vibrations take over. – Dave Palmer

King Khan & The Shrines – ‘Road Tape’

The best way to end this round up is with one of the most sensational mixtapes we have heard in a while. It has the lot, from soul to rock n’roll, to funk and hip hop, but all put together in the graceful way only King Khan knows. These fellas tour the UK next month, so don’t miss them, as Khan brings only the purest of high entertainment and a night out you will never forget. Until next month… – Zac

Big Ups – Goes Black

Let’s kick this off with something new that pays homage to the good old days of 80s hardcore and gets away with it. With brash stompers like ‘Goes Black’, Brooklyn punks Big Ups can shout all they goddam want. We will be listening. They sit somewhere between Career Suicide, Regulations and Fugazi. UK live dates this week.- Zac

Vertical Scratchers – Memory Shards

Another new track from what could well be the album of the year dropped last week. Vertical Scratchers is one part John Schmersal (Enon/Brainiac) another part Christian Beaulieu (Triclops!/Anywhere) and is catchier than the Beatles and the Beach Boys together. The full album stream is here. Do it. – Zac

Habits – ‘Splendor of the Panic’

Habits is the brainchild of electronic visionary Dustin M. Krapes, pro wrestler Dithy Ramb and taxidermist Gabriel Armenta. Together this trio of freaks create a huge, synthesized fuss. Brought to you from the stellar Fleeting Youth Records,’Splendor of the panic’ is a collage of fuzzy, psychedelic grooves. Get into it. – Dave Palmer

Tideland – ‘Carved In Mine’

We all like a spot of shoegazing from time to time don’t we! Especially when it’s mixed with some post-hardcore snarl and splattered with sincerely rocking riffs. Taken from their 2013 album Lull,’Carved In Mine’ will have you hooked on Tideland in an instant. If you get a buzz surfing waves of distortion and crave a soaking of delicious guitar hooks then this is the band for you. – Dave Palmer

Thee Oh Sees – ‘Penetrating Eye’

Despite announcing that they’re going on a hiatus in December ’13, Thee Oh Sees clearly couldn’t fight the urge to create some more fuzzed up slabs of space rock, having just unveiled the crushing ‘Penetrating Eye’. New album ‘Drop’ gets a release in April.- Joe Parry

Future Death – ‘Basements’

By replacing some of the aggression in Perfect Pussy with a Fang Island-esque sense of playfulness, Austin’s Future Death have created a track that is as sugary sweet as it is disorientating. At just 2.20, you’ll be pressing play over and over to get your fix. – Joe Parry

The So So Glos – ‘Lost Weekend’

This band tore down the walls of the Sebright Arms and the Garage this week with their fun filled sing-a-long tunes and sneer-laden punk swagger. ‘Lost Weekend’ was the highlight and had the room shaking. – Zac

Pussy Riot – ‘Putin Will Teach You How To Love’

Famous for everything but their music, on this track Pussy Riot finally hit out with some seething punk rock rage that belts as hard musically as it does politically. We know they’re not a ‘band’, we know music is not the main objective, but it’s great to hear this anger set to some high-energy noise. There’s nothing out there more punk than this. These girls have serious guts. Anyone who saw the shocking footage of Pussy Riot being attacked outside the Sochi Olympics (footage of which is featured in this video) will know just how much of a threat they are considered to be by the Russian authorities. And when was the last time you could say that punk was an actual threat? – James Sherry

Psychedelic Black – ‘Melting’

‘Melting’ is the first outing by an artist called Logan Hyde from Boise, Idaho. It’s rare that a song is so perfectly titled; ‘Melting’ positively drips with lysergic, squelching psychedelic pop that is utterly morish and highly addictive. This is all there is for now but if ‘Melting’ is anything to go by, there’s going to be huge potential in Psychedelic Black’s future work. The Flaming Lips better watch their backs. – James Sherry

Fat White Family – Touch The Leather (Redux)

This will go down as one of the most classic videos of 2014 without a doubt. But aside from Roger Sargent’s incredible direction, musically Fat White Family have been a joy to listen to so far with their dose of seedy psych and thought provoking garage steez. – Zac

Photos by Victoria Roper and Robin Christian (B&W)

Contemporary shoegazers Cheatahs have made a debut album (review here) that has graced our stereo in here for the last couple of months. Self-produced and sounding fresh despite a nod to 90s bands such as Swervedriver, this four-piece are not shy of whipping up an incredible soundscape. Dave Palmer spoke to them ahead of release to find out how this long player made it onto vinyl.

Tell us how Cheatahs began?

We all moved to London for different reasons initially but ended up meeting and starting this band because we were friends. Nathan is from Edmonton, Dean from San Diego, Marc from Dresden and James is from Leicester.

Before you all united and formed Cheatahs what were your past musical ventures?

James and I were briefly in a band when we first met but didn’t really get to connect over music again until a few years ago. I’ve played guitar in a few bands as has James and Dean but never in something like this where from the beginning it has been us four. From first show to first album.

Wichita have put out some amazing bands, signing with them must have been a huge inspiration. Have you dealt with labels much in the past or have you kept it all DIY ‘till now?

Signing to Wichita was pretty fun actually. We’d met them and got drunk and talked about our favorite bands, a lot of those bands they had put records out for back in the Creation days. We’d previously put out an EP on Marshall Teller Records and a few 7″s on friends labels.

You’ve always worked without the influence of a producer and called all the shots in the studio yourselves. Were you not tempted to team with a producer for your debut?

We were tempted with getting someone in to do the mixing but a “producer” was never something we talked about. We work in a pretty self-critical way that can sometimes be pretty brutal so a producer would have just gotten in the way, or may have talked us into putting something out we weren’t happy with. At least this time around.

You guys have a gargantuan guitar sound. Who are your guitar heroes and main musical influences?

Link Ray, J Mascis, Kevin Shields, Neil Young.

SXSW, Primavera, a US tour with Wavves and Fidlar, and you also toured with Metz. Are you looking forward to having some time off touring?

Touring is a really great, strange and unique experience. Especially the way we’ve had to tour this year. In a mini van, all in the same hotel room/friends floor. It takes a lot out of you and the whole thing is designed to set you up for 30-45 minutes of fun once a day. Luckily, those 30-45 minutes are usually worth it.

Amongst all your gigs last year, how did you cram in the time to craft your debut? How did you find the trip to the countryside, and why Cornwall?

We stayed in last summer! And it was a decent summer in London as well! After being able to play a lot of the songs live for the first time on the Wavves tour we came back and locked ourselves into Dean’s windowless studio and finished it. The trip to Cornwall seems like years ago. It was a totally different experience than recording the record. That is when we wrote it so our heads were in such a different place than when you are trying to realize it. Next time we are definitely doing it in a studio with windows. Or at least not over the summer time. Conrwall was where we found someone nice enough to let us rent their thatched cottage and make noise all day long. It was in a valley so was fairly secluded. We’d recommend it.

So did the songs on your debut materialize while out in the sticks? Or have you had them down for a while?

A couple of the songs were written in the studio this summer but most of them were the ones we demoed in Cornwall last autumn and tweaked after the USA tour.

Of all the great new bands you’ve shared the stage with over the year do you have any personal favourites? Who do you think is going to make the biggest noise in 2014?

We’ve been really fortunate to play with really nice people this year! Metz are seriously the nicest guys ever and are one of the best punk bands in the world right now. Really looking forward to hearing what FIDLAR come out with next, who are also great guys. Our friends Primitive Parts are getting material ready for a record so we are pretty excited to hear that, and to play with them at our release show at Birthdays in February.

So what’s next for you guys after your debut lands? Where do you want to sail this ship to?

Most probably playing as many shows as we can. Let’s sail to Jamaica, heard it’s nice this time of year!

Cheatahs’ debut album is out on the wonderful Wichita record label on 10th February. Head to their site to order one, find them on Facebook and find them on tour at the following shows.

Nothing like kicking off 2014 with a bunch of new music. There’s tonnes of it circling out there already so this new monthly will be stuffed with tracks that are found in our ears the most. The 10 tracks we have hand-picked below fall into the good old indie/rock genre, encompassing psych, shoegaze, garage, sludge, ….call it whatever you want, this is what is playing in here from our staff writers. Press play, listen, buy and destroy and then send us yours.

BTW, this image was ripped off the web. If you are in it and want to sue us, up yours.

THE BLACK TAMBOURINES: ‘Ghost At A Party’

Like a box of Christmas chocolates that are still resting on your lounge tabletop, we kick this off with a tune that actually came out in late 2013 but was too good not to reblog. Prepared yourself for a dose of laid back, cool-as-fuck, garage-psych from Cornwall’s The Black Tambourines who are one of the most underrated British bands of last year. Search out their self-titled album for 11 tracks that you will be hooked on for months. – Zac

MENACE BEACH: ‘Where I Come From’

Some call this lot a Leeds supergroup due to members of Pulled Apart by Horses, Hookworms and Sky Larkin. This track lifted from their Lowtalker EP swirls inside your brain like a double dipped ohm on a fairground ride. Beautiful sounds. – Zac

VERTICAL SCRATCHERS – ‘These Plains’

Vertical Scratchers is the latest musical adventure from former Brainiac and Enon man John Schmersal. Teaming up with ex-Triclops/Anywhere member Christian Beaulieu, Schmersal is back with yet more quirky skewed pop genius. ‘These Plains’ is crammed full of melodies that embed themselves into your skull and point blank refuse to leave. Their debut album ‘Daughter Of Everything’ is released through Merge Records on the 3rd of March. If this track is anything to go by, the album is going to be on heavy rotation in our heads this year! – James Sherry

POLEDO – ‘King Of Cool’

‘King Of Cool’ is the latest from lo-fi scuzz band Poledo – taken from a collaborative 12” from the very awesome Art Is Hard and Reeks of Effort labels. The tracks strength lies in its simplicity. It’s a carefree slice of fuzzy pop from a band who clearly don’t over think or over complicate when they know they’re onto a good thing. – Joe Parry

GIRL BAND – ‘Lawman’

Unsettling razor-sharp experimentalism has never sounded as groovy as ‘Lawman’ from Dublin’s Girl Band. If Sonic Youth and The Locust had a schizophrenic baby, chances are they’d make sounds similar to this. – Joe Parry

SLIPPERTAILS – ‘Hip New Jerk’

This sludgy rock duo has provided the soundtrack to my life for the past fortnight. I use the term sludge loosely, mind. Slippertails’ debut album There’s A Disturbing Trend holds elements of cross-legged campfire folk, as well as the essential crash, bang, wallop. But their first single from the record, ‘Hip New Jerk’ sucks you in straight from the off. This is guaranteed to get your head banging. – Dave Palmer

DAY RAVIES – ‘Cocoon’

Day Ravies churn out the most agreeable dream pop ditties. They’ve got a great debut album full of them available to stream from their bandcamp, which is also host to one of the coolest sleeve designs of last year. ‘Cocoon’ is one of the more abrasive tracks from Tussle. There’s a Sonic Youth swagger in there that steers this tune away from the twee and back towards the shadows. – Dave Palmer

CHEATAHS – ‘Get Tight’

This bands music has stained the ceiling in our office. We’re all hooked. Nearly everything they’ve put out has had heavy rotation in here. Their Wichita debut is set to land February 10th and is sure to be a winner. Keep your eyes on the site for an interview with the band coming very soon. – Dave Palmer

THE MEN – ‘Pearly Gates’

Prepare for a pedal to the metal soul explosion from The Men’s latest offering taken from their forthcoming new album ‘Tomorrow’s Hits’, which lands on 3rd March. This band are like Ween, they can morph into whatever music genre that takes their fancy. Once again, the metamorphosis doesn’t disappoint as this crew go from campfire marshmallow dippers into Iggy Pop’s collection of fired up MC5 singles. Rip roaring radness on 11. – Zac

BLACK LIPS – ‘Boys in the Wood’

Those barfly motherfuckers the Black Lips have returned with yet another dope new album titled ‘Underneath the Rainbow’ scheduled for release this March. This first offering titled ‘Boys in the Wood’ is a drunken sing-along with no fooling around. The album is killer with no filler and comes free with an abundance of dirty garage filled swagger. Get hyped. – Zac

Words by: Jono Coote
Photos: Ricky Adam

It sounds like the pinnacle of music journalism cliché but Salem Rages are truly a tough band to pigeonhole into a genre. Their blend of punk rock and gothic opera is reminiscent at times of The Damned or Joe Wood era TSOL but with added hints of hardcore, indie, the bark of a frontside grind at New Bird and the slap of a silver cross against Danzig’s chest wig.

Live they are a reliably raucous whirlwind of chugging guitars, howled vocals and eye makeup, a theatrical stand out on the hardcore bills they are often found on. Bemusing to some, by dint of these ferocious live shows and a genuine drive which gives lie to their punk roots they have built up a loyal following of Salem Sect members around the country.

With new album ‘Splinters’ just released on Visible Noise, I sent some questions to the band which were then printed out, replies were handwritten and the finished scrawled documents were then scanned back for return – summing up fairly succinctly the way in which the group operates, nothing by halves here!