Not to be confused with the UK Subhumans, these Canadians rode in on the first wave of Punk Rock, releasing their debut EP in ’78, the seminal ‘Death to The Sickoids / Oh Canaduh’, and the phenomenal album ‘Incorrect Thoughts’ in 1980.
Following mucho touring in their homeland and the US West-Coast, their second album ‘ No Wishes No Prayers’ was released on Black Flag’s SST label, but by then the band was as good as finished, with singer Brian Goble having departed to pick up bass playing duties in DOA.
Gerry Hannah, the original bassist in the Subhumans had already quit the band after the debut album to become involved as a full time political activist in a group calling itself Direct Action, who really did walk it like they talked it – their targets included blowing up an environmentally unfriendly hydroelectric substation on Vancouver Island, and bombing a plant which manufactured parts for the American cruise missile. The group got caught by the authorities, and Gerry was sentenced to ten years in the can, eventually getting released after five.
In ’95 Gerry and Brian reunited as The Subhumans and have played sporadically during the ensuing years. In 2005 they solidified the line-up with the return of original guitarist Mike Graham, and veteran drummer Jon Card, who has previously seen active duty in Personality Crisis, SNFU and DOA. And the upshot is this album of 14 brand new songs, and having spun it a number of times, I have to say it’s pretty damn great. There’s nothing fancy as such is what these guys deliver, just solid straight up Punk with a melodic punch and some hard rocking tunes to boot. There are some really wry lyrical statements, with the War on Terror getting much attention, and American Foreign policy in general.
I’d go as far as to say the Gerry Hannah penned ‘Moving Forward’ is one of the best songs I’ve heard in a long time, a power packed number that totally nails American political hypocrisy – “heard your rhetoric again today , I don’t believe a single word you say. Telling us you’re gonna make the world free, But I know my history. You’ve never minded tyranny, As long as it was used against your enemy. You’ve always been willing to look the other way, As long as it was good for the USA”. The opening track ‘World at War’ is actually about the personal struggle of homeless and oppressed people to survive. Really thoughtful and compassionate sounds and an album I can thoroughly recommend as worth your attention.
Pete Craven
The Ataris have put up a new song on their myspace page called The Cheyenne Line. The track will be featured on their upcoming album Welcome The Night, which is due out at the end of February.
Reports are that V2 Records in America has been shut down, with 35 members of staff being let go. The parent company, Sheridan Square, had spent $43 million buying indie labels and catalog releases. The company will keep its catalog but will not issue any new music from their frontline acts [which includes the White Stripes].
Kevin Shields, guitarist and vocalist of My Bloody Valentine, recently talked about his interest in doing some new work with the band. He said:
Flying over the Atlantic Ocean, there was only one thing on my mind – I was travelling with my best mate to Minneapolis, Minnesota to attend a show that I was more hyped for than any I’d ever been to. Having been a fan of the Doomtree crew for a good while now, it seemed like a dream come true to be able to get out to their hometown and watch the entire crew play live to their adoring fans.
The crowd got hyped for POS‘ Yeah Right, turned into a frenzy for Sims‘ 15 Blocks, heard new Cecil Otter material with Sufficiently Breathless and 100 Fathers, witnessed Dessa rap, sing and sway her way into everyone’s hearts with Mineshaft and took part in Mictlan tearing the place down with Re-Evolve.
Here he is again! Gaining more confidence with each release. Taken from the album “In the Hour of Chaos” which I haven’t yet heard. It’s a bargain at a normal price of a 12″ and it includes 6 different tracks, the best of which is “Spawn of Pazuzu” ft Severe and Dramacide. Of course this is all opinion.
Well, we’ve already covered the album “Panorama” so this is just a brief look at the second 12″ to be released. “Syriana Style” sticks to the general feel of the album. It focuses on world politics alongside a kind of offbeat tune. I prefer the B-side on this 12″ “Anti-Grey“. Its got the old eighties electronic sound to it and includes a sniff of an old eighties song as a kind of hook. Check it out and see if you recognise it. You probably will.
This tune is a big party tune, great for the dance floor in a big club. A funky tune and a catchy hook makes a quality tune to play out on a Saturday night. I’m in to this one, the quick flowing lyrics act as another instrument and improve the tune even more. There are quotes on the record sleeve that say DJ Yoda and DJ Skitz think this is a quality tune. If you don’t believe me, I think you should listen to them.
“War” is taken from the Terra Firma album “The Foundation” (which has already been released, I might add). Yep, good track. It has a military march feel to it. There’s a bit of aggression in there to keep you on your toes and get that blood flowing through your body. This tune mixes well into the Braintax tune “Anti-Grey” as mentioned above. The two just seem to fit nicely. You get the instrumental as a B-side so this can be good for you DJ’s out there as well. One worth having in my opinion. 
I have put this tune on here because I said I would. This is Pitbull, he makes music that will never be played in my stereo again. If you like the type of music that has that build up like that Ice Cube tune “You Can Do It” (at least that’s what I think its called) then you’ll like this. Imagine some gansta bitch shakin’ her big booty and all that kind of crap and that’s what you’ve got here. Sorry everyone, but this song is pure banter! If you want to have a laugh, go on his Myspace page.
It’s an unfortunately rare occasion in the RnB genre for anyone to possess genuine variety. Artists cash in on what’s hot and focus their music one just one aspect of the genre with one branded sound. Whether it is a sweet, soulful voice or a raw, jagged husky rasp peppered with rebellious lyrics. Kelis is no such girl. Four albums down the line and she’s still pushing the boundaries on her singing abilities.
Itching, right, is one of those weird everyday activities, like sneezing, that bizarrely comes equipped with a sense of pleasure. You wouldn’t have thought it at all, but it’s the bright side of having say, a nasty rash. Like a nasty rash, Tupac, despite being six feet under for a decade now, refuses to let his mark on the world fade. But like a nasty rash, it does come with a bright side. The bright side, like itching away, is hearing more and more dope albums comprised of unheard recordings from the man himself, mixed up with some rhymes from today’s hard hitters. This is one of the best post-mortem releases yet. Ol’ 2pac must have been one horny fucker with that microphone, as you’ll only recognise one verse from his previous albums. Saucy eh?
A question I’m positive has been asked on many occasions is – “How many times must you re-introduce yourself Mr. Carter?” We all know his name by now; it’s not hard to dismiss one of the best, if not the straight up fucking Godfather of modern hip hop. Quitting again Jay-Z? Oh yeah? Pull the other one mate.
Fat Joe has been in the game (no, not the rap artist you filthy cunts) for many a moon now. A Latino homeboy with a tremendous brewery of experience in all aspects of the hip-hop culture. Dabbling with various big names from all over the spectrum, Nas, Biggie, Wu-Tang’s Raekwon and Jennifer Lopez to offer a drop of ink on a novel full of collaborative success. In his latest, and seventh full-length offering, aptly penned “Me, Myself and I” he does his shit alone, and goes right back to his roots. This is straight up groggy, vicious, hostile rap.
After having their album Pro Pain put back for a couple of years due to legal wrangles, Mars Ill wanted to be able to give their fans something immediate, despite it being the same year as Pro Pain was [finally] put out. And so the album Old Ironsides was made available by the group to say thank you for the waiting and the continued support and with it coming in a rustic envelope with wax seal, you know it’s had a lot of effort put into it.
When you release a CD so limited that you’re still pressing it up only hours before the biggest show of your career, you know it’s gonna be something a little bit special. Doomtree’s Cecil Otter managed to get his things together in time to have a limited run of his new record Rebel Yellow out at the Doomtree Blowout 2 recently and I’m damn glad he did.
Another Doomtree release that I picked up at Blowout 2, this was performed in parts during the interval of the show with Marshall spinning the finger-lickin’ good shit whilst the local breakers performed on stage. I would say that this CD puts the “fun” in funk, but that sounds corny as hell so I’ll leave that nonsense out. If you wanna strut your stuff, bounce your booty or just plain dance like you’ve got a scorpion attached to your nuts, this is the CD for you.
Braille has been bringing out quality hip hop for a while now, and this new release provides his typical blend of insightful lyrics and catchy beats. The record begins on a high with the second track, the Tony Stone produced Pour It Out and the following 2 tracks, I Wouldn’t Do It [featuring fellow HHIM labelmates Sivion, Surreal, Big Rec and Theory Hazit] and the infinitely happy sounding Everything’s Changed.
What is it about the French I love? Ok, so loads of my family are French and I feel as French as I do English, but they have this uncanny ability to bring out music that I wouldn’t like if it came from America, but love because of its Gallic swagger. TTC have always been innovative in their music and their new album, 3615, continues the trend even using the Hokey Kokey in a song.
I was lucky enough to catch Ecid playing a show in Minneapolis when I was over in December and after only 3 songs of his set, I was persuaded to pick up his record. Needless to say it was a great decision because Biograffiti is a quality album, one which I urge you to pick up quicktime.
Saturday Morning Soundtrack is the Minneapolis/St Paul collective featuring Ecid, and Impulse, Abzorbr’s Kristoff Krane, Hecatomb’s Capaciti. The record starts as it means to go on with the darkly warped Adopted Birth Defect, with the rappers all bringing their own flavour to the distorted plate.
209 is back with his third and final instalment of the Exstatic series, 2 years after having released Stillexstatic. With 4 vocal tracks being partnered later on with their instrumental versions, his beats give the platform to Kon, Cappo and C-Mone, to give their personal flow down.
I got given this CD of Maryland’s Educated Consumers by a friend whilst on holiday in the States and put it in the player knowing nothing about the group or their music. After the first track, Steal, had finished, I wanted to know a lot more. A distinctly energetic beat layered under the rapper’s flow works really well on the track and when second track Catch A Glimpse followed in with some funky piano styles, I knew this was one freebie that I glad I got handed.
This is the new record from the duo that brought us Wait (The Whisper Song) which featured the chorus “Wait til you see my dick bitch”. Looking at the tracklisting on the back of the album, I saw tracks called 1st Booty On Duty, Big Boy Liquor and Jigglin, and I feared for my ears.
Amon Tobin has never been on to rest on conventional laurels and his new single, Bloodstone [accompanied by the tracks Esthers and Here Comes The Moon Man] certainly supports this claim. Tobin and his assistants went out on the streets with high sensitivity microphones, recording all sorts of sounds, from singing neighbours to ants eating grass, and then working them into the fabric of his music.
Leyton’s Shameless has been labelled as the pioneer of the grindie scene by the NME. And we all know what I think of that rag. Regardless, this is a catchy track about not pissing about with your life, taking a chance and doing what you have to do.
This month’s artist that I wanna big up is 
Lets be honest here, Incubus‘ last album ‘A Crow Left Of The Murder’ was shit. It left many fans disappointed and it never really had the same initial impact as previous albums. Hurrah then, that Incubus are back with a vengeance with their distinctive blend of rock riffs and catchy pop hooks in new album Light Grenades.
The four piece hailing from Dundee have been quite the success story in 2006. Touring with Primal Scream and Babyshambles and with a spot on the upcoming NME tour, this success looks like it will continue well into 2007 if this single is anything to go by. This shiny, happy tune has an aura of 90’s pop about it, with a little head nod to the likes of Space and Kula Shaker.
This must be the eleventy billionth Aerosmith ‘Best Of’ that has been rolled out over the years. Fans surely must be getting a tad pissed off by now that they need to keep forking out for a whole album of stuff they already own just to get a couple of new tracks stuck on the end. Ok, the new tracks ‘Sedona Sunrise’ and ‘Devil’s Got A new Disguise’ on this ‘Best Of’ aren’t bad, but they are hardly stand alone classics in the making either. If you have just discovered Aerosmith, this so called ‘Best Of’ CD is not really the best introduction as some of their best stuff doesn’t even feature, if you are already a fan you know what to expect.
Possibly the finest track from epic double album ‘Stadium Arcadium’, ‘Desecration Smile’ begins all mellow with an irresistible slow groove before erupting into the type of huge anthemic chorus the boys are best known for.
When The Haunted released their self-titled debut in the winter of 1998, it quite literally turned a then diminishing thrash metal scene on its head before slamming it firmly into the nearest wall. As genre greats like Metallica and Megadeth turned to radio rock and the previously mighty Slayer’s wheels at last began to wobble, it was this 40-minute blast of snarling ferocity that provided a float.
Sometimes it’s simply too easy to poke fun at Chino Moreno. Not only has he seemingly added an inch to his waistband for every year that passes, he also seems hell bent on convincing us that he’s still “down with the kids”. Baggy shorts and dickie socks, anybody?
Quite simply the most terrifying metal prospect ever to cross the channel. Hailing from the unlikely source of France, the quartet deal in some of the most twisted, complex and utterly fucked up soundscapes since Meshuggah first picked up their 8-strings and tuned lower than Abi Titmuss’ sense of morality.
The follow-up to 2006’s ‘The Killing has Begun’, this sophomore effort from Oxfordshire’s most promising beast is already shaping up to be one of the unlikely success stories of 2007. Having received copious airplay on the likes of Total Rock radio and Scuzz TV for the song ‘Faith Of Fear’ – as well as sharing stages with the likes of German metal champions Caliban and headlining the latest leg of the Casket Lullabies tour across the UK – these groove-metal behemoths are set to put home grown talent back in the driving seat. Prepare for utter devastation. 
It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost 40 years since this essential slice of heavy metal history first came to fruition, and even harder still to contemplate that the entire album was recorded in just one day on a four-track recorder.
It was a long time in the making but long island emo-supremos Brand New are back in the ring with their eagerly anticipated new album ‘The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me’, which takes its title from a conversation frontman Jesse Lacey had with a schizophrenic friend whilst making the album. Never ones for resting on their laurels, Brand New’s 2003 album ‘Deja-Entendu’ was the polar opposite to their debut ‘My Favourite Weapon’, and similarly, this new offering is another huge leap forward to a darker, more challenging sound. Lacey, a reluctant front man if ever there was one, has grown from a boy singing of love, to deeper, almost menacing topics – his lyrics now spin out stories of death, religion, executions and even drowning babies. So far, so bleak. 
Scottish fourpiece The Hedrons blast their way into 2007 with their third single ‘Heatseeker’ on indy label Measured Records. The girl band has grown in confidence and matured already, and like their previous offerings, ‘Heatseeker’ is a ballsy, aggressive and energy filled track, with Tippi’s lead vocals wonderfully sleazy and gritty, with a gloriously jagged edge.
One of the things I admire most about Long Island natives Taking Back Sunday is that they never let you down. Throughout the last three albums they have been consistency impressed with their own brand of screamo and aggressive emo tones which always stay with you hours after the last listen.
Taken from the up coming album ‘Duke Pandemonium’ , ‘Everybody Dance ‘is just a sneak preview (check it out on their my space page) of what we’ve got to look forward to. An upbeat, dance fever, up-tempo disco ball of a track, bordered by ample guitars and a in your face bassline. With it’s mantra like lyrics repeated over and over again, the tempo is cranked up from the very beginning, and it’ll have your toes tapping from under the January gloom. 
2007: the year of stoner-punk’s resurgence? It won’t seem so ridiculous an idea once you’ve heard the debut Cancer Bats album. This hard-rockin’ Canadian quartet mix the speed and fury of Black Flag with the thunderous grooves and fuzzed-up guitars so beloved of bands like Down and Corrosion Of Conformity, and on ‘Birthing The Giant’ they’ve served up some of the rawest, most visceral rock n’ roll thrills since The Bronx last laid waste to these fair shores. You might as well join ’em; because on this form, there’s no way you’ll beat ’em.
If only my school’s history lessons had been half as interesting as this. For the follow-up to their ‘This Is Dinocore‘ debut, London noise experimentalists Down I Go have produced 13 tracks inspired by and chronicling some of history’s most notable disasters; including odes to the Great Plague of London, the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown and the sinking of the Titanic. It might sound bizarre and over-ambitious on paper, but the reality is a unique record that sounds not unlike the Dillinger Escape Plan infused with a dark sense of humour and some clever lyrical twists. Disastercore, indeed, but far from disastrous.
If Millencolin vocalist Nikola Sarcevic is the softly-spoken Jekyll of his band, then guitarist Mathias Farm is definitely the hard-partying Hyde. Franky Lee is the latter’s side-project band (also featuring members of fellow Swedish bands Randy and the Peepshows), and their debut album is grittier and louder than you might expect – often reminiscent of band favourites the Afghan Whigs and early Foo Fighters. There’s still enough irresistible choruses in the likes of ‘Antifreeze‘ and ‘The World Just Stopped’ to keep Millencolin fans happy, though. Promising stuff.
If you’re still not convinced of stoner-punk’s potency, then here’s hoping that the daddies of the genre can change your mind. Right from the start, ‘We Must Obey’ sounds like a runaway steamroller bursting out of your speakers; as the likes of ‘Knew It All Along’ and ‘Shake It Loose’ surge forth in waves of Southern-fried riffage and bowel loosening bass. It’s the same brilliantly dirty, unpretentious Fu Manchu sound of old, but this time around they’ve refined it almost to perfection. Enough waxing lyrical – turn this one up loud and just fucking FEEL it.
Constant touring can either wear you down or build you up – and in the case of Kubichek!, it’s definitely the latter. This Newcastle quartet’s love of jerky post-punk rhythms and melancholic edge indicates a strong Joy Division/New Order influence, but the fuzzed up, dissonant guitars and a certain sense of urgency help them to stand out from the pack. ‘Not Enough Night’ is an excellent debut; packed with songs that invite you to dig out your dancing shoes, but are far more substantial – both musically and lyrically – than your typical indie club fodder. They’re probably playing near you soon; you know what to do.
While cruising through my friend’s Myspace profiles (the one’s with bad music taste at least), I’m persistently ravaged by the general selection of pap they have as their profile song. The second I hear another carbon copy of Bring Me The Horizon or some other gash, so called ‘metal’ band I mute my speakers before you can say “gore”. In fact, pressing the stop button on profile songs was becoming a force of habit. Thankfully I resisted the urge when I stepped across the wee underground beauty that is Nex, lurking innocently on someone’s prof. Check that bass riff! An unexpected, ludicrously versatile group that let their music do the talking. Rather than a shit haircut or jeans that can’t have been put on without the assistance of lube and a shoehorn.
In addition to the three hometown shows we told you about earlier this week, Maximo Park have added 2 more dates to their tour calendar. This time round they’ll be playing in Newcastle and London at the NME Awards Show, with support from !!!.
Electric Soft Parade will be palying some new material from their upcoming album when they play a few live dates in February. The album will be their third and will be entitled No Need To Be Downhearted.
From the ashes of the Ga Ga’s come Slaves To Gravity, with Tommy, J and Toshi teaming up with former Ariel-X guitarist Mark V. Slaves To Gravity will be playing a number of dates, so go and check them out to see what’s up.