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SSS

Problems To The Answer
Earache

Ladies and gentlemen, the ‘angriest record of the year’ award is well and truly in the bag already. The mid-00s resurgence of thrash was quite rightly a cause for celebration after the genre’s relative drought in the 90s, but in terms of genuinely great record, few of the new school bands held a candle to SSS’s blistering debut. Combining thrash and hardcore with a seething, British malevolence, it infused a classic sound with a fresh sense of vitality.

Fast forward a few years, and although little has changed musically in the SSS camp, they’re sounding ever more refined – and ever angrier. Ripping through 25 tracks in 40-odd minutes, vocalist Foxy takes aim at the meat industry (‘The Kill Floor’) and the mess that is this country’s state education (‘Tales Out Of School’). Much like Gallows did on ‘Grey Britain’, SSS are holding a mirror up to some of the worst aspects of humanity, and it does not make for a pretty picture.

Doesn’t sound like much fun? You couldn’t be more wrong, mainly because ‘Problems To The Answer’ rocks like a bastard, with the riffs never less than razor-sharp, and the pace almost relentless. Napalm Death vocalist Barney Greenway even pops up to lend his leathery lungs on a couple of tracks; clearly, he knows a great band when he hears one.

The sheer velocity means that a few of the shorter tracks do become hard to distinguish, and although the two instrumentals (‘Future Primitive’ and closer ‘Strangenotes’) provide some variety, they both last longer than is really necessary. Ultimately, though, that matters little. In thrash terms, SSS are much closer to prime-era DRI and Crumbsuckers than to anything from ‘Death Magnetic’ (a fact for which we should be forever thankful), and, like too few bands, they’re getting better with time. Long may they rage.

Alex Gosman.

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Music News

Napalm Death vocalist collabs with SSS

The new SSS album that is scheduled for release on June 6th via Earache Records features none other than Barney Greenaway from Napalm Death on 3 tracks: “The Kill Floor”, “Here Comes The Neighbourhood” and “Roar”.

Talking about his involvement in the new album Problems to the Answer Greenaway says: “Foxy really knows his musical onions and when he had some parts for me to do, I knew it was going to be a gas. The main part had a Discharge-y feel to it, so I was sold on that instantly. Went in, shouted, went home. No fucking about. Good stuff.

Listen to one of the album tracks Painting By Numbers as a taster of what’s coming here:

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Music News

SSS Problems to the Answer album for June

SSS recently finished recording their forthcoming new album, which is due to be released in June on Earache Records. The new album, titled PROBLEMS TO THE ANSWER, was recorded at Whitewood Studios in the band’s home town of Liverpool and is produced by Rob Whitely along with SSS bassist Mark Magill.

Foxy from the band says “The title PROBLEMS TO THE ANSWER gives outspoken practical solutions to problems faced in everyday life. External factors shape not only today, but yesterday and into tomorrow. SSS attempts to provide answers – for better or worse – in our most vicious recording to date.”

Check out the updates and photos from the recording of PROBLEMS TO THE ANSWER at the band’s official blog at http://shortsharpshockuk.tumblr.com

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Music News

SSS announce recording and title of 3rd album

UK Thrashcore fiends will be stoked to know that Liverpool skaters Short Sharp Shock (SSS) have announced that they are about to go back into the studio to record their new album titled PROBLEMS TO THE ANSWER.

Liverpool’s most famous thrash band are so famous now that even blonde bombshell Pamela Anderson is said to be dating singer Foxy and is in a line of female celebs that include Cheryl Cole who can’t wait to make hardcore badges and whisper Black Flag lyrics in his ear whilst he is covered head to toe in poster glue. Finding a minute to himself in a local internet cafe to avoid the local paparazzi he posted the following message online this week:

We’re back! Had to knock things on the head for a bit, but we’ve opened up shop again. Finishing the lyrics to the last few songs then next week we record some vocals with a special guest star! We finish recording the LP on March 1st/2nd, then mix for four days from the 4th March, then we’re DONE! Release date to be confirmed, but we’re looking at June/July. Looking forward to getting out again and touring. If you want us to play in your town, let us know.

PROBLEMS TO THE ANSWER is being recorded at Whitewood Studios in the band’s hometown of Liverpool and is being produced by ROB WHITELEY and SSS bassist MARK MAGILL. Get in.

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Music News

SSS singer breaks foot skating

Liverpool thrashers SSS returned from their european tour with vocalist Foxy sporting a broken foot from skating in Austria. Speaking on the wreckage he says “The Wreck and Annoy tour has had its share of ups and downs, the good and the bad and great, we have digested and relished. Tour is what it is, we love it.”

See SSS at the following live dates and watch this daft video of him on a mobility scooter at a Zoo:

Oct. 30 – Liverpool, UK – Night of the Living Dead 8
Nov. 06 – Leeds, UK – Damnation Festival