Dangers of Love - I'm a Pretender

  An Exploding Hearts cover today and as there's an Exploding Hearts documentary on the way it's a timely one. I'm assuming you all know the Exploding Hearts, the Portland Oregon power pop band who released one of the best albums of all time (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhmctlRdGOo) before 3 of the 4 members were tragically killed in a car accident following a gig in San Francisco in 2003. It isn't an easy task doing them justice but with this cover Dangers Of Love have a bloody good go.

  From London, Dangers Of Love feature Giles Bidder (Great Cynics)(guitar/vocals) and Joe Watson (Apologies, I Have None) (guitar/vocals) plus Joe Watson (drums) & Matt Tinsley (bass). As you might imagine given the previous output of Giles and Joe they're an act you need to check out if you haven't already. There's a couple of their original songs upon Bandcamp : https://dangers-of-love.bandcamp.com/

  There's a debut ep on the way (I think it'll be titled Vol.1), I'm expecting it to be great. In the meantime, something I know is great, this is I'm A Pretender...

I'm a pretender at the game of love, 
Need somebody help me shatter my heart.
I'm a pretender at the game of love, 
Need somebody help me shatter my foolish heart.

21 and it ain't no fun, 
My life's going by but it's just begun.
I'm searchin' and searchin' and I'm lookin' around, 
Ain't gonna cry cuz there's no one to be found.

I'm a pretender at the game of love, 
Need somebody help me shatter my heart.
I'm a pretender at the game of love, 
Need somebody help me shatter my foolish heart.

Took ya down to the avenue, 
Weather was cool, so I bought you some food.
But I got so nervous when you asked me to come home, 
Went in my house and spent the night all alone.

I'm a pretender at the game of love, 
Need somebody help me shatter my heart.
I'm a pretender at the game of love, 
Need somebody help me shatter my foolish heart.

I know, when you're a pretender, 
Your mind's wild from the start.
Just gimme one chance baby, 
Help me shadow my heart.
Gimme one chance baby, 
Help me shatter my heart.

Just won't cry cuz my life's goin' by, 
I'll find someone before the day I die.
Gimme a chance and show me what to do, 
Couple a minutes I'll be doing' it with you.

I'm a pretender at the game of love, 
Need somebody help me shatter my heart.
I'm a pretender at the game of love, 
Need somebody help me shatter my foolish heart.
I'm a pretender 
Stand up pretender, 
I'm a pretender at the game of love, 
I'm a pretender at the game of love, 
I'm a pretender at the game of love, 
I'm a pretender.

Chaneys - Madeline

  Chaneys are the ghoulish punk band from Moscow who formed on Halloween 2017 and who featured on here last year with a song from their Legacy ep. With influences ranging from The Lillingtons through to Send More Paramedics (via The Misfits) it's no surprise that their love of all things horror bleeds through into their music. They've just released a new ep, it's titled Deathlove and you can find it here : https://chaneys.bandcamp.com/ I think a cd version is in the works.

  In support of the ep they'll be spending the next few weeks on the road and you can check dates here : https://www.facebook.com/ChaneysMusic/

   There's 4 killer tracks on the ep all worthy of your attention (so I'll play a different one on Sunday's Just Some Punk Songs show to the one I've chosen to highlight below). Lining up with Gleb Kasady (guitar/vocals/keyboards), John Doe #27 (bass/backing vocals), Myers (guitar) and Dildo (drums) they're one of a number of bands that play this kind of horror punk but I think it's fair to say they're one of the better ones. This song is a tribute to actress Madeline Smith. She featured in Hammer films The Vampire Lovers, Taste The Blood Of Dracula and Frankenstein And The Monster From Hell as well as the Vincent Price classic Theatre Of Blood. A scream Queen that enthralled a generation.

  This is Madeline....

Madeline 
She is from Hammer films 
Madeline 
The primal lust reveals 
Madeline 
The hottest being you’ve ever seen 

Madeline 
She is from silver screen 
Madeline 
Not that I meant something, but 
Madeline 
Wish I was born in the forties 

Sometimes we try to think right 
Not always we are guided by the light 
Something casts a shadow on your mind 

Sometimes we try to keep it clean 
What is truly under your bloody skin? 
Wormhole is always in a gene 

Madeline 
What would I do for you adeline 
What would I do for you 
Anything 
What I would do is anything 
What I would do is anything 
What I would do is anything

Bazooka - Φυλακή (Prison)

  Greek bands are very much a rarity on here, although I did recently feature Burnt Tapes (though they had to move to London before I noticed them!). I was recently pointed in the direction of a band from Athens called Bazooka and I liked what I heard. A bit about them : They formed in 2008 and line up with Xanthos Papanikolaou (vocals/guitar), John Vulgaris (drums/percussion), Aris Rammos (bass) and Vasilis Tzelepis (guitar). Described as being Athens' greatest punk live act right now they play a mix of punk and post-punk with lots of 60's influences. Originally from Volos they made the move to Athens to pick up live gigs and they haven't looked back. They released their debut Self Titled album on Slovenly Recordings in 2013, followed it up in 2016 with Useless Generation and then last month released album number 3, Zero Hits. It's on Inner Ear Records and you can get it on vinyl here :                                                                                                                               http://inner-ear.gr/catalogue/artist/bazooka/zero-hits/  

 Digitally it's available on Bandcamp : https://bazooka-innerear.bandcamp.com/album/zero-hits

  They'll be touring round Europe in April and dates will be posted here :  https://www.facebook.com/bazookagreece/

  I need to give the album a proper listen but from what I've heard so far it's an inventive mix of genres. It's got riffs, psychedelia, even funky beats in place. Definitely one to check out for those of you that like your punk to traverse genre boundaries. This song came with a video so is highlighted today, it's a modern sounding, fast paced post-punk tale of life behind bars called Φυλακή (Prison)....

Κλείνει ο φύλακας 
το φως 
Πέφτω στο κρεβάτι 
Άλλη μια μέρα πέρασε 
Που δεν ήτανε γεμάτη 
Ίσως όλοι, ίσως όλοι, 
ίσως όλοι να είναι εκεί 
Μα εγώ περνάω μια 
χαρά μες στη φυλακή 
Βιαστές, παιδεραστές, 
μπάτσοι, αναρχικοί 
Ετοιμάζουν ένα κόλπο 
στο διπλανό κελί στη 
φυλακή 
Αυτοί δίπλα μου 
κολλάνε 
Θέλουν να τους κάνω 
μια δουλειά 
Μου δίνουν ένα όπλο 
στα κρυφά 
Να πάω να σκοτώσω 
τον φύλακα 
Δε ξέρω αν σου αρέσει 
που είσαι έξω στη ζωή 
Μα εμένα μου αρέσει 
πολύ στη φυλακή 
Κάνω βόλτες στην αυλή 
και γυμναστική 
Ρεύμα τσάμπα, 
εγκληματίες και έχει 
και φαί 
Βάζω την καρδιά μου 
σε μπουκάλι περιμένω 
Να το βρεις και να 
το ανοίξεις μα το φως 
είναι σβησμένο 
Με το στόμα με τα 
χείλη με τα δόντια 
δάγκωσέ το 
Δάγκωσέ το για να 
ανοίξει δεν μπορώ να 
περιμένω 

*** 
The guard closes the 
light 
I go to bed 
One more day passed 
Which wasn’t full 
Maybe everyone is 
there 
But I’m going through a 
joy inside the prison 
Rapists, pedophiles, 
cops, anarchists 
They are getting ready 
for a trick in the next 
cell 
These guys next door 
are bothering me 
They want to do a job 
for them 
They secretly give me 
a gun 
To go and kill the 
guard 
I don’t know if you like 
it out in the life 
But I like it a lot in the 
prison 
I walk around the prison 
yard and exercise 
I have electricity for 
free, criminals, and 
food for free 
I put my heart in a 
bottle and I’m waiting 
For you to find and 
open it, but the light 
is closed 
With your mouth, your 
lips, your teeth bite it 
Bite it and open it I 
can’t wait no more

The SoapGirls - One Way Street

  The SoapGirls, aka sisters Noemie and Camille are still getting in trouble for the lack of clothing they wear. They attract abuse and hatred from people with nothing better to worry about but as they said in an interview I did with them a while back (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2017/08/interview-with-soapgirls.html) "We are Societys Rejects and we are proud to be rejected by a society that feels ok to bully, abuse and stand for nothing." As you'll see from their new video, they still aren't bowing to any pressure to conform. Luckily they have many more fans than haters due to the fact that they can back up their image with talent. Their songs, whilst being as much hard rock as punk rock are damn good.

  It's going to be a busy 2019 for them with a tour that'll see them playing the UK, Europe and the USA and a new album called Charlie Brown. Kicking things off however is the single you'll find below. For a DIY band they've managed to achieve a very polished sound, no doubt it'll be getting plays on major radio stations but it's also got enough crossover appeal and fuck you attitude to appear on unimportant little blogs like this one. They're a band that appeal to a broad church.

  This is One Way Street...

Conmen - Nice Nice

  Conmen are the Boston, Massachusetts 5 piece who's new album, Get Loose, seems to been getting plenty of love. Deserved love it is too as it's bloody good. The band is made up of Conman (vocals), Chazz (guitar), Danimal (guitar), Jamie (bass) and Kakos (drums). They released the Too Tough To Dance Demo as long ago as 2014 and followed it up a year later with a self titled ep (described as boneheaded punk that fits somewhere between The Marked Men and The Spits). Now they're back with a debut album and that early promise has been more than fulfilled. It's pop punk mixed up with power pop, it reminds me a little of cool bands such as Corner Boys, Tommy And The Commies and TV Crime (bands that play spiky pop songs that stick in your head). It's on Rock 'N' Roll Disgrace Records and you can check it out here :  https://conmen.bandcamp.com/album/get-loose

  I may have missed them but there doesn't seem to be much in the way of reviews online yet for Get Loose (I'm sure this will change as more people realise how wonderful it is) but I noticed Fun With Smack Records advertising the vinyl version with the line "Boston's answer to the classic Good Vibrations label/Irish punk sound collide with the angst and raw power of early Ramones. Tough, sweet and catchy as hell..." A good description and a place to buy the ep   https://funwithsmackrecords.bigcartel.com/product/con-men-lp

  This song about a girl is a great example of that tough/sweet combo, it's called Nice Nice...

Who Killed Nancy Johnson? - Pretending to Like People

  "It's their best song yet..." was just one of a number of positive comments from the chatroom folk when I played today's song on last week's Just Some Punk Songs show. The song is from the They Reap Sessions ep, it's by Reading band Who Killed Nancy Johnson? (https://www.facebook.com/WhoKilledNancyJohnson/)  and yeah, it's damn good.

You can find the ep, along with previous releases, on their bandcamp page :  https://wknancyj.bandcamp.com/album/they-reap-sessions

  A 4 piece made up of Stefan Ball (vocals), Pete Moulton (guitar/vocals) Mark Wren (drums/vocals) and new recruit Dawid Bychowski (bass) their music is an impressive post punk barrage of jittery guitar and frantic drumming. Influences include The Stooges, The Ruts, Wire, Magazine etc, song structures are ambitious and lyrically they impress. They've been honing their skills since 2015 (when they were reborn from the ashes of punk/pop band Nancy Johnson) and have built up an impressive live following.

  Their best song yet? I'll let you decide for yourselves. This is Pretending To Like People....

How are you hung?
Are you from round here, or somewhere far-flung?
Are you my age or older - are you quite young?
Pierced in your eyebrow, belly, is it your tongue?
How many scars do you bear?

Pretending to like people
Social success

Do you think my hair is all right?
Do you like men about my height?
Are you drunk? Would you like a light?
Do you come here every Friday night?

Pretending to like people
Social success

Give me your name
Eye glazed at the window stand in the rain
Bite on my hand give me a DNA stain
Tattoo my face on your shoulder welcome the pain
I’ll give you a thousand yard stare

Pretending to like people
Social success
Pretending to like people
Not to excess

What are your dreams?
Do you believe in god and his oddball schemes?
Are all of us equal - or is that just in memes?
Shatter a glass with a scream - dear heart
How can I tell everybody apart?

Pretending to like people
Social success
Pretending to like people
Not to excess
Social success
A will to impress….
How are you hung?

Dboy - Dboy For President

  Not the first time they've featured on here (that would be this : https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2018/02/dboy-three-piece-band.html), Dboy are back today with another "anthem of throbbing rock that will force fists to pump." The follow up to the album Prove Your Love - Live In Belem, they've recently released a 3 track single titled Dboy For President. From Welland, Ontario, they're a 3 piece rock n roll powerhouse and the new ep is available from Dine Alone Records (yellow vinyl 7"/digital) :   https://dboyintl.bandcamp.com/album/dboy-for-president-single

  They're going to be heading over to the UK in May for a tour. Kicking off in Leeds on the 4th, they'll shortly be announcing the remaining dates here : https://www.facebook.com/dboyintl/

  With the promise of delivering the world from the forces of sonic austerity, they've released the following manifesto video. With the backing of a rabidly loyal fan club called Dboy Scouts, their campaign is gathering pace, world domination beckons. Vote now! Dboy For President....

The Glory - AWOL

  It's something of a mystery to me how Leicester oi/punk 5 piece The Glory are struggling a little to find promoters willing to book them. Equally a mystery why they aren't appearing back at this year's Rebellion Festival. They formed in the mid 80's and released one of the genre's best songs (Clockwork Land) but I suppose it's fair to say that was a long time ago and isn't a reason to book them to entertain today's punk crowds (although plenty in those crowds are more than receptive to a nostalgia trip). What is a reason to book them in 2019 is that unlike some bands, they're still releasing music that's as good as back in the day. Look no further than the song I featured in December (their first since 1988 : https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2018/12/the-glory-falling-down.html) and the equally impressive new one that's getting posted today. With more on the way promoters everywhere should be getting in touch.

  https://www.facebook.com/theglory.oi.uk/


  Featuring Mark Timson (vocals), Dean Riley (lead guitar), Steve Cracknell (rhythm guitar), Russ Emery (bass guitar) and Darrell Moore, they're a band with the happy knack of matching up gritty oi inspired punk beats with catchy as fuck melodies. Big, brash singalongs. Definitely a band I'm looking forward to hear more from as the year progresses.

  This song is a true tale of marital strife caused by being a touring musician, it's called AWOL...

well I packed my bags, booked a flight, off to USA see my mates lay down some tracks to tour around and play there was just one thing I had not done i hadn't told the wife, But i had the urge, felt the need to pack my bags and fly that night I sat down before i left, and this is what i said i'm a rock n roll singer,in an old Oi band cos i have it in my blood (He's a rock n roll singer,in an old Oi band cos it makes me feel good) I have to go and do this now Gotta get my things and head you useless tosser, you piece of shit Never again will see my bed Go out and make a fortune Don't think of coming home The locks are changed the doors are locked And don't you bother to phone I came back to a new sold sign Was hanging from my house, was it really worth it hell yeah, i'm punk and proud. But next time if i gonna leave the moral of my life Lace My Boots Run like hell Just Don't Tell The Wife

Radio Partizan - Breaking News

  It's been 4 years since razor sharp political post punkers Radio Partizan last appeared on here (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2015/03/radio-partizan-divide-and-rule.html) but the Leeds outfit return today with a brand new song that's a topical, post apocalyptic punked up sing a long for Brexit.

  They don't appear to be the most prolific of bands with their releases few and far between but this new song is hopefully the first of a number of new tunes (last July they informed us new material was scheduled for September. We've had to wait a little longer but it's been worth it). Their sound gets compared to The Clash but there's also an 80's alt rock influence bleeding through (might just be me but I'm getting echoes of Wall Of Voodoo/Stan Ridgeway). It's ages since I played their We Interrupt This Broadcast album but from what I remember that was good, this is better.

  It's available digitally here : https://radiopartizan.bandcamp.com/

  Astute political commentary with a snappy backbeat, this is Breaking News...

We headed out of the city 
Drove into the night 
Before we reached the motorway 
We knew something wasn't right 
We heard siren after siren 
And smelt the burning on the air 
And every face on every street 
Looked angry, shocked or scared 


There was a flash mob looting tescos 
And they were calling for their guns 
Cos feral kids in leisurewear 
Had the coppers on the run. 
And on every radio station 
From Capital to BBC 
Its was "broadcast interrupted 
for a state of emergency" 

Have you heard the News? 
It looks like we're screwed 
What else could i do 
But reach out for you. 

Knife fights in the petrol queues 
The FTSE's going through the floor 
They're burning mosques and synagogues 
You better barricade your door 
Little England's up in arms 
And they want someone to blame 
They put a hit-list up on facebook 
And i think i saw our names. 

Have you heard the News? 
It looks like we're screwed 
What else could i do 
But reach out for you. 
And its into the unknown 
The old order's overthrown 
But will they come to break our bones? 
Don't leave me all alone - all alone 

How did we get to here? 
How did this come to pass? 
System fail and greed and lies - 
But let's blame it on the underclass. 
Social insecurity 
Scare in the community 
Identify my enemy 
Danger Stranger Jihadi 
And they're holding tight to what they got 
And they're trying to turn back the clock 
And the knives are out to stop the rot 
But don't let the fascists call the shots! 

Have you heard the News? 
It looks like we're screwed 
What else could i do 
But reach out for you. 
And its into the unknown 
The old order's overthrown 
But will they come to break our bones? 
Don't leave me all alone - please take me home.

Old Firm Casuals - Holger Danske (Review By Ade Bailey)

  

  I'm indebted today to Revolution Rock host and Enemies Of Promise frontman Ade Bailey for reviewing Holger Danske, the new album by Old Firm Casuals.....  

http://shop.piratespressrecords.com/products/635213-the-old-firm-casuals-holger-danske-12-lp-cd

Old Firm Casuals – ‘Holger Danske’

  Never one to hold back on their output, Lars Frederikson and his ‘Street Punk’ incarnation bring us this much anticipated offering, with a truly personal feel. Unlike previous OFC records which have included some classic tracks (Perry Boys, Innocent Ones etc.) but have also ventured into the way-too-long and too-much-filler category, Holger Danske is a much more slim-line and directed affair. Checking in at a much more manageable 12 tracks, it is a wonderful thing indeed. The Viking themed cover art hints at Lars tipping his Pork Pie hat towards his roots in Denmark and away from earlier records which seemed obsessed by UK Boot Boy imagery.

  Ironically, the opener ‘Get Out Of Our Way’ sees not Lars, but bassist Casey Watson take the lead with his trade-mark ‘growl’ over a Minor key power riff and some interesting chord structures. It’s a huge start and really sets the tone here.

Next up it’s the first single release ‘Motherland’ and the first homage to Scandinavia. It’s a track in the vein of all great OFC tracks – hints of Rancid, Clash underpin the classic chug, coupled with great backing vocals and a Hammond. “Take me to the ice and snow, Where the warriors sleep below” Lars laments in the chorus on a real stand out song and was a proper high point of the recent tour (I caught them in Edinburgh and Glasgow)

As well as Danish heritage, current American politics get a real bashing across the record – the band of course being openly anti-Fascist. On ‘Pendulum’ “…Your arrogance doesn’t make you right…” and ‘Traitor’ “…You put your party before human lives…” the current shit-for-brains administration gets ripped in spectacular fashion.

  The centre piece of the record however is its title track. Preceded by a great instrumental section, Lars revisits the subtle ‘Motherland’ motif to pay tribute to his Uncle’s Danish Partisan group who fought occupation against the Nazis and were called ‘Holger Danske’

I’ve been a fan of the band since their inception but I can honestly say that this record is a real tour de force, snappy, catchy as hell - see the new unofficial theme song ‘Casual Rock And Roll’ which could easily have been a 1974 chart topper had Chapman/Chinn got their grubby hands on it!

The addition of second guitarist Gabe Gabriloff to the live shows has also lifted them to a different level, fattening the sound and raising the volume. As you’ve already guessed, I’m a huge fan of this record and so should you.  

  This is the title track, Holger Danske...

The Anti-Bodies - Ninety Years Without Slumbering

  The Anti-Bodies are from Buffalo and have band members with names such as Jez A.Disaster (vocals), Izzy Deadly (guitar/backing vocals), Horace Chalem (bass) and Count Alucard (drums).  If, like me, you love pop punk music with a sci fi and horror theme you'll very probably love The Anti-Bodies. Their back catalogue is crammed with song titles such as Curse Of The Full Moon, E.T. Girl, Earth Vs. Mars, Elm Street, The Mist etc... Some songs have male vocals, some female. It's all frighteningly good fun and you should stop reading now and go check out their Bandcamp page :   https://theanti-bodies1.bandcamp.com/

  Did you notice how cool the artwork is? Even before listening to the music you can tell it's going to be great when that much love has gone into packaging it.

  There's a new song that's just been released, it's inspired by a classic episode of The Twilight Zone in which a retired watchmaker fears that when his grandfather's clock stops ticking his own life will end. You can watch that episode here https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5mygj9

  The songs a ballad, it reminded me a little of early Weezer mixed up with a touch of Dan Vapid. My first listen, I thought it was ok but subsequent plays have firmly lodged it in my head. It's a dreamy song that compliments the episode perfectly. Damn, I love it! It's called Ninety Years Without Slumbering...

lyrics

Ninety years without slumbering
The pendulum swings is it true?
That my days are numbered
When the clock stops, I am through

I know I've been obsessed dear
The inevitable haunts me so
No man can prolong his allotted hours
I'll soon enter into the great unknown

It's been a good life, now it's time to go...

Now I choose what to believe
Time was created by god, not men
The truth is, I don't wanna leave
When that clock died, I was born again 

Ah- tick of time.

Nieviem - Austeritory

  Nieviem are a hard hitting skate punk band from Lincoln and featured on here just over a year ago with their single, Fick (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2018/01/nieviem-fick.html). They return today with an equally blistering track taken from their new ep Up In The Air. The album features 6 tracks (including a live cover of the Pennywise classic Bro Hymn) and it's available either on cd or digitally : https://nieviem.bandcamp.com/album/up-in-the-air

 The band are currently looking for a new drummer so if you can help out get in touch here :  https://www.facebook.com/nieviem/

 Up In The Air is an energetic blast of fast and furious punk tuneage with vocalist Hope Bateman spewing out viciously well written lyrics. Her voice both melodic and powerful, she's the perfect match for this kind of music. This song deals with the familiar subject of the rich getting richer whilst the rest of us struggle to get by, it's called Austeritory.....

They have lots of dough
Divert our attention each day
They help out the poor
- Until they can’t be repaid
We clinically sat that
These people are sincere
But the heart of the problem
Forever remains here
Oh
We’re red, white and blue
But it’s nothing to do with
You
The news is full of flatulence
‘Cos we’re not making sense
We have 20:20 vision
But nothing is clear
You should be inside, not out
- But you can’t stay here
Here is a man
Who is fighting tonight
He’s a little more left wing
And that’s not right!
“Send me to jail
It feels just like a home
Cut off from the world
I’m already alone
I don’t give a fuck
It doesn’t mean I’ve given up
You mis-take my mistakes
And for God’s sake I’m forsaken!
Forget whatever you’ve heard
There’s not need to say a word
Just watch and observe
Here’s what you see;
A broken society
Their prosperity is our austerity
A door way is safe to roam
Unless it’s your home
And there’s no one to phone
Tread carefully -
You’re on their territory
Their prosperity is our austerity
So tread carefully
You’re on their territory
Their prosperity...

HEXDEBT - Covenant

 

(photo : Louise Rocketeer)
 

  So what's on this week's Just Some Punk Songs show (later today at 8pm UK time :  https://www.facebook.com/events/323741474929021/)?  As usual it's an hour's worth of great new punk releases including the recent single from HEXDEBT (who are one of three Melbourne bands to feature this week).

  Featuring Lucy Fry (drums), Agnes Whalan (vocals/guitar), Isobel D'Cruz Barnes (bass) and Aife Larkin (guitar), HEXDEBT are preparing to release their debut album. As a taster they recently released a single on Poison City Records and you can find it here :  https://poisoncityrecords.bandcamp.com/album/covenant-single  

 You can find their 2017 single Bitch Rising here : https://hexdebt.bandcamp.com/album/bitch-rising and find more info on them here : https://www.facebook.com/HEXDEBTBAND/

  The new single is a post-punk maelstrom of swirling guitar, intense drumming and passionate vocals which addresses the issue of Australia's displacement of indigenous populations and calls on the government to acknowledge those injustices and make reparations. It's called Covenant...

Scandal - Riot

 

  London based Romanian street punks Scandal are proving to be very productive, only a couple of months after I featured their last single, Broken Down Dreams, they're back with another. Last time they gave us a bittersweet lament about getting older but having no regrets, this time we get a ferocious protest song about it being the time to stand up to authority and fight against the corruption perpetrated by politicians on all side of the political divide. As always with Scandal, it's catchy as fuck with anthemic, singalong choruses and top notch musicianship.

  You can listen to their music here : https://scandalstreetpunk.bandcamp.com/ and get more news here : https://www.facebook.com/scandalstreetpunk/

  Titled Riot, the new single bounces along in incendiary fashion. A call to arms to the downtrodden and the disgruntled.... stand up and let your voices be heard....

You !....I’m talking to you... Wake up motha’ fucka’ You got so much to do... Tonight ...tonight is the night We’re going for a riot We’re going for a fight Can’t stand this system anymore Dirty politicians.. perverting our world Left or right they’re all the same Dirty bastards , playing crazy games There’s a riot in the city There is violence on the streets No more liars , no more thieves No more leaders and dirty pigs Police...and riot squads The pigs are coming over They are the real thugs We run , but we can’t hide We have to fight them back We have to win this game

Active Minds - Trial By Social Media

  Active minds are from Scarborough and formed in 1986 from the ashes of S.A.S. (Speak Against Society). They've a lengthy back catalogue, mainly self released on their own Loony Tunes label. I played a song last year on the show from their Freedom Of The Borough ep but when I checked back I found I'd not featured them on here yet. That's going to change today as they've got a new album out called Religion Is Nonsense. It's available on 10" vinyl and digitally :  https://activeminds1.bandcamp.com/album/religion-is-nonsense

  The music is hard hitting punk rock, the lyrics are political and touch on religion, the political gains to be made by keeping people fearful of foreigners, kids on prescription drugs, kids with their childhoods cut short, mouthy bigots etc. One of the songs is a Discharge influenced lament about stamping boots, starving children and poisoned rivers which ends by asking why we can't have a peaceful future where everyone has what they need to live a happy life. For the answer to that last question the other songs on the album provide plenty of reasons why it's unlikely everything will urn out rosy. The band hold a mirror up to society and the reflection isn't pretty.

  And there's the song you'll find below which the band describe thus :

Social media may have been created as a tool to help bring people together, but it doesn’t seem that it’s creating a lot of social harmony. The ability to connect easily with so many strangers creates opportunities for anonymous acts of mental cruelty. 
Around half of all teenagers have experienced online bullying, and more than a third have been the victim of online threats. 
The effects of online abuse can be deep and long-lasting – leading to anxiety, depression and, in the most extreme examples, suicide attempts. Yet, too often, the perpetrators are divorced from the results on their victims. They may even think they’re being humorous, but there’s nothing funny about being publicly ridiculed or belittled. 
The modern world is one in which kids have very little choice about whether or not they interact with social media. To opt out is to virtually cut yourself off from your peers. But should social interaction have to mean living in fear of being mentally and verbally abused online? Has society really become that unkind?

  It's called Trial By Social Media....

These days it’s easy to accuse. It’s easy to abuse. 
You can hide behind anonymity so there’s nothing much to lose. 
These days some people are so vile – spreading so much hateful bile. 
There’s an outlet for these comments that are really not worthwhile. 

From vicious scorn to revenge porn – it’s a trial by social media. 
They’ll make you wish you’d never been born – it’s a trial by social media. 
Kids today grow up so fast in a world of social media. 
How long do you think you’d last in a trial by social media? 

These days young people get so stressed, and some get so depressed. 
It’s hard to cope with all the things they mentally ingest. 
These days there’s bullying online – it happens all the time. 
Do we have to wait ‘til kids self-harm before we draw the line? 

Small minds are turned on others to make their own lives feel less small. 
Do they think about the consequence of what they do at all? 
Some may think they’re funny, but do they think of the effect 
That their words may have on those whose reputations have been wrecked?

Ero Guro - Corkscrew (Review By Dirk Ceustermans)

  A guest review today by Dirk Ceustermans (Host of Zaphod's MediaMofos :  https://www.mixcloud.com/GlobalPunkRadio/zaphods-mediamofos-71/).

  Dirk's chosen a song by Ero Guro, a band from his native Belgium.  https://www.facebook.com/erogurodiest/


CORKSCREW

from No Nansensu 7" by Ero Guro

https://eroguro.bandcamp.com/track/corkscrew

"I don't wanna get out of line
but you're quite good at spitting -
the messiah of town all preaching about
but too scared to fit in"

  The newest Ero Guro 6 track EP released mid December, 2018

is an amazing trip through obnoxious poetry of best kind.

  The band had already released a superb 7" in 2017, but with this EP 

they continue their journey into a direction that borders 

maddening thoughts supported by great music: 

Short, simple, catchy and demanding attention. 

Ero Guro is definitely a live act to witness, their singer is all over the place,

... and the floor 

  I selected Corkscrew for Mick's blog to give you an idea what these Belgians 

from the little town called Diest are doing. It's a spriralling riff with vocals 

penetrating deep into your mind, screwing your head until it pops into a slow motion 

picture show Do I laugh? Or do I kill?

No shit Sherlock!

Welcome to the twisted mindscapes of Ero Guro's lyrics

  

Girl Germs - Sex Doll

  Girl Germs (named after the Bratmobile song?) are Peta Treble (bass/vocals), Layla-Rai Cambourne (drums/vocals) and Kahlia Parker (guitar/vocals). They're a 3 piece from Melbourne and they recently released a very good ep titled Boy's Club. They describe their music as pussy punk. That's pussy with an attitude and sharp teeth. There's half a dozen songs on the ep and if the girls are writing from experience they lead a life of drinking beer for dinner, shared houses with paper thin walls and no locks on the bedroom door, they cook dubious meals for the objects of their desire and if you try to feel them up you'll be told in no uncertain terms to get fucked. It's available from Roolette Records on transparent blood red cassette or digitally :  https://girlgerms.bandcamp.com/  

  You can find more info here : https://www.facebook.com/girlgermsxo/

  This song sees them calling out sexist pigs. They've had a gutfull of being leered at and putting up with unwanted advances. As you might guess, the music is frantic and the barbs are tipped with venom. It's called Sex Doll...

Black Russians - Leningrad Beach

 

   Last August I posted a song by Black Russians. Titled Rostov Ripper it featured on a compilation album from Outloud! Records called Killer Tunes and for my write up I made up a back story for them which might not have been entirely true (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2018/08/black-russians-rostov-ripper.html). What is true however is that what seems like years after first being told it was being put together, they've finally completed work on their debut album. It's called Death By Communism, they've sent me it and it's great and they've even allowed me to stick a song from it on Youtube to share with you today.

  There's not an awful lot known about the band, and I'm sworn to secrecy as far as giving out too many details is concerned (Putin has spies everywhere so it's best to err on the side of caution) but I can give you their Facebook link : https://www.facebook.com/blackrussiansussr/

  Luckily when the music is this good, you don't need too much info. Death To Communism will be on Outloud! Records and contain 13 tracks with titles such as Red Dawn, Mommie Is A Commie, Russian Bear, Soviet War Machine etc...

  The sound, as you'll hear on the song below, is gritty old school pop punk. Crunchy guitars, catchy harmonies... it's definitely going to be on the best of 2019 lists of many of the members of the Ramonescore Fanatics Facebook group. I recommend you keep your eyes peeled for it's release. Just to whet your appetites, this is Leningrad Beach...

Kicker - Wankers On The Bus

  In these days of political correctness where it seems necessary to be careful what you say it can sometimes jar a little when you hear a punk band singing "don't want to know about the problems in your head, people like you should be better off dead, bus station looney fucking parasite, tweak all day, awake all night..."  Most bands would be dealing out tea and sympathy but Kicker have been around the block a few times, their old school enough to come out with a simple bit of advice, "sit down, shut up, don't make a fucking fuss." Imagine if Crass hadn't been so much into politics and instead preferred to wander through life taking the piss....

  Kicker are from Oakland, formed in 2010 and feature Pete The Roadie (vocals), Matt Parrillo (guitar), Dave Edwardson (bass) and Dave Mello (drums). As the sticker on the new lp says, pure punk rock from Pete The Roadie backed by members of Neurosis, Dystopia and Operation Ivy.

  They've just released a new album titled Pure Drivel and it's refreshingly retro, it's punk for old gits. It kicks off with a song called Good Evening, finishes with one called Goodnight And Fuck Off and has a tasty filling of psychotic maths teachers, shit songs, quotes from ancient kit kat adverts! and chronic insomnia. Check it out here : https://downloads.tankcrimes.com/album/pure-drivel

  Here's a song about the people you don't want to have sit next to you on public transport, it's called Wankers On The Bus...
 

Alien Boys - Bender

 

(photo : Milton Stille)

  Alien Boys are a raucous all female 5 piece punk powerhouse from Vancouver who recently released new album Night Danger and who's record release show yesterday at the Wise Hall saw them share a stage with Just Some Punk Songs' favourites Fashionism.

  Their debut 7 track release, Self-Critical Theory came out in 2016 and earned them comparisons with the likes of The Gits, L7 and fellow Canadians White Lung. They are in fact the band that feature Wretched Erin, guitarist with the much missed Rebel Spell. The new album should see them judged on their own terms, it's sonically powerful and like yesterday's featured band Spanner, the lyrics (courtesy of singer Sara) are lengthy, intelligent and can possibly be summed up with the phrase the personal is political. There's lots of thought gone into the songs on this album. You can find it name your price on Bandcamp :  https://alienboys.bandcamp.com/album/night-danger  

  This is the video they've released, it's for Bender, a song that deals with escapism through alcohol in a darkly poetical manner....

who here could use a drink, drown out the sirens
my eyes half closed and red like the horizon
my skin pricks, and my jaw twists, and the failing light of day promises me soon it will all go away...
oh, satisfaction here beyond a doubt
taking the easiest of all the routes
to feel anything but trapped within this skin so confining
and there is not a price i wouldn’t pay
cause we’re all looking for the easy way
to forget ourselves – and numbness seems to drown out my lived violence
and there was nothing left for you to do oh, but pour another drink or two
and there was nothing to figure out from all these pieces
that are always falling – that are always falling on the ground from
all this excess
i was always falling – i was always falling on the ground, on the ground, i was falling on the ground
oh there is no one that is more devout
pray at the altar with an open mouth
purge out all these spirits – confessions in the stalls of a bathroom and when it’s hard to keep my vision straight
and i can’t remember my very name
that’s when i’ll forget every regret that i’ve had before now
and there was nothing left for me to do oh, but have another bump or two
and there was nothing to think about cause i’m in pieces
that are always falling – that are always falling on the ground from
all this excess
that are always falling – that are always falling on the ground, on the ground, i was falling on the ground
so now the bar is closed, but i’m not done
and you are looking like the only one
who is on my level, sinking faster with every passing second and before i am sure that this is right
i ask you if you want to spend the night
because being full is much better than being empty handed
and there was nothing left for me to prove
my mind was still, my body making moves
and there was nothing left – i had blacked out... cause i’m in pieces
that are always falling – that are always falling on the ground from all this excess
that are always falling – that are always falling on the ground from all this violence
that are always falling – that are always falling on the ground from...
i don’t like this
that are always falling – that are always falling on the ground, on the ground, i was falling on the ground

Spanner - Above It All

 

  Q) : What's on this week's Just Some Punk Songs show (Sunday 10th Feb 8 pm UK time :  https://www.facebook.com/events/552069175312614/) 

  A) : An hour of the best new punk releases including the song that's being highlighted on here today. Feel free to join me if you're a fan of new punk music.

  Spanner are a militant ska punk band from Easton, Bristol who've "been mixing politics and pleasure" since around 2000. It's been a while coming but they've just released new album We Won't Be Stopped. 12 tracks of well written and highly catchy social commentary you can find it name your price on Bandcamp : https://spanner.bandcamp.com/

  It'll also be available on cd and vinyl and there'll be a proper album launch, a benefit for Bristol Antifascists, at the Red Lion in Easton on March 30th. Find out more details here :  https://www.facebook.com/spanner.easton/ 

  Above It All, 12 tracks of agitation and revolt in which the lyrics are lengthy and thought provoking whilst the music will get you dancing as you rage against abuse and brutality, raise your fists to fight fascism, pile your barricades high to thwart the bailiffs or bring Jeremy Kyle to account. I can't imagine why anyone who's reading this wouldn't want this album so go get it, listen to it and join the struggle.

  This song deals with animal rights and the capacity of the human race to destroy. It's called Above It All...


Separation, exploitation 
You can justify anything
When every living thing's at our disposal
And you think the human race is king

Property, authority, hierarchy
Lies at the root of it all
But from where you think you're stood on top of the world
There's a very long way to fall

Objectification, severed relations
Numbers replace lives
Mass torture, cruelty, abuse and slaughter
Are neatly normalised

CH:
Categorised as commodities
Legitimises the atrocities
Ringing any bells from history?
Let's fight like hell for all to be free

Domination, subjugation
Ours is the loudest voice
But what makes our species really stand out
Is it's capacity to destroy

Domestication, annihilation
For fun, food, profit and science
Unquestioning acceptance
Of horrific daily violence

CH:

It's not up to us how other animals should behave
We've got no place to control or to enslave
What makes you think that you can decide their worth
Their lives, their conditions, their death and their birth?
Why do you accept that human progress and gains
means inflicting so much misery, suffering and pain?
The slaughterhouse, the zoo and the laboratory cage
Must be demolished and abolished with all our rage
But we can't stop there because there's so much more
Total liberation is what we're fighting for

Higgins and The Magic of the Marketplace - Emily Goes To Public School...

  Another new band to me today but Higgins And The Magic Of The Marketplace is the solo project of  Litterbug bassist Andy Higgins. From Blackpool, he (with I think the aid of a drummer) recently released a debut album titled Dream Consumer Dream!  It's on Just Say No To Government Music on cd and yellow vinyl (ltd to 250 copies) and you can find it streaming here :   https://higginsandthemagicofthemarketplace.bandcamp.com/album/dream-consumer-dream

  It's 11 tracks of punk influenced alt rock, it's inventive and although they're not The Rolling Stones, The Beatles or Ramones, they're bloody good. If you're looking for something a little different then this may be it.

  This is the opening track, Emily Goes To Public School...

It’s a song about Emily 

Emily goes to Public School
Eton Rifles all the way
Britain follows her own rules
Repeat Repeat like Groundhog Day – day – day ….

Sarah’s sharing silent culture
I’ve got no fire in my wine
UK sensibilities unfolding
Buying privilege is fine – fine - fine

We looked around – Kept our feet on the ground
And I thought I’d seen everything
And I thought I’d seen everything

Now all the kids that went to public school
They’ve dismantled the welfare state
Privatised the air we are breathing
Finance war and finance hate – HATE – HATE – HATE

Music
D on G string
(V) F C F G x 2 (FG CG AG CG FG)
(M8) D G D G – DEGE – D ED
BREAK – D G - D A G D

Urgent Matter - So Punk

  One of those songs today by a band I know pretty much bugger all about but I'll try and flesh this update out to the usual couple of paragraphs. Urgent Matter are from Singapore. In 2017 they released a cassette demo which featured 7 tracks lasting less than 7 minutes in total. They returned last month with their debut proper release. It's Self Titled and this time around they treat us to 8 tracks lasting around 8 minutes. Brevity is the name of the game, Urgent by name, urgent by nature. You can check out both releases here :  https://urgentmatter.bandcamp.com/album/urgent-matter

  The new record is also available on cassette from Pissed Off Records. They describe it as a fast, frantic and energetic punk attack in the style of 77/UK82/KBD.  https://pissedoffrecs.bandcamp.com/album/urgent-matter-s-t-cs

  I also found a 5 minute long clip of them live, supporting Radioactivity and Bad Sports on their 2017 Asian tour. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCa24k5blBM

  The song you'll find below is an epic by Urgent Matter standards, breaking the 2 minute mark it's the longest one they've released. It's one of the slower tracks, all brooding, mean and moody but very cool utilising to good effect repetition and diy garage riffing. This is So Punk...