The Dumbheads are no strangers to Just Some Punk Songs, from Belgorad, Russian Federation, I featured a song from their 2015 Heartbroken Idiots album and there were a couple of Top 10s selected by band members featuring the sort of bands they like (giving you an idea of the type of things that have influenced their sound they listed the likes of Teenage Head, China Drum, The Riverdales, Spoilers, Teenage Bottlerocket, Atlas Losing Grip, The Misfits etc...).
Supposedly there'll be yet another ep out in a week or so with an album to follow at the end of the year. You can watch out for those by checking their Facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/thedumbheads/
This ep was released to coincide with All Hallows Eve and features 3 high octane songs that "stylistically don't fit on the upcoming album." This is the sound of The Dumbheads rocking out, though they still retain the catchiness that they've become known for. This is the title track, inspired by the Stephen King book (and ensuing movie) about he who walks behind the rows, this is Children Of The Corn...
More great tunes from 2015 today, this time courtesy of a top 10 from Dmitriy Onikov. Dmitriy is guitarist with The Dumbheads, an old school pop punk band from Belgorod, Russia. You can pick up their music "name your price" here : http://dumbheads.bandcamp.com/.
Yet again, there's some great tracks in this selection. Thanks Dmitriy......
1) Spoilers - Stay Afloat
Spoilers came out of nowhere (at least, on my radar). I knew absolutely nothing about this 4-piece from Kent, and that was the sweetest part of it. Not anticipating much I was knocked down. I guess that "Stay Afloat" from the eponymous EP is a song that any punk rocker can relate to. We're all rocking our boats trying to stay afloat!
2) Teenage Bottlerocket - They Called Me Steve
"They Called Me Steve" would have been my top song if it wasn't the Spoilers track. I've been very much in love with TBR since "Total" and they never seem to fail me. With every album they deliver that indefectible pop song that sticks just right in your head. Well, "They Called Me Steve" is just what I've been looking for.
3) Atlas Losing Grip - Closure
Well, this one is a break-up song, something that everyone has stories about. And Rodrigo from Atlas Losing Grip sure knows the way how to put it into words. Without being cheesy "Closure" is a beautifully tragic and mournful grand finale of love. Just listen to it, it's magic.
4) Sinners & Saints - When We Were Young
I'm really glad that Rob Lind is finally back (albeit to varying degrees). Though this comeback might not size up to my expectations since Blood for Blood are unlikely to record anything in the foreseeable future due to the notorious events, I'm kind of astonished that Rob decided to bring Sinners & Saints to life. Without any exaggeration this is one of my fav US bands and I'm truly happy that something is to come up.
5) Good Riddance - Grace and Virtue
Back to basics, part I. Isn't that classic 90s Fat Wreck/Epitaph sound and songwriting what we've been longing for? Fast, sincere and melodic, Peace In Our Times is a pure reminiscence of that epoch.
6) Millencolin - Something I Would Die For
Back to basics, part II. Yet another great band that I grew up on. Luckily NOT fulfilling my worst expectations (on the contrary, they exceeded I ever wanted from them) Millencolin have aged perfectly. Oh, and I'm still in love with pompous song titles.
7) Strung Out - Nowheresville
Back to basics, part III. "Nowheresville" heavily hits the nostalgia nerve with the late 90s repercussion. It's simply a showcase of everything I love about this band - amazing guitar work, powerful vocals and great complicated verses/choruses.
8) Free – Vow
I've never been into Have Heart, considered them a bit overrated (comparing to Clear or Sweet Jesus also featuring ex-HH Pat Flynn) and never understood why they'd been so big. But dude, I won't lie how I feel about Free. Their demo is just mind blowing. Nuff said.
9) Violent Reaction - Marching On
I do love all those bands out there that have that slightly distorted guitar sound more resembling an oi! band than an actual hardcore outfit. Violent Reaction is one of those. I suggest everyone pay close attention to these lads because instead of being a revision of cloying 80s hardcore they indeed sound fresh.
10) Homesick - Ненависть O.C.
These are my mates from Odessa city, Ukraine. I’m grateful that despite political and social differences in the upper echelons of power and unfortunately among the common people we’re still friends and appeal to reason. Anyway, that is not the point. This song is just a fuck you to those blaming everyone for his/her problems and giving up their own responsibility. Yeah, I think that’s cool =).
One of my favourite albums of 2015 thus far is Heartbroken Idiots by Russian band The Dumbheads. I posted a song by them a few months back (http://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=dumbheads) and was recently contacted by guitarist Dmitriy who told me they've a new ep coming soon and asked if I knew of any record labels who might want to release it in Europe. Unfortunately I couldn't help him out but I can ask on here, if anyone wants to release what will be a great record (or if you know of anyone) please get in touch with the band either on Facebook or on Bandcamp. Their bandcamp link (at which you can find Heartbroken Idiots at name your price), is here : http://dumbheads.bandcamp.com/. This is the sort of stuff that a label like Monster Zero or Ramone To The Bone Records should be all over.
Not one to miss an opportunity, I asked Dmitriy if he'd like to contribute a top 10 to the blog and very kindly he quickly roped in bassist Alex and submitted this joint effort.
As usual, I'll first post Dmitriy's comments on the list :
"When it comes to choosing a favourite punk rock song it turns out that it's really hard and nearly impossible to pick up the most loved ones. Time flies, we change and grow up and most likely the 2005 or 2010 list would be very different from what we have today. I wish this were at least a top 50 songs so every band that means, or has ever meant, something to us would have been in it. Notwithstanding that, we tried to choose the songs that sum up what we love and represent an epitome of our choices."
The Dumbheads are from Belgorod, Russian Federation. They're a 4 piece featuring Alex Boozer (vocals, guitar), Mighty (guitar), Alex Dumbhead (vocals, bass) and Gleb Hleb (drums) who despite hailing from Eastern Europe cite their influences as being The Ramones, The Queers, Angry Samoans, Screeching Weasel and Bad Chopper. If you've not yet heard them you're probably expecting old school dumb but fun pop punk and you aren't going to be disappointed. You can check out their new album and their previous releases over on their bandcamp : http://dumbheads.bandcamp.com/
I won't bother saying much about their recent Heartbroken Idiots as Sara Ramone has written a better review than I could manage over on her excellent Ramona Confidential blog. I'll just echo her sentiments that the album is going to end up being one of 2015's best releases so visit her and read more here : http://ramonaconfidential.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/the-dumbheads-heartbroken-idiots.html
The song I'm posting is the kind of deceptively simple tune that is easy to do but hard to do this well, it's called Don't Wanna Walk Around With You.....
