Nervous - Silenced ( Guest Review By Ralph J Rivera)

  

  Okay it's 2023 and most of the people I know that write about music have been saying the same thing over & over for years - What the Hell is going on in Australia? They're pumping out great bands from every genre nearly monthly. Well here's a new one you're gonna want to check out. "Nervous" from Perth, Aus (https://www.facebook.com/NervousPerth/) have tapped into something different than all the others. Sorry I couldn't find any info on band members names even on their FB page but they've been putting out music since their 2021 self titled EP. As I told Mick, this is a band that is completely in my wheelhouse. They combine the classic 80's SoCal Punk sound with Goth/Death Rock influences. And you just KNOW they have a kick ass female lead singer! Personally they remind me of LA legends "Red Scare" but brought into modern times. They just dropped a new album on January 31st called "Ruined" on their Bandcamp page :  https://nervous2.bandcamp.com/album/ruined

  I'm hoping somebody decides to do a vinyl pressing because this is one of those records you'd crank over and over again. Opening with their style defining song "Silenced" you get the best of both worlds - Goth & Punk. After that it's a barrage of Punk bangers until they go into full blown "Death Rock" mode on "Change". A beautiful song straight out of 1982 in 2023! Finishing with 2 more up tempo jams this is gonna be a contender in my end of the year lists. Modern day classic and definitely check out the EP also because there's some great songs on that one too especially "Talk", a song I can relate to completely. 

  Well here's my pick, the lead off song "Silenced" which is total perfection...

   

Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys - Goth Beach

  

  Now this is fun... 

  When you were all sweltering in record temperatures earlier this week, did any of you spare a thought for those amongst us with an aversion to sunlight? That's right, the goths. 

  Well it seems on the evidence of the video below that they've been doing just fine.

  Walter Sickert & The Army Of Broken Toys (https://www.facebook.com/WalterSickert) are new to me though I'm not sure why as they appear to have released a vast amount of music (which I will be dipping my toe into on Bandcamp). They're from Boston and on their current single they line up thus : 

 Walter Sickert (Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Samples)

 Mary Widow (Vocals)

 Rachel Jayson (Viola)

 Matt Zappa (Drums, Percussion)

 Mike Leggio (Electric Bass)

 Jojo Lazar (Ukulele, flute)

 Brother Bones (aka Blake Girndt) (Guitar)

 Edrie (Melodica, Broken Toys)

 Wednesday Alice (Inspiration)

  The single is a whole heap of fun. It seems to have been going down a storm with impressed punters comparing it to Rock Lobster and calling the band The B-52's of darkness. Namechecking the likes of Robert Smith, Siouxsie Sioux, Bauhaus, Christina Ricci and Elvira it's an absolute joy. Snap it up as a name your price download here : https://armyoftoys.bandcamp.com/album/goth-beach

  This is Goth Beach... 

Hüstler - S/T EP (Guest review by Ralph J Rivera)

  

    A seasonal treat for you today from Ralph...

  Well boys and ghouls and followers of "Just Some Punk Songs" have I dug up a treat for you all on this most excellent Halloween. Let me introduce you to a little band from Brooklyn, New York, called Hüstler. 

  Having caught my attention with their first 8 song demo back in February on Sorry State Records (https://sorrystaterecords.bandcamp.com/album/h-stler-demo). This was a sound I had not heard duplicated since the mighty Devil Master burst on the scene in 2018. An absolutely PERFECT combination of Gothic/Metal and Dark Punk. My arcane musical dream had come to fruition. But I needed more!

  Luckily on October 22nd "The Dark Ones" answered my call. A brand new 4 track EP that only increased the originality of this band. The guitar playing is seriously "next level". The atmosphere is still in the "Dark Punk" area but the Goth influences are coming through more now. I actually hear hints of the classic early Christian Death in some of these songs. The cassette version is sold out already but I talked to Sorry State Records and they plan on releasing both the demo and the EP on one VINYL RECORD in the near future.

 

 This band manage to check all my musical boxes in one shot. Check out both releases on Sorry State Records https://sorrystaterecords.bandcamp.com/album/h-stler-ep. Keep your eyes and ears open for Hüstler in the future because when they drop a full length - It's gonna be a game changer!

  I couldn't pick a single song but here's a Youtube clip of the entire new EP...

False Confession - Mortal Coil (Guest Review By Ralph J Rivera)

    

  Another one of Ralph's recommendations today... 

Talk about being blown away. I had no idea what to expect from this new release but I should have known better. False Confession (https://www.facebook.com/falseconfession.hardcore) were one of my favorite bands from that 1984/Mystic Records era of California Punk Rock. They blended 100 MPH songs that are now called "D-Beat" with amazing PostPunk/Goth jams. It didn't hurt that they traded members with DR. KNOW, my ALL TIME favorite band from that era.

SO what does a band that haven't been together in over 35 years sound like? EXACTLY HOW THEY USED TOO! The first 7 songs are complete D-Beat/Modern Hardcore and they end the album with 2 amazing "Goth" style jams that made me love this band. If you've heard their old stuff - you'll LOVE this. If you're new to them - This album, titled Resurrectionists, will make you a fan. I LOVE when bands can come back and STILL write kick ass songs! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED my friends! ALL the original members - Israel, Fred, Harry and Ismael! Unbelievable that these guys can STILL bring something new into 2021! The "Old School" is STILL relevant!

Vinyl 12" LP available on Puke N Vomit Records and CD on Nothing But A Nightmare Records. For digital go here : https://falseconfession.bandcamp.com/

My pick off this album is one of the closers called "Mortal Coil". Showing this bands "Goth" side. Absolutely perfect!

INWARD BOUND WITH NO ESCAPE CANT MAKE A SOUND TO CRY FOR HELP NO ONE HEARS WHAT YOUVE SAID YOURE STUCK INSIDE YOUR WEARY HEAD DREAMS ARE JUST YOUR BEST NIGHTMARES GOOD AND EVIL UNACCEPTED DARES YOU LOOK BACK AT LIFE FORWARD TO DEATH THEY LAUGH AT YOU YOU JUST SIT AND CRY.

Dame - Bubble Baby

 

  Dame are a dark post punk band based in Boston, Massachusetts who formed in 2015 and line up with Diana (vocals), Anna (guitar), Lauren (keys), Meghan (drums) and Dani (bass). They've featured in numerous other bands such as Exit Order, Leather Daddy, Bad Idea, Native Sun etc...

  Their first release was a 5 track ep titled Charm School and they followed it up in 2016 with a split cassette ep with The Cringe. 2017 saw them release a Self Titled ep on Charm School Records and you can check it out, along with the debut, here : https://dame-boston.bandcamp.com/

  Despite being spread out geographically they managed to get together before the Covid pandemic took a hold to record a new 7 track 12". The blue vinyl version is already sold out but you can get it on black from Beach Impediment Records      https://beachimpedimentrecords.bigcartel.com/product/dame-s-t-12

 

  It's also available as a name your price download :   https://beachimpedimentrecords.bandcamp.com/album/dame

  My favourite song? Maybe it's because I'm more familiar with it than with the new material (or maybe just because it's so bloody good!) but I'm opting for a reworked track from their debut ep. This is Bubble Baby...

Pawns - Monuments of Faith

  I think it's fair to say the chatroom exploded when I played today's song on the latest show. It was definitely one of the best received tracks I've featured. It's by Oakland, California, band Pawns and it's definitely going to be in my best of 2019 list.

  Pawns are a dark punk (goth/anarcho/post-punk) 4 piece comprising Jenna Rose (bass), Noel Mateus (guitar), Gage Allison (vocals) and Stephen Reader (drums). They've been together since 2014 and previous releases include a couple of 7"'s and 2017 album The Gallows. Earlier this month they released a new ep, Monuments Of Faith, and it's a bit of a stunner. It's on Near Dark Records and available on 12" vinyl or digitally : https://neardarkoakland.bandcamp.com/album/monuments-of-faith-ep

  You can get more info here : https://www.facebook.com/pawnsnyc/

  Of the 3 songs on the eph, the one I'm featuring today is the title track. When I was much younger, I'd go to a pretty cool student night club called the Sugar House. My drunk younger self would brave the dancefloor to shuffle around to tunes like Temple Of Love (Sisters Of Mercy), Walk Into The Sun (March Violets), Spiritwalker (The Cult), Kick In The Eye (Bauhaus) etc. With it's stunning juxtaposition of gloomy ambience and frantic uptempo drumming this would have gone down an absolute fucking storm. Monuments Of Faith...

DIÄT - Foreign Policy

  Today I'm posting a song that was probably the favourite track of the night with the guys in the chatroom when I played it on last week's Just Some Punk Songs show (show saved here : https://www.mixcloud.com/mick-fletcher/just-some-punk-songs-070419/). It's taken from the album Positive Disintegration by Berlin post punkers DIÄT. It's their 2nd album (following up from 2015's Positive Energy) and you can find it on Bandcamp here :   https://ironlungpv.bandcamp.com/album/positive-disintegration-lp-lungs-121

  It was available via Iron Lung Records on vinyl but it quickly sold out (it's being repressed). There's 8 darkly atmospheric tracks which sees the band "add a bit more of a pop zap to the ever present post punk dreariness of modern Berlin life." Comparisons are often made with the likes of Killing Joke, Joy Division and even Wire. I find the best way to listen is laid on the sofa with my eyes closed and my headphones on. It's easy to float away on a tide of swirling guitars and insistent beats. Embrace your inner goth and go with the flow.

  This song is one of the more upbeat ones, it's called Foreign Policy...

Masses - Worthy

photo : Photoyunist

  Formed in 2013 in Melbourne, Australia, Masses feature Nellie Pearson (vocals and synth, she's previously appeared on this blog with her other band, Ubik), James Blake (vocals/guitar), Tessa Tribe (bass and also a member of Ubik) and Ash Wyatt (drums). James and Tessa are also in a new band called Terremoto. Tagging themselves anarcho/post-punk/goth they combine politically motivated themes with darkly morose melodies. I can sometimes take or leave this kind of moody, atmospheric music but Masses have an urgency about them and are one of the bands that I can buy into.

  Their back catalogue features a 2013 demo cassette, 2014's Horde Mentality ep, 2015's Masses/Death Church split ep and their debut 2016 album Moloch. They're back with a new S/T ep which is available via Lost In Fog Records (Australia) and Symphony Of Destruction Records (Europe). It's also available "name your price" on Bandcamp....  https://massesmelbourne.bandcamp.com/album/masses-2

  They've plenty of gigs lined up in support of the ep including next month's European tour. You can check details here :  https://www.facebook.com/massesmelbourne/

  The new ep is a definite winner that's been picking up plenty of well deserved positive comments. This is the lead track, it's called Worthy....

Siouxsie and the Banshees - Halloween

  As it's Halloween today I'll take the opportunity to post a classic track from one of the biggest names associated with punk rock. Siouxsie And The Banshees formed in 1976, founder members Siouxsie Sioux and Steven Severin had met the previouss year at a Roxy Music gig. They went on to be regular attendees at gigs by a new band called The Sex Pistols and were part of a group of kindred spirits that the press labelled The Bromley Contingent.

  The first ever Siouxsie And The Banshees gig was a hastily arranged support slot at the 100 Club Festival and saw Sioux and Severin joined on stage by Sid Vicious (on drums) and future Adam And The Ants guitarist Marco Pirroni. From these humble beginnings, they coalesced into what The Times dubbed "one of the most audacious and uncompromising musical adventures of the post-punk era."

  Fast forward to 8th August 1981. This was the date of one of the very first gigs that I attended, it was at Lancaster University and was on their Juju tour (supported by John Cooper Clarke). All I remember from the gig, aside from it being bloody great, is that Siouxsie took time out to bait a group of leather jacket clad local punks by telling them The Banshees had more in common with Duran Duran than they did with bands like Discharge.

  The line up for the Juju album was Siouxsie (vocals), Steven Severin (bass), John McGeoch (guitar) and Budgie (drums). It was their 4th studio album and came out in June 1981 on Polydor. By this time the band were veering away from their punk rock roots and helping to kick start the 80's goth rock scene.

  No prizes for guessing which track from Juju that I'm posting today. This is Halloween......

The night is still and the frost it bites my face
I wear my silence like a mask and murmur like a ghost
Trick or treat, trick or treat, the bitter and the sweet
Trick or treat, trick or treat, the bitter and the sweet

The carefree days are distant now I wear my memories like a shroud
I try to speak but words collapse, echoing, echoing
Trick or treat, trick or treat, the bitter and the sweet
Trick or treat, trick or treat, the bitter and the sweet

I wander though your sadness
Gazing at you with scorpion eyes
Halloween, Halloween
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

A sweet reminder in the ice-blue nursery
Of a childish murder of hidden luster and she cries
Trick or treat, trick or treat, the bitter and the sweet
Trick or treat, trick or treat, the bitter and the sweet

I wander through your sadness
Gazing at you with scorpion eyes
Halloween, Halloween
Halloween, Halloween
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

 

Haldol - Hasbara

  Public diplomacy in Israel (also hasbara) (Hebrew: הַסְבָּרָה‎ hasbará, "explaining") refers to public relations efforts to disseminate abroad positive information or propaganda about the State of Israel and its actions.



  Something a couple of shades darker than normal today from Haldol, a band who's music attracts labels such as goth, post punk and deathrock.

  Formed in 2011 in Nashville by Geoff Smith and Joey Cantrell, they're now located in Philadelphia and feature Smith (guitar/vocals) alongside Matt Martin (bass) and Aaron Muchanic (drums).

  They announced themselves shortly after getting together with a 6 track demo and released their debut album, The Death Drive, the following year. There's also been the Exhumed Songs ep, a second demo and a live ep but it's with the release of this years self-titled ep that they came to my notice. Attracting comparisons with band such as Rudimentary Peni and The Chameleons it seems to have the reviewers salivating. You can check out what the fuss is about on their Bandcamp :  https://haldol.bandcamp.com/album/self-titled-45-lp 

  Commenting on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and asking how many people have to die for a Jewish State, this is Hasbara.....


Experiencing bloodshed allows you to wield bloodshed, 
And the tortured surely know what shrieks can wake the dead. 
As they pinkwash themselves, they wash children in red; 
Trumpets don't tear down Jericho's walls, it's missiles, instead. 
The terrorist title is reserved for the civilian, 
While "terrorized" rarely die, genocide receives justification. 
Land is land, and land is commodity, 
And those who obstruct capital are deserving of cruelty. 

The United States raises its children by example. 

When oppressed fight oppression, you give them more oppression, 
You can shroud it in religious rhetoric obsession. 
Resistance simply painted as race hate, 
How many have to die for a Jewish state?