REVIEWS

The music....

THE APOSTLES - There Can Be No Spectators LP - Grow Your Own
Although always being aware of The Apostles they were, unfortunately, one of those bands from the early 1980s who slipped through the net for me and apart from a tape I didn’t get anything they did. There is no reason for this, they aren’t the only band I missed out on at the time, so reissues like this are a great way for me to catch up on some music I missed. This double album (one red vinyl, one black) features four of the first five Apostles EPs, the fourth is missing as it was essentially an Andy Martin solo release, so you get the first, second, third and fifth EPs here, the ones recorded and released by a full band (there are a few previously unreleased songs included too). The Apostles were not one of the “peace punk” bands associated with the anarcho punk scene, they called for a more “by any means necessary” approach, and didn’t care who that pissed off. Drummer Chris Lowe has been the instigator of this and has done a great job, along side GYO who have ensured, as always, that what you get here is another quality package, with remastered music that sounds pretty damn good and a wrap around poster sleeve that has all the lyrics, pictures and info you need. Not only that there is a 32-page compendium of the infamous Pigs For Slaughter fanzine. 

COLD WAR - Illusion: The Complete Studio Sessions LP - Grow Your Own
The great thing about the anarcho punk scene of the early 1980s was that bands could be politically aligned but sounding very different. Like a couple of other bands of the time, Cold War took their influences from bands like Bauhaus, Siouxsie & The Banshees and, at times, I also hear a bit of Charge, early Cure and early Adam & The Ants too, which all adds up to a wonderful, very melodic sound of the sort that I’ve always liked. It’s a shame that Cold War weren’t more widely appreciated at the time, but after putting out some tapes and a 7” single, they split up and a couple of them went on to join Hagar The Womb. Being a GYO release a lot of care an attention has been put into this and it comes with a 20 page A4 booklet including a band biography, flyers, fanzine articles, photos and memorabilia. I didn’t know anything about this band, and only had one track, ‘The Machinist’, on the ‘Anti-Capitalist’ compilation CD, so this is a great release for me, and I love it. GYO keep delivering the goods.

DEATHTRAPS – The Lust for Likes EP – Deathtrap
South Wales' Deathtraps have been knocking around for some years, and I previously picked up a disc of their ‘Gotta Get Some’ album after a gig in Brighton. It’s good to see they are still with us. On this new 6 track digital EP (love the title incidentally) they carry the torch of gruff Motörheavy rockNroll laced with a Turbonegro throb. Yeah, no complaints. With songs about battling adversity, picking yourself up when you’re down, and making the most of life, Deathtraps is no doubt a useful outlet for these guys to focus their energies on and stay focussed when things turn rough. And that is great.

JAILCELL RECIPES - Artefacts from an Empty Tank World LP - First Strike 
Wow, we are fully back in the time machine here, with one of my choice ‘80’s UK hardcore bands. Where some groups of the era focussed on hammering out a bleak blunt/harsh racket, the Jailcell’s were on a more upward, thoughtful/melodic trip, even at their thrashiest; it was great witnessing their development. I first saw ‘em Summer’88 at… where else… The Richmond, Brighton, with Electro Hippies, mid-week, playing to a sparsely occupied room. There was an appeal to the scrawny/skater Jailcell’s enthusiasm from the get-go. A few months later they returned to The Richmond, this time for a packed-out Saturday night gig, as main support to Joyce McKinney Experience. An awesome double bill! With their new guitarist Jailcell’s had rapidly evolved into a leaner/meaner proposition all together. I’ll go as far as to say I was blown away. They’d firmly hit their stride with a line-up that would cement their reputation. 
Anyways, enough of my misty-eyed reflective ramblings… because here we are, many decades later, and there is a rich backstory to this album (that I’m not even gonna get into) where the band, and their great mate/early champion, Alan Woods of First Strike Records, have agreed on a format that collectively represents, and draws a firm line under, their legacy. A standard best-of/reissue, this isn’t.
Side One contains remixed tracks from their first album, that finally do ‘em justice. On the flipside selected ‘Poulton Road’ EP and second LP tracks give way to 3 previously unreleased songs from their latter days. They’re top notch. In the (ace 40 page) booklet sleeve notes/reminisces, Jamie reckons closer ‘Take the Long Walk’ is a ‘personal favourite’. It is excellent. The concluding blast of friends who’ve been in it for the fun of it, had a righteous time, pushed themselves hard, but are ready to move on to fresh ventures. Stacks of care and love has gone into this package, cannot recommend it enough. Kudos everyone involved making it happen. Gave me a Big Smile. “Yes, Happy is the way to be” ….   

PATROL – S/T EP – Drunken Sailor
Patrol, from Barcelona, go Rock/Hard on this 4 track EP, firing-off high volumes of smoking riffage and beer slamming/fist pumping tunes. Packing a tough adrenalized edge these lads stray deep into NWOBHM territory, channelling Maiden ‘n Girlschool… with sparks of prime-time Lizzy, for optimal results. Are you still with me Punkers??!! Take my word, it’s damn catchy music. I can imagine they’re a lot of fun on stage, turned up to 11, cranking it out. As a wise man once sang… “I'd love to watch my ears drop off, ‘cause I'm headbanging all night”…. 

PREY - Loathing 12” - Doom And Gloom
As 2024 draws to a close, coloured lights are going up and the season of greed, excess and forced jollity is upon us, but never fear, Prey are here to save us with another 14 tracks of furious mayhem. For 16 minutes they’ll make you forget any outside nonsense as they pummel your brain in such a way that you’ll thank them and go back for more. Straight from the off, with a whirlwind of machine gun drums and thrashed guitar, the quick fire chant and response attacks you, there’s no polite introduction, they get straight to the point. Laura’s vocals are fantastic, perfectly matched by those from Eddie and Pete, spitting out lyrics dealing with inner turmoil and outward rage at the capitalist and military machines that do so much to bring pain and suffering to everyone. Blistering and brilliant from start to finish.
Bandcamp (Tony)

ROTARY CLUB – Sphere of Service LP – Iron Lung
Reno’s Rotary Club first got my attention with their 2023 ‘American Tower’ single, containing a pair of sizzling Dangerhouse infused numbers. Didn’t hear anything from ‘em since until I noticed they had an album coming out in late ‘24 on Iron Lung. Coolio. Count me in. ‘Sphere of Service’ is 12 new energised songs of buzzing tuneage from start to finish. Totally delivers. Their lyrical world is entirely dominated by a celebration/obsession with old-school telecommunication, and a now disappearing world of landline’s, modems, answering machines, switchboards, desk phones, etc. Rotary Club take ‘dialling it in’ to a whole new level. 

VAN RUIN - Jails, Death and Institutions EP - crankinhaus 
After reading a feature about these Aussies at the ace i-94 Bar website I quickly checked them out, and liked what I was hearing enough to pony up for a download of this 5 song EP. I know, pure decadence. Made up of seasoned lags from the Northern Beaches of Sydney they invoke ‘Birdman, New Christs, Celibate Rifles, Seminal Rats… in other words; classic hi-energy Oz Garage Rock of the type I’ve had a longtime love affair with. They’re alright by me. 
Bandcamp (Pete) 

THE WAR GOES ON – Death Wish LP - Hasiok Records
I took a social media hiatus for a few weeks a while back, partly to minimise/block out the U.S. Elections, and its predictably dystopian outcome. There was some other weirdness too that encouraged my need to create distance with unnecessary inner’net creepy crawl. Mentally, I’d have to say it was a worthy break. The downside (because there usually is one) was its ‘on-line’ where nowadays you get news on bands, gigs ‘n latest releases. Like this new album (their 3rd) by Copenhagen’s The War Goes On which I remained oblivious to. Ack! I’m there now though, and it’s a cracker. Driving, hard-hitting ‘n rousing numbers, heavy on the melancholy, recalling ‘Change Today’ era T.S.O.L., Social D, Toxic Reasons, Leatherface, and even flashes of The Wipers. And let’s not forget, with singer/guitarist Ronni Dybdahl there’s clear lineage to the mighty No Hope For The Kids. ‘Death Wish’ offers up 9 new songs, plus a fresh take on ‘Discount Hope’ (that first emerged on an EP in 2202) and multiple spins in I can declare it an A+ anthemic banger. Would have been in my 2024 Year End round up if I’d not gotten so hung up on trying to bury my head in the sand. Needs must ‘n all that, I guess. 
Hasiok (Pete)  

...The Message

A KISS IN THE DREAMHOUSE by Mike Head - Inherit The Earth
Tangled Lines, Mike’s “punk lit” zine is always a good read. It’s a gloriously back to basics, cut and paste zine that works as a perfect vehicle for Mike’s writing, but this is a proper book. It has a colour cover and while the layout is cleaner and uniform, Mike’s distinctive style is still there. As it says in the Preface, this is part memoir, part prose but it’s all true. The first part covers the early life of someone who doesn’t really fit in at school and is bullied, but finds punk rock. When something happens to his main tormenter, he finds romance, of sorts, and eventually his tribe. From then on we get short pieces of thoughts, memories and little stories. It’s less structured than the first part, but still flows well. It’s the sort of book that you can read in one sitting, but then feel disappointed because you have finished it. Mike’s writing is honest, heartfelt and down to earth and I hope he gets to have more of his stuff properly published, as well as continuing with Tangled Lines.

ANARCHO-PUNK: MUSIC AND RESISTANCE IN LONDON 1977-1988 by David Insurrection - Earth Island
I have always thought that Anarcho Punk is the thing that saved punk rock. By proving that you could put in to action the ideas that The Clash and Sex Pistols spouted, Crass, and the bands that they inspired, proved that if you take control and ignore the mainstream things are better when you do them yourself. Things naturally grow and evolve that way, continuing to inspire along the way. Gaz and me were soaking up the records released on Crass, Spiderleg, Mortarhate etc and although our lives were completely different to the lives of those living in London and forming bands, zines, newspapers we were becoming inspired and our politics were evolving, although we weren’t squatting and living with the constant threat of attacks by right wing skins or the police. So, this book is an interesting read and it was good to see pictures of the venues and locations we’d seen mentioned on record sleeves and in fanzines and read about the people and bands involved too, how they interacted and moved around as well as their links with older, non-punk anarchists. Dave Insurrection also lists many of the gigs, and who played at each venue covered. One or two of these people get a chance to tell their own stories too. It was a different time and although this book covers just 11 years, the impact this period had is still being felt today, the small, DIY scenes that emerged in the mid to late 1980s were directly, or indirectly, inspired by anarcho punk and forged friendships that have endured. I’d put this alongside Ian Glasper’s books as an important historical document of our punk scene. And it is our scene, it’s not one championed or created by the music press, it’s created by punks for punks and although things have changed, the spirit remains. Musical styles ebb and throw, but the attitude stays the same, forged in the years covered in this book.
Earth Island (Tony)

DIMINISHED RESPONSIBILITY: MY LIFE AS A U.K. SUB, AND OTHER STRANGE STORIES - VOL 3 by Alvin Gibbs - Tome & Metre
Volume three, which has a forward by Gaye (Advert) Black, brings things up to date, as far as the UK Subs are concerned, and along the way we get a bit of history, some politics and lots of touring. Alvin is honest and forthright and isn’t afraid to ruffle feathers either, if someone pisses Alvin off then we hear about it, yes, even when that person is Charlie Harper. Like Volume one, this was more UK Subs focussed, which makes it more interesting for me as they are the band that made me want to read about Alvin’s life. From time to time while reading this I was left wondering how the UK Subs have stayed an active band for so long, but Charlie kept it going and Alvin kept going back so, thankfully, the story continued and left Alvin with so many stories to tell, and it’s certainly been a bit of a rollercoaster. It was interesting reading about the recording of the final few Subs albums, the musicians who’ve come in and out of the story and the controversies that sprang up from time to time. There are some good photos along the way too. So, if you only have a passing interested in the UK Subs, this is still a good, interesting read about a touring musician in a band who are very popular, very well known, but far from being rich megastars.

DOWN THE PUNK ROCK HIGHWAY: 35 Years of writing & interviews
By Jared Forman - Earth Island Books
I love the look of this book, it’s not full text but has reproduced interviews, cuttings and photos from zines Jared Forman has done over the last 35 years. There is a ton of stuff in here, including chats with Channel 3, Subhumans, Toxic Reasons, Doom, MDC, Icons Of Filth, Mission Of Burma, Reagan Youth, A.P.P.L.E, The Avengers and loads more, including bits on ABC NO Rio, Dangerhouse Records and Gilman Street. It’s all presented in a cut and paste style, reminding me of all those great zines of the mid-1980s and it gives a real first hand snapshot of, mainly, US punk rock history. It’s a book I keep picking up and flicking through the pages to find another cool photo or interview to take me back and make me want to dig out the records of that particular band.  

THE FIRE STILL BURNS: MUSIC INSPIRED BY THE POST-PUNK MESSAGE by David Gamage - Earth Island Books
On first glance this book wouldn’t appear to appeal to me too much, outside of the fact that David is a longstanding friend. But, there are bands here I’ve head of, seen live and even featured in SD. None of that really matters though as this massive book, almost 700 pages, could be seen as a companion book to Ian Glasper’s books documenting the punk scene from the 1980s onwards, being just as important for people interested in bands you could call post-emo. The fact that the music most of the bands featured here is not to my taste is unimportant, the fact is that the roots of what they play stretch back to punk rock; there is a line to be drawn from bands like Gang Of Four, Magazine or Wire, Dag Nasty, Rites Of Spring or Fugazi through 1990s Emo to these more melodic bands David writes about here. They are younger, so their entry to alternative music wasn’t Crass or Discharge, Minor Threat or Dead Kennedys, it was a generation after that, but they still found a home in a scene that was born out of those times where they could start bands, play gigs and release their music making use of labels, zines and promoters that sprung up out of the DIY network that existed because of the older punk scenes. Some of their stories are interesting and certainly worth telling, obviously I was drawn to Rites and Zero Again, but I remember Si Briggs interviewing Speedwell and them appearing on one of our compilations, so that was one of the first chapters I read. As with Ian Glasper’s books, this is an historical reference book, making sure these bands are not forgotten and just because I’m not a fan of their music doesn’t mean I instantly dismiss their stories or their worth, in fact I’m pleased these kids found somewhere to play music with people who shared their passion in what was, at least initially, outside of the mainstream music industry.
Earth Island (Tony)

RACCOON STARTS A BAND by Alex CF - Earth Island Books
Following on from Alex CF’s Punks In The Willows book, Earth Island now allows Alex to tell the story I’m sure a lot of us can relate to, of punk rock giving us a purpose, a community, an education and a feeling of security. Along the way there’s a run through of a lot of punk rock’s offshoots and sub genres, as Raccoon finds his way, told in short verse form. The main attraction of this is Alex’s great drawings, putting animals in place of humans, all covered in band patches and t-shirts and all the looks and styles of punks through the ages. It looks like children’s book, but is it? Who’s to say, but I did enjoy it.


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