TRANSPLANTS free download this week only!
As you can tell, LOUD HORIZON is undergoing some changes & will have a new website in the next couple of days. This would explain why there is not many posts this week as I am trying to get everything sorted for the new look LOUD HORIZON which will hopefully launch soon.
ANYWAY! I am here to tell you all that U.S punk royalty, otherwise known as TRANSPLANTS have released their new single ‘Come Around’ FREE to download until the end of this week only. Make sure that you get your FREE download before time runs out. The full album ‘In A Warzone’ will be out in mid June & I for one am VERY exited about it.
GET YOUR FREE DOWNLOAD OF ‘COME AROUND’ HERE!
You can also listen to the track on the Youtube link below.
(I may have gone, but I’ve not forgotten) Part 2: THE RAMONES
No reason ……. just because!
[COLIN JACKSON]
(I may have gone, but I’ve not forgotten) Part 1: THE CREEPING IVIES.
Just stopped by to add this little gem from Glasgow punk and rollers, THE CREEPING IVIES.
This is the new, official video for the track ‘Spinning’ which in turn is lifted from the band’s excellent ‘Stay Wild‘ album.
Go get it!
[COLIN JACKSON]
STILL BUST new debut album & video teaser!
This is a very exiting feature for me to post as I grew up listening to Hardcore Punk music. STILL BUST are a four piece band from the UK and have announced their debut album will be released 20th May on Lockjaw Records. Their debut single off this album is titled “How Much We Sound Like Rise Against (and other things we shouldn’t say to each other.)” This song is a cracking track which I just can’t help to compare it to my favorite Hardcore Punk band of all time ‘FIVE KNUCKLE’ who were the UK’s most under rated bands ever. The single’s intro is a bit off putting, however, after the first 5 seconds it just kicks into pure organised chaos!
I strongly recommend anyone who is into fast Punk or Hardcore Punk to get this CD when it is released next month! I personally will be looking forward to snatching a copy of this CD going by the single alone. Here is a small album teaser for everyone to enjoy.
STILL BUST FACEBOOK PAGE!
TRANSPLANTS set to release new album June 24 & FREE DOWNLOAD
The punk all-star team known as TRANSPLANTS are back with new album ‘IN A WARZONE’ set to be released on June 24th 2013 on Epitaph Records. The American punk band have been together for 13 years with members Travis Barker (Blink 182) Tim Armstrong (Rancid) and frontman ‘Skinhead’ Rob Aston. The sound could not be any more raw, angry vocals from Aston mixed with Armstrongs guitar and vocals capped off by the drum genius known as Travis Barker.
To Celebrate the release of their new album, TRANSPLANTS are offering everyone a free download of the title track ‘IN A WARZONE.’
You can download the song straight from HERE
ARMY OF FRESHMEN new single/album & tour dates.
ARMY OF FRESHMEN are back with new album ‘HAPPY TO BE ALIVE’ to celebrate their 15th anniversary of being a band. The Pop Punk outfit from Ventura, California have enjoyed a great career by releasing 5 studio albums and a tour history that is nothing short of amazing. To carry on this great tradition, they will be out promoting their new album this month across England as well as playing the ‘Hit The Deck’ festival in Bristol & Nottingham.
DATES:
April
19 Norwich Waterfront (Headline)
20 Bristol, Hit The Deck Festival
21 Nottingham, Hit The Deck Festival
22 London, Islington Academy (supporting The Aquabats)
I must say that I have a personal connection with this band as I have spent time in a touring pop punk band over the past five years & no band has been as kind and respectful as they were to us.
Within the new album lies their single ‘AVA’ which is just a delight to anyone who wants to look back at their youth & remember the days of skateboarding in the park. One thing ARMY OF FRESHMEN do very well, entertain. The video for this single is a true testament to who they are and what they are all about.
THE PLIMPTONS ….. the end!
THE PLIMPTONS are (or were, if you’re reading this after 10:15pm on the evening of Saturday 30th March 2013) a punk band of sorts from Glasgow … well, Motherwell more precisely. I say ‘of sorts’ because although ostensibly that’s what they are / were, they incorporate(d) so much more into their music and performance.
(I need say no more other than to highlight this with a few videos from the band.)
Formed in 1999, THE PLIMPTONS are very possibly the most featured band on LOUD HORIZON throughout its six-year existence in various guises. But all good things must come to an end, and after thirteen years, they have decided to call it a day. Several of the six members play in other bands / offshoots and with changes in personal circumstances it was becoming increasingly difficult to get everyone together for rehearsal / shows.
As I write this, they will be at Stereo, Glasgow, preparing to go on stage for the last time as a band at 9:15pm tonight. But they leave us with a career spanning ‘retrospective’ album, ‘The Life and Death of Colonel Plimp‘ which will be available through all the usual digital outlets from Monday 1st April.
There is also a FREE download of of the four-track ‘The Plimptons are Dead‘ EP from their Bandcamp page.
I know there will be many from around these parts and indeed further afield, who will miss THE PLIMPTONS, and join me in wishing them all well in their future ventures. As the esteemed author Douglas Adams once almost said:
‘SO LONG AND THANKS FOR ALL THE PISH.‘
(It may be too late … but you can have that one one me, lads!)
(The Plimptons)
(10/10!!!)
SUICIDAL TENDENCIES: ‘Cyco Style.’
I don’t normally post updates on ‘big’ bands …. but (a) there’s not enough punk on LOUD HORIZON for my liking, and (b) I used to (and still do!) really like SUICIDAL TENDENCIES back in the day.
It’s now some thirteen years since the band last released any new material, so there’s a fair bit of excitement brewing in anticipation of new album, ‘13‘ which is due for release on 27th May. Unbelievably, this new long-player heralds the thirtieth anniversary of the band!
‘Cyco Style,’ is lifted from this new album and it shows the band and Mike Muir in particular, have lost none of their edge and energy over the years!
THE THERMALS: ‘Born To Kill.’
THE THERMALS, just in case you didn’t know, are a three-piece indie punk band from Portland, Oregon. They’ve been doing their thing for over ten years now, but Time certainly hasn’t dulled their ability to write raucous, punk-edged songs of substance .
A new album, ‘Desperate Ground’ is scheduled for release through the amazing Saddle Creek label on 15th April. I’ve not heard it yet, but believe it to be brilliantly sick and twisted – dark and yet fun! Full of energy, lyrically, it’s a brash and irresponsible ode to human violence, a black celebration of the inevitability of war and death.
From the album comes the following track, ‘Born To Kill,‘ an unapologetic ode to a nation of killers.
I don’t think I need say any more!
(… and just in case you couldn’t make out the lyrics ……)
THE PLIMPTONS are dead ……free EP to celebrate(?!)
… well, not quite – but they will be killed off on the evening of Saturday 30th March.
Yup – about thirteen years after being (some would ‘rashly’) allowed the freedom of Glasgow’s music venues, THE PLIMPTONS, Glasgow / Motherwell punk mentalists, are calling it a day.
But you wouldn’t expect them to go quietly would you?
So, in their own inimitable style they have arranged an ‘all-dayer’ at Glasgow’s Stereo Bar where they will be joined by a host of other established punk / alternative bands from the locale – see poster below.
“The only real reason is that it’s really hard to get the 6 of us together. We’re all in other bands, and quite a few of them with each other…but I don’t think we’d want to call it The Plimptons unless everyone was involved…and it’s always better to go out with a big party with your mates than let it become a chore or that kind of thing,” explains guitarist / vocalist Martin Smith.
The band are also releasing a nineteen-track retrospective called “The Life and Death of Colonel Plimp” the following Monday (1st April) and right now they’re giving away an all new EP called “The Plimptons are Dead” from :http://theplimptons.bandcamp.com/
(I know this post is a little self-indulgent and that most readers won’t be able to go along to the show – but the Glasgow ‘scene’ owes a lot to these guys, and as personal favourites I think it only right and proper to give them decent send-off. Here’s a little of what can be expected on the night. Each of the following tracks can be found on the retrospective collection, ‘The Life and death of Colonel Plimp.‘)
The Plimptons are dead … long live The Plimptons!
COLIN’S GODSON: ‘Ahoy!’
COLIN’S GODSON have returned from their adventures in Space and Time just ahead of Christmas (their Festive offering is also now available through the band’s Bandcamp page) and from the artwork that accompanies the gold disc (!) it looks as though they had planned a journey into The Deep.
Maybe their submarine has been impounded, or maybe they just decided they didn’t fancy going to sea to see what they could see, see, see – but there’s nothing remotely nautical about this release. Instead, we are presented with five tracks, the longest of which only just breaches the two-minute mark, that deal with matters such as Weatherspoon’s staff burning toast and radio presenter / champion of Scottish indie music Jim Gellatly having designs on a career in television.
As with all their earlier recordings, ‘Ahoy,’ is sort of punk based and wrapped in a big, big smile! There’s not much point in me trying to talk you through the tracks when you can listen to them below – or even better, BUY this CD / download for the bargain price advertised so that maybe the lads will be able to fund their next exciting adventure to wherever.
(9/10)
COMANECHI: ‘Major Move.’
Now a three-piece, with the addition of eighteen years old Charlie Heaton on drums, COMANECHI are to release their second album, ‘You Owe Me Nothing But Love,‘ on St Valentines Day, rather fittingly.
Their debut album ‘Crime of Love‘ met with some heavy duty positive press, and if the following video for ‘Major Move‘ which was lifted from the new album as a single earlier in the summer is anything to go by, then St Valentines Day may never be the same again.
ANOTHER IDEA: Street punk from China.
It’s a bit of a quiet day here at LOUD HORIZON, so I thought I’d bang up this track from a Chinese punk band I was friendly with a few years back. They’re called ANOTHER IDEA, they’re from Beijing (or were, as I can’t find any current details of the band any more) and originally sang all their songs in their native tongue. I can’t find any decent ‘live’ footage of them … in fact, other than what is on their My Space Player, this is it!
(Actually … the reason I’m posting this today is for an excuse to say that I have a few CD copies of their debut album for sale. Cost £2 +pp. I got a batch sent over direct from the band ages ago and never bothered to advertise them! Just drop me an e-mail to loudhorizon@gmail.com if you’re interested.)
THE ACTION PLAN!: ‘Never Say Die.’
It matters not that the musical landscape is cluttered with ‘pop-punk’ bands. It matters not if many of them sound similar in style and content: it’s all good, honest boisterous fun and so long as it’s done well, then I’m all for it.
THE ACTION PLAN, a four-piece from South Wales who have relocated to Bristol in order to further their musical dreams, are one of those who most certainly ‘do it well.’
‘Never Say Die,’ is the band’s debut album following a period of personnel changes, and the title probably sums up their attitude. There’s certainly an air of positivity evident in the eight songs on this (shortish, at twenty-seven minutes) album.
It’s not rocket science and they haven’t reinvented the wheel (or counted off any other clichés you care to think of) but this is all fist-in-the air, mosh pit inducing, melodic power-punk, with a nod in the direction of the ‘new breed’ like The Story So Far, and Set Your Goals, who in turn I guess used the likes of Blink 182 et al as their blueprint.
You can stream the second track from the album, ‘Believe It Or Not,’ from the band’s Facebook page, and the video that accompanies the opener, ‘Hometown Hero,’ is posted below.
(I believe extensive UK tour dates will be announced shortly.)
(Released on 10th December 2012)
(8.5 / 10)
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HONNINGBARNA: ……’the most exciting band in Norway.’ (UK & Ireland Tour dates.)
Clash Magazine recently described alternative-punks HONNINGBARNA as ‘the most exciting band in Norway.’
Now – the cynics amongst us may be thinking right now that this is possibly not the most difficult of accolades to achieve in a country famed musically (in my rather stereotypical fashion) for A-HA and numerous Death Metal bands. And I’m sure the band will have had this rather unfair aspersion cast upon them so many times before that they are bored or even now immune to offence. (No offence intended as it happens!)
But having listened to the tracks below, I reckon Clash Magazine are possibly even understating the fact, and that there are far bigger and better things due to come the way of this exciting young band!
I can’t tell you too much about HONNINGBARNA other than the fact that they will be releasing their third studio album next Spring; they have already been recipients of The Spellemann Award (The Norwegian equivalent of a Grammy) and that they are still in their teens!
As you can hear below, they’re pretty damn raucous and I reckon would be well worth checking out on one of their forthcoming dates over here:
Monday 5th Nov – The Black Heart, London
Tuesday 6th Nov – The Old Blue Last, London
Wednesday 7th Nov – Bloc, Glasgow
Thursday 8th Nov – Electric Circus, Edinburgh
Friday 9th Nov – Mad Hatters, Inverness
Saturday 10th Nov – Newmarket Bar, Thurso
Wednesday 14th Nov – Whelan’s, Dublin
Thursday 15th Nov – Roisin Dubh, Galway
Friday 16th Nov – Dolans, Limerick
Saturday 17th Nov – Pavillion, Cork
Monday 19th Nov – Sound Control, Manchester
Wednesday 21st Nov –The Boileroom, Guildford
Thursday 22nd Nov – RC Basement, Nottingham
Friday 23rd Nov – The Forum, Tunbridge Wells
DA SKYWALKERS: ‘Bloodsuckers
Just because ……
Sweden’s DA SKYWALKERS were the (equal) best punk band around in the early part of the century. They released only three albums on the excellent HOUSEHOLD NAME RECORDS label: ‘Smalltown Saviours;’ ‘Heartache And Scars,’ and ‘End Of A Chapter.‘
Prior to this, they released a split EP called ‘Never Mind The Borders’ with Italian punk outfit INERDZIA.
Side projects included: ST. LAURA and of course, TOMMY GUSTAFSSON AND THE IDIOTS.
The following track is taken from the ‘End Of A Chapter’ album, and if you like your music fast and furious … but also FUN, then I can highly recommend you track down any of the afore-mentioned albums, including the excellent side-project bands. You will not be disappointed.
(To follow in the days to come ……the mighty FIVE KNUCKLE)
Coming soon …….!!! OLD FIRM CASUALS; BOOZE & GLORY; RAZORBLADE, and THE CORPS.
Check this out!
Coming soon via P & C Rebellion Records, a 4-way split EP / Album featuring THE OLD FIRM CASUALS; BOOZE & GLORY; RAZORBLADE, and THE CORPS.
You can order your copy from here:
www.rebellionshop.com
EDDY & THE T-BOLTS: ‘Medium Rare.’
For some reason, there’s not an awful lot of Punk music finds its way LOUD HORIZON, so you can imagine I get a tad excited when some quality shit does drop!
And this IS quality shit!
Eddy is Eddy Ferguson, erstwhile ‘shouter’ with Motherwell based punks, The Alpacinos who cultivated a large loyal following and a reputation for raucous and explosive live sets. Now, I’ve not actually seen The T-Bolts play, but I bet they evoke a similar reaction.
‘Medium Rare,’ comprises twelve tracks over forty minutes which represents excellent value for money and as the clichéd saying goes, it’s ‘all killer, no filler.’ From the opening ‘Welcome to the Show,’ with its infectious shout-a-long chorus and chugging punk riffs, to the closing ‘Roll the Dice,’ and its growled vocal, little searing guitar snippets and pounding beats, this is one belter of an album.
Tracks like ‘The Devil has the Best Tunes,’ straddle punk and straight out rock ‘n’ roll while ‘Easy Meat,’ is perhaps more generically Rock in composition, but still retaining a punk sensibility. ‘Holy Wars and Mental Wards’ is a blistering, melodic hardcore number with a distinct message, and I reckon ranks as one of the best on the album.
But of course, that’s not to discount the brilliant ‘John McClane,’ which I’m pretty sure was an earlier single release, and echoes another favourite band of mine, Shatterhand, with the gruff vocal delivery and frantic guitar riffs.
Here we have one of those albums that is guaranteed to lift your spirits when played LOUD. Its strength lies in the fact that it displays a reassuring dose of straight-up, ‘in yer face,’ no pretences, boisterous punk music. It’s melodic enough though to hopefully entice listeners who may normally shy away from the ‘punk’ tag, and yet still offers hardened punks plenty to shake their fists at and dance and crash around any live venues where EDDY & THE T-BOLTS appear.
‘Medium Rare?’ Very well done, I’d say!
(Available now through Eddy & The T-Bolts’ bandcamp page.)
(10/10)
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TEENAGE BOTTLEROCKET
How on earth could I ‘forget’ these guys?!
I first heard of them on an A.M.P. compilation I had sent over to me from The States, way back around 2002. The connection with The Lillingtons helped sway my favour – not that it needed much prompting – and I got sent over a copy of their second release ‘Total,‘ from which the following track ‘Bloodbath At Burger King,’ is taken.
I won’t say any more right now as I’ll be popping up a wee feature on the band in the coming week or two. But take my word – these guys are the best!
WIDEBOY GENERATION: ‘No Time To Be Shy.’
Blasting their way out of the North London suburbs, cockney-sounding punk three-piece, WIDEBOY GENERATION are garnering good support for their brand of indie-Britpop-punk … (you’ll know what I mean when you’ve heard the track!)
I don’t know much about the band and if I’m honest, I don’t know that they actually offer up anything all that startlingly new that hasn’t already been done before …. but it’s honest and bouncy, with plenty ‘bite’ and just simply good-time party punk’n'roll.
I like that!
LIMOZINE: ‘Full Service.’
I recall that when LIMOZINE’s second single ‘You Da Boss’ was released, I was all over it! And I wasn’t the only one either. We’re now a further two years down the line and theLondon lads are still pumping out their distinctive brand of Punk ‘n’ Roll that created such a buzz amongst the diverse circles of Artrocker, Classic Rock Magazine and Radio6 Music’s Tom Robinson.
On ‘Full Service’, the band’s third album, they maintain (their own) tradition of restricting their songs to a three minute max (just about), and manage to belt through eleven songs in less than twenty-nine minutes. This is the good old Rock n’ Roll and punk ethic being adhered to, and I love it!
They also stick pretty much to the same basic backbone to all their music, which can lead to a bit familiarity, but it’s a bit of a winning formula so why change it? What LIMOZINE do however is factor in some subtle sub-genres to flesh out that backbone.
For instance, opening track ‘Twenty Greatest Hits,’ has the stomp and groove of a Seventies Glam Rock track. It’s the kind of song you can envisage Marc Bolan having a bit fun with. ‘Deep Fried Love’ if I remember correctly was also released as a single recently. It’s more simply a straight up first wave New Wave kind of song, quick of pace with catchy chorus and clanging guitar solo. ‘Siamese Twins, ‘ has a kind of Bo Diddley rhythm backing up snarled vocals and gang-shout choruses.
‘Jennifer X’ gallops along like a Country / Punk hybrid, while ‘Girls Don’t’ reverts to the Glam pomp and stomp of earlier. The ‘rat tat tat’ rhythm of ‘Surfin’ In The Dark’ follows, direct and pointed. ‘Beercan Blues’ growls menacingly and again features nice guitar work, while ‘Drink Ya Self Out Of It,’ seems to draw inspiration from Psychobilly type roots, complete as it is with occasional screams and that sort of dark twang to the guitar.
‘Sniffin’ Glue’ has a great, catchy riff (like Sham 69’s ‘Ulster Boy’ perhaps?) ‘Welcome ToThe Rodeo’ sounds a little more R&B (proper R&B, not the modern crap) influenced, though maybe it’s just the guitar that makes me think this. And then, already we’re at the last track, ‘Hotel TV Swimming Pool’ and its AC/DC type chunky riff.
I think the last time I mentioned that I saw LIMOZINE as the vanguard for a new ‘Pub Rock’ movement, I upset a few people – not least the band! But those who like me remember with great fondness bands like Graham Parker & The Rumour; Brinsley Schwartz; Ducks Deluxe, etc. will realise this is indeed a compliment.
(I still stand by that assessment.)
(Released through Beat Atlas Records on 21st Mat 2012)
(8/10)
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RAGWEED: ‘That’s Where Babies Come From.’
Brighton has over the past decade or so, built a reputation for spawning new, innovative, quirky artrock type bands. Indeed, some of my favourite bands have their roots in the sunny environs of the South Coast town.
But where you have a more balmy, temperate climate and a fertile ground for cultivating bright new music, these conditions will also encourage the growth of a less attractive, more irritating and aggressive type – RAGWEED!
This three-piece DIY punk band seems to be a thorn among roses. There is no denying them their space – not that they need much of it with only the third of the five tracks (‘Sunshine’) hanging around for anywhere near as long as three minutes!
There is a certain quaintness (if such a word can be used relative to punk music) about the CD that arrived here at LOUD HORIZON. It seems to embrace the DIY ethos, with the sound quality somewhat distant and hazy, like it’s been recorded in someone’s kitchen. Initially, I found it to be a bit annoying, but it actually somehow seems right.
In general, the songs are like a combination of your three chord ‘cretin rock’ bands (e.g. Teenage Bottlerocket) and the more threatening noise of some generic hardcore bands. It’s all pretty fast and furious and with five songs in marginally more than eleven minutes, RAGWEED sound like a band in a hurry.
It just goes to prove that even in the field of music, where you have flowers you have weeds. But perhaps they can grow together in harmony – or even discord!
(Self-released and available, I presume through the band directly.)
(7.5 / 10)
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CROWNS: ‘Crowns’ EP
I was just about to write up a review for the forthcoming eponymous EP from Cornish lads CROWNS, when an e-mail arrived advising they had just released a video for the lead track, ‘Full Swing.’
Good as I am (!) no words from me would ‘sell’ this CD to you better than the casually shot and boisterous video, so it’s appended below.
I actually have mixed feelings about the current popularity of ‘folk-punk’ and all its derivatives but CROWNS lean more towards a style of ‘shanty-punk’ and there’s absolutely no denying the infectious nature of their songs.
As highlighted in this track and the earlier single, ‘Kissing Gates,’ it’s all very much about bouncing, sing-a-long drinking songs, with big gang-vocal backings. The kind of rowdy music that encourages old-fashioned mosh-circles, air-punching and most other kinds of hyphenated activity!
‘Whose Pint’s Whose’ probably tells you as much as you need know about CROWNS. To me, it has a bit of an Irish feel to it and I suppose there is a fine line between the likes of your Flogging Mollys of this world and CROWNS. Just where Irish folk songs end and English sea-shanties begin, I’m not quite sure. But who’s splitting hairs?
These six tracks are guaranteed to have your feet tapping, in spite of any preconceived musical prejudices.
Just go with it – and get’em in!
(CROWNS are out and about across the UK in March and early April. You can see where and when here.)
(Released through Ship Wreckords on 5th March 2012)
(8.5 / 10)
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OVERWEIGHT: ‘Chapter 11′
Back in February of this year, I reviewed the then new album from Belgian ska-punkers OVERWEIGHT. ‘Chapter 11’ is the follow-up EP and to be honest, just about everything I mentioned earlier in the year still holds.
These five tracks are energetic, bouncy ska-punk songs delivered in the time-honoured way of Less Than Jake, The Mad Caddies and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. So what’s not to like?
Of course, OVERWEIGHT rely heavily on the brass instruments mixing with big chunky guitar riffs and repeated ‘Whoa-a whoa’ gang backing vocals. The lead vocal is pretty generic as well, tending to be ever so slightly flat in places, but still sounding just so right! And just as important of course in the infectious, bouncy bass line that is a pre-requisite for this type of music.
Yes – there are definite comparisons to the likes of Less Than Jake, and no more so than on the third track ‘Generation?’ the first minute or so of which had me thinking I was listening to the Florida crew’s ‘Borders and Boundaries’ album!
Closing track, ‘No More’ has a heavier sound than the others. It’s slightly darker in places, which reminds me more of The Voodoo Glow Skulls. But elsewhere it’s just good-time, fun ska-punk all the way, delivered with the slight jazz inflection adopted by early Mad Caddies.
There’s nothing new or groundbreaking here, but who cares? Love it for what it is.
I do.
(Self released through all digital outlets on 5th December 2011)
(9/10)
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