David Lynn Thomas, lead singer of Pere Ubu, Rocket From The Tombs, solo artist, and actor, has died after a long illness. He was 72 years old. A highly influential artist and personality in American music, Thomas formed the proto-Punk and pre-Alternative band Rocket From The Tombs (other members went on Dead Boys and The Saucers) and later formed Pere Ubu in 1975. Making an immediate impact, but highly volatile, Pere Ubu which first broke up in 1979, but reformed and recorded and toured for four more decades. Spanning genres from Art punk, post-Punk, avant-garde, musique concrète, New Wave, proto-punk, industrial rock, and alt-Rock, experimental, the band played their brand of music self-described as “avant-gaage”, and Thomas personally disliked Pere Ubu being lumped in with punk-rock as a rule. A great lyricst, vocalist, and frontman, he will be missed. RIP. Continue reading
Tag Archives: proto-punk
ALBUM REVIEW: Moskitos – Mirage
Regarding psych rock, I have heard some of the best bands ever. They seem to come primarily from every place except for America. I have seen amazing bands from Sweden, Finland, Germany, and Spain. For the first time, I’m hearing a band from Cape Cod, South Africa. Moskitos have put Cape Town on the map as a new, untapped hub for psychedelic rock with their stellar debut album Mirage (The Good Times Co.) Continue reading
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO PREMIERE: Back From Zero – Shares a New Single and Music Video “For You” – New EP Incoming
Brooklyn’s hard rock upstarts Back From Zero are back with a new single and music video for the track “For You!” You can watch the clip exclusively here at Ghost Cult today! The band’s new EP, Five drops Friday, April 26th, 2024 on all DSPs. There is also a pre-order live for vinyl. Throwing it back to old-school heavy rock with dark vibes of early NYC Punk heroes, NYHC, mixed with the grit and grime of heavy metal (think Motorhead and Turbonegro) and you have an explosive mix! The “For You” video was Produced and Directed by John LaMacchia (Candiria, Julie Christmas, solo), filmed and edited by Sean Ageman of Washed Up Media, and starring Michael MacIvor (Candiria) and Jay Belou! Watch it now!
ALBUM REVIEW: Grade 2 – Grade 2
Ryde, a seaside town located on the Isle of Wight is home to former BBC sports presenter turned controversial conspiracy theorist David Icke – it also happens to be where the young trio by the name of Grade 2 originate from. Formed in 2013 at the tender age of 14, the band is comprised of childhood friends Sid Ryan (vocals/bass), Jacob Hull (drums), and Jack Chatfield (guitar/vocals) who united over their love of classic Punk Rock, Ska and O!
ALBUM REVIEW: Royal Blood – Typhoons
From the moment of Royal Blood’s self-titled debut seven years ago, the Bristolian duo’s rise was meteoric. Their music is simple, brutal, and effective – taking inspiration from Queens of the Stone Age and The White Stripes and combining big hooks, tasty riffs, and volume to full effect. This beefed-up take on indie rock can only take you so far though, so on the new album Typhoons (Warner Records), they looked toward Dance and Disco to broaden their sound. Continue reading
EXCLUSIVE ALBUM STREAM: Dictator Ship – “Your Favorites”
Sweden’s soulful throwback rockers Dictator Ship are releasing their new album, Your Favorites, tomorrow, April 17th via The Sign Records. Your Favorites was recorded in a small cabin in Värmland, Sweden, engineered by band member John Sijbren Leonard using only lo-fi aesthetics and gear to achieve that old-school sound. If you love the primal scent of raw rock with no B.S. Like classic proto-punk rock bands such as MC5, The Saints, The Stooges, The Sonics and more, you will love Dictator Ship! Jam out to all of Your Favorites right now and pre-order it too! Continue reading
EXCLUSIVE EP STREAM: Hi-Jack – “Rank and File”
Milwaukee Rock duo Hi-Jack has teamed up with Ghost Cult today to stream their new release, Rank and File, out this week! Formed by drummer Ron “Hi” Terrell and guitarist/vocalist Max “Jack” Liam in Milwaukee’s underground music scene in 2014, the music they make sizzles with power. With all the baddass low-fi fury of Iggy and The Stooges, The MC 5, and the great lineage of midwestern proto-punk and heavy rock rawness, this band is a throwback in the best way. Check out their unadulterated jams, so purchase and stream the new EP right now! Continue reading
EXCLUSIVE STREAM: From This World – “Let It Go”
Ghost Cult does its best every week to uncover exciting new and artists who might be unsung today but could be important acts in the future. In this spirit, we bring you a new track by From This World, ‘Let It Go’! The song comes from their debut album Variations on a Dream and is a powerful mix of self-described “New Classic Rock”. We would liken these sounds and the album overall to a blend of Desert Scene rock, Jazz, proto-punk, great Americana, and Indie Rock bands of yesterday. At the same time, even with the throwback vibes, there is a modern nuance to the songs that will capture fans of Queens of The Stone Age, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, and even The White Buffalo! Jam out to this track and be on the lookout for more From This World soon.Continue reading
EXCLUSIVE TRACK PREMIERE: Devils Teeth- “Sakuraba”
Milwaukee rockers Devils Teeth have teamed up with Ghost Cult to drop their new single today, and the action is go! Known for their eclectic musical approach, loud volumes, proto-punk rock energy, feeling catchy tunes, and a lot of fun, ‘Sakuraba’ takes its inspiration from the Japanese MMA fighter and wrestler known for taking and receiving heavy beatings in his matches. Turn this one up to 11 and listen here. Continue reading
Biters – Electric Blood
It’s taken them 20 years to rediscover their midas touch, but of late Earache Records have been on a roll. A rock n’ roll, if you will. Whether Dig installed a Hot Tub Time Machine or not is open to scandalous rumour, but the label has been plucking 70’s rock success after retro-fuelled triumph, seeing the likes of The Temperance Movement, Rival Sons and Blackberry Smoke bring home the bourbon. Atlanta, Georgia’s Biters look set to be the latest in the line of acts on their roster recreating the magic of yesteryear, adding a street-smart proto-punk bite to their rock, rather than the smokey Southern vibe of their new label mates.
Kicking off with ‘Restless Hearts’, rocking a brilliant earworm of a bubblegum chorus, whose conception seems rooted in a world where punk and rock first met, as if Social Distortion had rocked out a couple The Sweet covers, Electric Blood manages to be effortlessly cool in its’ skin-tight Ts and tassle leather jackets. All through, the effortlessness with which the choruses lodge in the brain is to be admired, as Biters bring the pop of 80’s hair metal, mixed into a cocktail of the rough, sleaze and cool of The Rolling Stones and the panache (and tambourine) of 70’s Glam Rock.
Swagger, nonchalance and above all quality simple rock songs dominate the skyline of their début. ‘1975’ and ‘Heart Fulla Rock n’ Roll’ overload with lyrical cliché but this is no parody as they swing authentic, with the latter breaking out into a Gary Moore descending guitar harmony and old-school bass-led breakdown. Vocalist Tuk is part-cheerleader, part-rabble rouser and full-time tunesmith, his simple tones knowing their limitations, but infusing these straight-forward good time songs with the melodies and hooks they need.
Don’t go into Electric Blood expecting anything other than oh-so-cool pop rock, and a love of yesteryear. In the heaviness stakes, Biters are more Gaslight Anthem than Green Day, and at times both are brought to mind. With traces of Americana lacing tracks like ‘Dreams Don’t Die’ and nods to AC/DC (‘Electric Blood’) and Thin Lizzy (‘Space Age Wasteland’), this is an album that demands the top (or at least the windows) down, the open road, the speed-dial nudging naughty and voices raised in joyous communion.
These songs have teeth. Biters just bit hard, and these songs aren’t letting go.
7.5/10
STEVE TOVEY