Idles have come on in leaps and bounds since their last album Joy As An Act of Resistance (Partisan Records). It’s not even been 5 years since they were playing 100 capacity venues, yet here they are today having sold out giant venues like Alexandra Palace in under a day. With two giant albums under their belt, the big question was how the Bristol band were going to not only top it, but maintain the astronomical growth they’ve been on for the past 3 years.
Punk music continues to be the most outspoken genre of heavy music in terms of political/social issues. This is no different from the hardcore punk/grindcore outfit known simply as Dropdead. Formed back at the beginning of 1991 and has released many recordings over the years, this is only the third studio album, however, it has come about in perfect timing. Simply titled Dropdead 2020 (Armageddon), is a twenty-four-minute sonic attack on all things evil such as the ever-growing right-wing extremists, animal abuse, and overall human stupidity.
Whether you know him from his decade-long rap career, role as Felix in Birdbox, spot-on portrayal of Tommy Lee in The Dirt, comedian Pete Davidson’s BFF, or Megan Fox’s new beau, Machine Gun Kelly, born Colson Baker, has left footprints across the entertainment industry. Hot off a summer full of home-recorded covers and his first MTV Video Music Award, MGK takes another step in a new direction with his fifth studio album, Tickets to My Downfall (Bad Boy/Interscope), wearing his heart on his sleeve for 13 tracks (and 2 interludes) of pop-punk magic. Most fittingly, the new release was executively produced by Blink 182’s Travis Barker, who Baker first collaborated with last summer on “I Think I’m Okay,” along with Brit bud Yungblud. It’s no surprise the album sounds as if it could have been born during the early-2000’s pop-punk heyday. Though TTMD is a change of pace from MGK’s typical style, it does not fully abandon his roots, highlighting a multitude of hip-hop guests and beats, party songs, and pop anthems. In fact, he has consistently cited various rock acts as influences, so it was only a matter of time until he fully submerged himself in the genre.
Punk In Drublic Fest has announced its European tour for 2021, featuring their first announcement of bands. NOFX, Pennywise, Me First And The Gimme Gimmes, Reel Big Fish, The Vandals, Face to Face, Comeback Kid, Days N Daze, The Baboon Show. More bands TBA soon! Continue reading
A legend of Rock N Roll has died. Jimmy Webb, who dressed four generations of rockers and fans from his East Village boutique Trash and Vaudeville. He was 62. At press time there has been no official cause of death. Jimmy spent many years as the manager and primary buyer for Trash and Vaudeville before opening his own boutique, I Need More, in 2017 on Orchard St. Over the years Webb had styled for MTV, Rolling Stone, and Vogue, and regular customers/clients were a Who’s Who of punk and rock, including Iggy Pop, Alice Cooper, Debbie Harry, Slash and many more. One of the holdovers from the 1980s punk and metal spirit of the era, he helped define that class of that era, and Jimmy continued to innovate and create looks synonymous with the rock, punk and metal ethos. We met Jimmy several times over the years, notably when we interviewed his friend Doyle on his tour bus in 2018. Continue reading
Not to be confused with Maylene’s Alabama-based Sons of Disaster, this Brussels quintet peddles a more straightforward brand of heady, Punk-steeped Rock. Sophomore album Cursed (Mottow Soundz) sees the band return from hiatus to deliver a no-nonsense follow-up.Continue reading
The anticipation of the crowd was building for the show to begin. This was the moment they had patiently waited for. The final show of the run for The 69 Eyes, Wednesday 13, Sumo Cyco, and special guests the Suicide Puppets would happen here at the Reverb in Reading, PA.Continue reading
I like to think I am a tough nut to crack, an enigma, if you will, shrouded in a mystical cloud of mystery. My editor proved to me that when it comes to my musical tastes he has me all figured out. Case in point, the new self-titled EP by Razor Candy (Sensory Recordings). My editor said I would really dig the newly released profoundly immoral brainchild of Paul Wiley (Marilyn Manson, Deveraux) and Chad Cherry (The Last Vegas, The Claws) and he was not wrong. I may be a self-described metalhead, but I am also a self-described lover of musical ingenuity and raw talent, which Razor Candy not only possesses but showcases in an eloquently macabre way. The EP contains five tracks that are available in all streaming formats, but for you vinyl loving freaks (myself included) there is a bonus track included only on vinyl, how fanfreakingtastical is that?Continue reading
Los Angeles-based act Æges is a genre-defying group of guys that are turning heads in multiple music scenes. This budding band has flourished in the last few years because they have a remarkable ability to avoid being pigeonholed. Now, this ear-catching gang is ready to independently release their fourth full-length album, Drømmen (Self-Released). The animation and spirit presented on their last release, Weightless (Another Century), which came out in 2016, is taken to a deeper level on this new record. They are showcasing their exploration of new energy by making some real, heartfelt pieces. Continue reading
Connecticut Americana-Punks Turkey Vulture are back with a complete left turn from their excellent previous release, their EP, Boxer. Today Ghost Cult teams up with the band as we share their amazing rendition of ‘In The Pines’ (aka ‘Where Did You Sleep Last Night’ or ‘My Girl’). Its author is officially unknown, but it lives in the American songbook and was popularized by Bill Monroe and Led Belly. The song had new life breathed into by Nirvana, as they included it in their MTV Unplugged concert and album. Turkey Vulture does its own special spin on the track with sparse instrumentation, earthy percussion, heart-rending cello, and a lot of character. Check it out! Continue reading