The Nite Songs Singles Bar - February 2022

 

Welcome to the first Singles Bar of the new year - we're officially open for business again! Last month we didn't really have enough stuff to justify doing a Singles Bar but we've chucked the few things from that month along with some newies in here so hopefully there should be something to suit your taste...

Anyway, a proper welcome development to start us off as we welcome The Hellacopters back with a couple of new songs. Reap A Hurricane (🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑) is a worthy comeback from Nicke and the guys combining a pounding Stooges style riff with a soaring chorus to remind you exactly why this band were so lauded back in the day. Similarly, Eyes Of Oblivion is a full throttle stormer powered on by Dregen's spiralling riff and a killer chorus hook. The new album is due in April and on this evidence I think we could potentially have an Album of the Year contender on our hands.

Also back with a new single are the U.K. Subs with Sensei (🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑) which crashes in on a fast-paced riff with a shoutalong chorus and gets in and out to say what it has to say in under two minutes. Exactly what you'd want from Charlie and the lads basically. Diversion sees the band going into more melodic territory with its chugging Steve Jones style riff and isn't a bad effort either.. Bandcamp link here.

I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I only discovered that there was a new Circus of Power single out when I went back to do their Garbage Days Revisited entry a couple of weeks ago (link here if you missed it) but Working Class Superstar (🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑) is proof that COP's excellent comeback album Four from a couple of years ago as this chugs along on a lean and mean riff with Alex Mitchell's growling vocals suiting it perfectly. With Danko Jones and David Roach from fellow biker sleaze survivors Junkyard along for the ride as well, this is a good effort - touch wood it means that a new Circus of Power album will be incoming in 2022 as well. Bandcamp link here

Another one we missed at the time is the new effort from mod veterans The Chords but as they've got a new album dropping very soon, it seemed as good an opportunity as any to crowbar Hey Kids! Come The Revolution (🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑) into this column. This song sees Chris Pope and his band in a much more political frame of mind than those who remember their early '80s incarnation with, railing against Tory corruption and the lack of opporunities for the youth of today. It's definitely made me curious to listen to that new album so expect a review on here in the weeks ahead. Bandcamp link here

Good lord, now here's something I wasn't expecting to see in 2022 - a new album from US '70s power poppers The Hollywood Stars in the form of The Bottom (🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑). The Stars were best known in the '70s for their cover of Kiss' King Of The Night Time World (which actually came out before Kiss' version on Destroyer did) and for being one of the many musical pies that Kim Fowley had his fingers in during this era. However, this is a solid comeback effort from them with the rumbling riff and sugar sweet vocal harmonising making this a worthwhile addition to their catalogue. If a new album's to follow then we'll definitely be keeping an eye out for it here.

It's good to see Colchester punks Pet Needs back in these pages after last year's excellent Fractured Party Music with a new EP The Fractured Party (🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑) which contains two re-recorded songs from the album in the form of a speeded up panic attack take on As The Spin Cycle Span and an acoustic rendition of Tracey Emin's Bed plus two new cuts in the acerbic Punk's Not Dead (It's Just Up For Sale) (probably the EP's highlight) and Dallas which almost goes into almost Sonic Boom Six style ska punk territory. A good effort which should serve as a good companion to the album for the band's fans.  Bandcamp Link

The new Warrior Soul album seems to have been pushed back and back and back in the last few months but we finally have some new material from Kory Clarke in the form of a new single We're Alive (🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑). After the group's rather disappointing previous album Rock 'n' Roll Disease, this does at least indicate that the band are heading back in the right direction with some impressive guitar work and Kory in a pensive mood as he reflects on the pandemic and the advances of time. A few more like this on the new album and the words "back on form" might just be appearing on these pages when we review it.

Also gearing up for a new album release in the not too distant future are Wicked Cool signed power poppers Mickey Leigh's Mutated Music and Standing In The Dark (🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑) is a taster from said new album Variants Of Vibe. Oddly, it's got more of a countrified vibe to it than anything with the vocals being a bit reminiscent of Elvis Costello as well. It's not quite as "leap out and grab you by the throat" as some of the stuff we've reviewed this month but it's pleasant enough. We'll see how it compares to the rest of the album when we review it in the coming weeks I guess. Bandcamp link

Finally, how does a bit of good old-fashioned scummy sleaze rock sound to finish the singles off this month? Step forward Witney natives The Suicide Notes with their Trampstamp EP (🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑) which leaves me with the feeling that this lot would have fitted right in on the "Camden Strip" about 10-15 years ago with the Kory Clarke/Josh Todd style snarling vocals (I can hear a bit of a hint of Tyla from the Dogs D'Amour in here as well), chugging riffs and gang shoutalong choruses on Rolling With The Punches and Snakes Grin Within while the EP is rounded off with a passable cover of the Stones' Dead Flowers and a sinister acoustic number called Black Dog Howlin'. It's nothing you won't have heard before and they lay on the clichés just as thick as you'd expect but I've heard much worse examples of this sort of music. Certainly any sleaze rock stragglers still hanging on in London and the surrounding area should find a band they can readily take to their hearts in this lot. Bandcamp link

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MINI ALBUM REVIEW

VOODOO RADIO - "Pop Pills"

Hailing from West London, Voodoo Radio are a raw as you like garage punk duo. This, their debut mini-album, kicks off with Space Girl which is an enjoyable Cramps style sci-fi romp powered along by a spidery guitar riff before Eat Your Words cranks the tempo up a notch with a frenetic slice of Vice Squad style punk panic.

There's an enjoyably sloppy quality to this album on songs like Slag Bank and Ice Cream Man while the plaintive vocals remind me a bit of Alex from under-rated London folk-punks the Great Malarkey. However, Voodoo Radio can certainly tighten up as well when they need to as the punked up AC/DC riff on Turn Out The Light shows well. There's an element of groups like the Sleaford Mods in the council estate scuzziness of the lyrics as well although Voodoo Radio are very different musically.

This is a strong opening salvo from this group - they've certainly got a fairly unique sound to set them apart and there's a raw and ferocious quality to these tunes to ensure they've got the power to batter their way into your consciousness. Keep an eye on 'em, they may just be on to something.

NITE SONGS RATING: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑 (8/10)

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Well, hope some of that's helped to warm you up on these cold winter nights. We'll be back next month with the next instalment of the Singles Bar so see you then!