Album Review: RT-Zed - "Zed Nation"

 

RT-Zed are the brainchild of Stiff Little Fingers drummer Steve Grantley and ZedNation is their third album. I'd heard the band's name before this but not their music so I was interested to see how it bore up especially compared to Grantley's day job.

The truth is that it's pretty damn good. ZedNation essentially takes the classic '77 punk template (not least Grantley's Johnny Rotten influenced half-sneer-half-snarl) but drags it into the 21st century kicking and screaming with the tight energetic fury of Superfaker and Don't Hit The Brakes Until You Crash setting the band's stall out nicely. Elsewhere, the sinister feel of Black Heart Of Love and Why Did I Even Care? even see them dipping a toe into gothier waters, not unlike a heavier Flesh For Lulu. Elsewhere, the squalling guitars of Quiet Child almost go into Stooges territory and Uncomplicated even has a bit of a punked up rockabilly style feel to it before the closing Ain't Gonna Go dips into the sort of thrumming menace that's reminiscent of Therapy?'s Suicide Pact: You First album.

All in all, ZedNation was a pleasant surprise and shows off Grantley's skill as both a lyricist and songwriter with plenty of good hooks, chugging riffs and angry lyrics. Definitely one of the better albums I've heard in recent weeks.

NITE SONGS RATING: 🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌑🌑 (8/10)

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