MAGNET – THE BIG HAND

This is The Big Hand’s debut single and is available for download at www.thebighand.co.uk .  They look set to be the next big thing in ska in the UK. As I write this they have gigs booked across the country and are promoting themselves like crazy. This is catchy light-hearted ska, not unlike Reel Big Fish without the comedy, which is a good thing. Download it now before they get huge – then you can brag to your mates that you were into them before they got famous!

THE GREATEST BANDS HAVE NO FANS AND NEITHER DO WE DEMO – THOUGHT POLICE BRUTALITY

 ‘Smartcore’ band Thought Police Brutality come from Copenhagen, Denmark. I came by them on myspace, where they were giving demos to anyone who could come up with a good reason why they should get one. Sure, maybe they gave them to everyone, but it made the process more fun than just giving your address.

These are short short songs…6 tracks in just over 10 minutes. I’m all for that – can’t be arsed with 6 and 7 minute long songs. I knew from the first note I’d love it, it has a sort of metal edge, and anyone who’s read my reviews in Runnin’ Feart will know that’s normally not for me, but TPB make it work. All 6 tracks are great but the best are Dissent (about protests/riots – call them what you will) and 1989. Also love Puke – Try Haarder and it’s attack on the education system. Not an attack on being clever though – that’s what TPB get off on. And I for one applaud that.

Find out more at www.myspace.com/thoughtpolicebrutality

Our Motherfuckin’ Style’s Mad Murderous – The Murderburgers

The Murderburgers are a Scottish pop punk band influenced by the likes of the Ramones and The Queers. This is their first release, another is due early 2008. It includes 14 of their own songs and 4 covers, which blend in nicely with their own material, namely Hey Suburbia by Screeching Weasel, You’re Tripping and Monster Zero by The Queers and X-ray Specs by the Lillingtons. 11 of the tracks are studio recordings, with the remaining 7 recorded live.

I think they sound incredible for a band who had been together less than 6 months when this was recorded. It’s fast as fuck, but melodic at the same time, and it’s bloody great! My favourites, if forced to choose, are ‘I Can’t Help Not Helping You’ and ‘Fuck You’ which is a love song…nah just kidding! To be honest though, the whole thing is fantastic. I read in their myspace that’100 lucky/unlucky people now own’ this demo. I definitely put myself in the lucky bracket and I’ve listened to it plenty of times since being given it by their slightly drunk guitarist/vocalist Fraser ( who some of you may remember from the now defunct UK Death Charge). I’m unsure if there are still copies of this available, but if you go to www.myspace.com/themurderburgers you could ask them nicely…

Dead Beat Heros Demo Review

Don’t be expecting perfection from this Glasgow/Alloa based punk trio, after all Dead Beat Heros have only been going for less than a year. You can expect something pretty damn good that shows a lot of promise though. Instead of spending months in rehearsals they preferred to be out there playing live and have also recorded this 10 track demo.

8 of the ten tracks on here are original material, plus two covers – Rancid’s Dead Bodies and Operation Ivy’s Knowledge. Impressive stuff considering the short time they’ve been together and the fact that their average age is 17. My favourite tracks on the demo are the ridiculously catchy anti-nazi anthem Unity and Same Generation. All their own tracks have something to say (more so than the two covers I think. Controversial?) and this is actually quite intense in places, so take time to listen to the lyrics, particularly The Queen Will Cry and Smokin Chillin.

Dead Beat Heros are regulars at the infamous Spirit bar in Glasgow and have supported the likes of Lowlife UK and the UK Subs. This for me, is what punk is about, being out there doing it and not worrying about having to be note perfect first. Imagine what these boys can accomplish in the long term!

If you get the chance, go and see them live. Gig dates will be posted in the listings on this site. For more information contact the band on www.myspace.com/deadbeatheros

BeerZone Demo

I have been lucky enough to receive a demo featuring 6 tracks from BeerZone’s forthcoming studio album, due for release this summer.

The 6 tracks on here aren’t the good time drinking songs sometimes thought of as the mainstay of BeerZone. This is more your hate-the-government, country-turning-to shit type of material, in the case of Vigilante and Home Fires Burning. Good thing is though, rather than having a moan, they’re encouraging their listeners to do something about it. Check out Stand Up and Fight. The stand out track on here as far as I am concerned, is Depressed. Who doesn’t know someone affected these days? I know it hit a nerve with me. And again it has positivity – ‘don’t get down, we’ll turn it all around’. Ten Years of Chaos is good too – referring , I assume to BeerZone themselves, who have now been going for a decade!

If you are interested in finding out more got to www.beerzone.net or www.myspace.com/beerzone

DOGS ABUSE DEMO

Dogs Abuse - remember that name, cos I guarantee this won't be the last time you hear it. Ayrshire's finest hardcore punks have now released a demo. Anyone who saw them at the Chernobyl benefit can consign that to history, they are greatly improved since then. My favourite on here has to be Chaos - you'll find it rumbling around your head for hours after hearing it. Other short sharp shocks on here include Big Pig and Fuck ID - Yep, Dogs Abuse have opinions and they want to share them with you!

Most promising punk demo I've heard in ages! Check them out at www.myspace.com/dogsabuse. You'll find the link in the Other Sites page. They've also confirmed a few gigs for the upcoming months, details in the gig listings.

Jean-Marie
 

THE SCABS

If you like a shot of 70's style punk served up with a dash of Oi you'll love The Scabs. They have two 6-track EPs released so far - 2006's Pick Em & Bleed (lovely image that conjures up eh?) and 2007's Gutterscum. Their songs speak about society and if you're reading this review chances are you'll agree with their opinions on, among other things, plastic surgery (Plastic Doll) and Chavs/Neds (On Your Own). There's even a bit of S & M.....oo er missus!

These guys are from just over the border in Penrith and play regularly in the North of England. Good news for you (and for me cos I haven't seen them yet either) is that they are playing Scotland twice this month - Saturday April 21st at the Electric Bar, Motherwell and Saturday April 28th in The Break 22, Stranraer. If you're lucky you'll even get to see Dead End Dave.....

Check them out at www.myspace.com/thescabsclub

Jean-Marie