Pretty much a straight continuation from the first two Black Star Riders albums but hey, if the formula's working then why change it? "Heavy Fire" saw messrs Warwick and Gorham cranking out the riffs to the usual standard and welding them to some big singalong choruses and deceptively thought provoking lyrics to keep up Black Star Riders' high standards thus far.
Five albums in and there's no sign of Dirt Box Disco getting any more sensible with age. And you know what, we wouldn't have them any other way. Loud, offensive and obnoxious in the best Macc Lads/Anti-Nowhere League fashion, songs like "Working For Wankers" and "Lazy Bastard" prove that this lot aren't planning on growing up any time soon and thank feck for that.
A good effort from Amsterdam's veteran drunk punks. More mellow than their previous efforts but they've still got plenty to say as evidenced by the political fury of "A Rough Guide To The Future" while other tunes such as "Drunk Balloon" and "Streets of Shoreditch" veering over into almost Urban Voodoo Machine style territory. Varied and listenable, this was a good effort.
Okay so this one technically came out in 2016 but we didn't get our review copy at Pure Rawk until this spring (to coincide with the group supporting Adam Ant on tour) so it's going on the 2017 list because it deserves a mention. Scuzzy and sleazy all-girl glam punk with a Ziggy/Dolls influence from NYC with great tunes and hooks to boot, what's not to like?
Now well into their second decade as a band, it's good to see that Zen Motel are keeping their standards high and "Choking On The Chrome" saw them cranking out their trademark scuzzed up sleaze-punk to an admirably high standard on the likes of "London Is Dead" and "I Want Your Drugs". Another band you really should go and check out if you're unfortunate enough not to be aware of them already.
Bouncing back after a three year absence, "Ain't No Pussy" saw Basingstoke's premier exponents of feline-fronted psychobilly on venomous form with the likes of "Not Bad For A Girl" and "Sylvia" seeing lead singer Puss pouring out every ounce of vitriol in her body over some high-energy greaser backing. One explosive comeback and no mistake.
While Eight Rounds Rapid's debut album was a solid if unremarkable slice of ATV/Wire style art-punk, "Objet D'Art" saw them conjuring up the spirit of fellow Oil City natives Dr Feelgood with some bluesy tightwire guitar riffs being chucked into the mix to devastating effect turning a group who'd previously looked like mid-table fodder into being definite contenders. Good stuff.
23. SPUNK VOLCANO & THE ERUPTIONS - "Not Wired Up Right" (Review here)
More enjoyably foul-mouthed tirades from Dirt Box Disco's guitarist's other band. It isn't big and it certainly isn't clever but that's the way we like it sometimes and if you don't find yourself shouting along to the chorus of songs like "Nobhead" and "You're The Bastard" then there's something wrong with you. All good unclean fun and we wouldn't have it any other way.
22. THE SELECTER - "Daylight"
It's to the Selecter's immense credit that they've managed to make a comeback in 2017, nearly 40 years after their initial chart success, which actually rivalled their best stuff. "Daylight" packed plenty of upbeat sunshine-soaked reggae/ska on first listen but there was a real political anger driven by recent events in the UK boiling just under the surface making for a very engaging listen. Pauline, Gaps and the crew can pat themselves on the back for a job well done on this one.
21. THE LEN PRICE 3 - "Kentish Longtails" (Review here)
The Len Price 3 remain one of the best kept secrets of UK music and "Kentish Longtails" is another great offering from them. Taking all the best bits of '60s garage music, it veers from punked-up vitriol ("Childish Words", "Nothing I Want") to blissful psychedelia ("Telegraph Hill", "Pocketful Of Watches") while hardly missing a beat throughout. If you haven't discovered this band yet then you really owe it to yourself to set that right.
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