Facebook Slider

The Voo-Dooms - Destination Doomsville

  • Published in UNX

Quite the enigma this lot. If you don’t know the band’s history, then it won’t take very long; remarkably they only formed around a year ago. However, they are all seasoned musicians and have been knocking around for a while. You’ll most certainly will be familiar with the individual members; Bassist - Bruce Brand (Milkshakes, Headcoats, Masonics, DuTronc, Len Bright Combo etc.), Guitarist - Kev Smith (The Baron Four), Drummer - Dave Prince (The Sundowners, The Untamed, The Rat Pack etc.) and Guitarist/Vocalist - Mick Cocksedge (The Untamed, Cordwood Draggers and The Dead Bone Ramblers).

And, there’s been a buzz about the fuzz from the get go; their t-shirts popping up on Facebook - the ghoulish design - green and red with a shrunken head. Definitely enough to capture the imagination of us garage/rock 'n' roll hungry ‘kids’ (please humour me) with a penchant for vintage horror schlock. Then a slew of videos from our favourite UK studio North Down Sound (Ah, so that pesky Mole is involved … further intrigue!) the LP recorded in demonic ‘Mo-Fi’ no less.

In May, as fortune would have it, I happened to be down South. The Voo-Dooms played their debut gig, supporting The X-Men, at the Con Club in Lewes. I’d heard a couple of teaser tracks already - 'The Hangman Stomp' being one of them (now a favourite), and they sounded pretty darn good (expecting no less). Fast forward a few weeks, and they had managed to secure themselves places on the bill at the two best garage, surf and beat festivals in the UK - The Franklin Fest and Beatwave.Their undead power growing stronger and stronger and (because I happened to see them perform at both fests) becoming more relaxed, confident and having plenty of eerie fun with each performance.

Mwah-ha-HA! to the album - Destination Doomsville - a delectable and dizzying journey through the sounds of yesteryear. The cover art, designed in-band, sets the scene (should there be any doubt in your mind - at all - that this band are on a horror trip!). Stand out tracks like ‘Hangman’s Stomp’, ‘Gravedigger’s Night Shift Blues’, earworm ‘Do The Plague’ (‘it’s the new dance craze!’) particularly the latter; really showcases Sgt. Von Doom’s Bobby Pickett-esque intonation, and is nothing short of spine chilling. But it’s not all horror finks and fiends, although they do bring a kooky creepiness to their version of Shel Naylor’s marvellous 'One Fine Day', and the country-esque 'Meet Me Here (In New Orleans)'. Moody ‘No Reflection’ is down right putrefied perfection, and Burke N. Hare (in the sleeve notes) ponders on what we’ve always wondered ‘if one is thus disadvantaged, how come Dracula was always so well groomed?’. It’s also worth mentioning the fabulous lyrics, which throughout the LP, are always delivered with much playfulness.

Needless to say the whole LP is full of feral frights, devious delights and rollicking rock n roll. I hesitate not in saying that we’ve all been well and truly Doomed!

Destination Doomsville is still available as a signed copy with free, yes FREE limited album promo sticker and badge for a measly £15.00 + postage worldwide directly from the band or from Trash Wax without the extras here.

Read more...

The Masonics - Obermann Rides Again

  • Published in Albums

 

Getting out of bed is one of those things that becomes progressively harder to be bothered doing, much like at times listening to new music (or at least new music by old bands). Finding the stream of Obermann Rides Again in my inbox, however, was enough to have me rise with a smile on my face and shuffle off to play it whilst showering. A good start to the day.

Having gone from being an act rarely seen to one caught almost yearly in recent times, it’s pleasing to know that the trio of Brand, Gibb & Hampshire now have another 14 self-penned tracks in their ramshackle repertoire. Even a live show as engaging as theirs needs freshening up periodically and there are plenty of candidates on Obermann Rides Again for inclusion in the setlist of any upcoming tour, not least of which is the title track.

Heartfelt material sits easily amongst the more rambunctious numbers as the plaintive 'What Do You Do' asks that very question of those who've found themselves left alone, either by design or misfortune. 'Come On My Little Darlin' could well of course be documenting one possible course of action for getting back on (or indeed off) your feet again.

'I Ain't Hurting For You' is a straightforward statement of intent to kick things off on the ninth full-length release which itself is leading off the upcoming physical and digital reissuing of a large amount of the band's back catalogue, including a newly compiled collection of the trio's singles.

Asking the essential questions of life, offering sensible suggestions for coping with it all and providing a positive model for dealing with the pitfalls (such as here on 'The Unsignposted Road') is what The Masonics have consistently and simply done over the course of their career & with Obermann Rides Again there's every indication that they'll continue doing so for a good while yet.  

Obermann Rides Again is available via bandcamp

Read more...
Subscribe to this RSS feed