The
latest from Australia’s New Christs is a dense 15 song collection of riffs that
mostly satisfies. It opens with it’s three strongest tracks where Rob Younger
(ex- Radio Birdman vocalist) delivers deadpan vocals over cleverly constructed
mid tempo rock. The fourth track, “Groovy Times” attempts a more muscular
approach which really isn’t their strong suit. The New Christs have been going
at this for over twenty years now and have long ago stopped trading in sheer
volume, making up for it with song craft and biting lyrics. “I’m thankful for
this second chance,” Younger sings on “Spit it Out.” Indeed his bands never
became household punk rock names like the Ramones or the Clash, but the die
hards know that Radio Birdman was every bit as important as either of them.
Past New Christs releases have been relatively hard to find in America, but “We
Got This” was released on peuedo-Cleveland label, Smog Veil, so it should be a
little easier to find. And it’s well worth seeking. (Dave Ignizio)
I
rather harshly voiced my displeasure with this band’s previous album ‘Beauty for
Ashes’. This follow up is another story, though. The band’s folk influence is
still present but this time around it’s better integrated into the rock. In
fact the group has improved in just about every area, notably in the vocal and
songwriting departments. While still remaining distinct and original, The
Sabians have shifted towards a more straight forward rock approach on ‘Shiver’
and it sounds damn good. You can tell the band has their roots in stoner rock,
but like Queens of the Stone Age they grew tired of the confines of that genre
and decided to branch out. The mix of acoustic and electric guitars is well
balanced and the arrangements are interesting but accessible. Drummer Chris
Hakius’ playing keeps even the simpler songs from becoming boring. Album
opener “Sixteen-Forty” is probably the most mainstream tune, sounding a bit like
Nirvana meets Jane’s Addiction. “Cold Black River” reminds me of gritty sixties
British invasion rockers like The Animals and Brian Jones era Stones. There’s
plenty of other good stuff on here, but “Bullet” has to be my favorite. A very
good album all around that doesn’t easily fit into any genre. (Bob Ignizio)
Don't know anything at all about
SKINLESS other than I really dig their music. Since I'm getting to be an old man
who grew up on thrash, speed, and death metal when it was first coming out it
always thrills me when I hear a newer band with those same heavy influences.
They always catch my ear! Skinless is one of those bands, but the add some
original ideas of their own to the mix. "The Front Line of SanitY" begins with a
brutal assault of musicianship and heavy riffing and chord changes that are very
impressive. Track 4, "A False Sense of Security" is a short mellow instrumental
leading right into the title track which again kicks it up heavy and thrashing.
All 9 tracks are good and I look forward to hearing more. The political lyrics
are also a plus for me! Crank track 9 "Don’t Risk Infection" even louder! Gawk
at their website: 4skinless.com. (Mike Salamone)
Mix
Motorhead with The Exploited, top it off with the production sound of Venom’s
‘Black Metal’, and it might sound something like Superchrist. Good riffs
abound, and Hank Bitchlover’s guitar leads display the same kind of tastefully
raunchy fretwork as Fast Eddie Clarke at his best. For the most part metal wins
out over punk but when the two mix on songs like “Stand up and Shit”, “I am Your
Hero”, and “Frano Fucked Yoko Ono” that’s when this band sounds the best to me.
“Old, Fast, and Hard”, “Fuck You Twice”, and “Julie Killed Jesus” could almost
be outtakes from Motorhead’s ‘Overkill’ album if it weren’t for the lyrics, but
even at their most derivative Superchrist still rocks. The two covers
(Maiden’s “The Trooper” and Motorhead’s “Poison”) are probably the least
interesting tracks on here. Still, if you dig the raw, unpolished sound of
early eighties Brit metal and punk then ‘Back & Black’ is worth checking out for
the originals. (Bob Ignizio)
The
latest from Australia’s New Christs is a dense 15 song collection of riffs that
mostly satisfies. It opens with it’s three strongest tracks where Rob Younger
(ex- Radio Birdman vocalist) delivers deadpan vocals over cleverly constructed
mid tempo rock. The fourth track, “Groovy Times” attempts a more muscular
approach which really isn’t their strong suit. The New Christs have been going
at this for over twenty years now and have long ago stopped trading in sheer
volume, making up for it with song craft and biting lyrics. “I’m thankful for
this second chance,” Younger sings on “Spit it Out.” Indeed his bands never
became household punk rock names like the Ramones or the Clash, but the die
hards know that Radio Birdman was every bit as important as either of them.
Past New Christs releases have been relatively hard to find in America, but “We
Got This” was released on peuedo-Cleveland label, Smog Veil, so it should be a
little easier to find. And it’s well worth seeking. (Dave Ignizio)
I
rather harshly voiced my displeasure with this band’s previous album ‘Beauty for
Ashes’. This follow up is another story, though. The band’s folk influence is
still present but this time around it’s better integrated into the rock. In
fact the group has improved in just about every area, notably in the vocal and
songwriting departments. While still remaining distinct and original, The
Sabians have shifted towards a more straight forward rock approach on ‘Shiver’
and it sounds damn good. You can tell the band has their roots in stoner rock,
but like Queens of the Stone Age they grew tired of the confines of that genre
and decided to branch out. The mix of acoustic and electric guitars is well
balanced and the arrangements are interesting but accessible. Drummer Chris
Hakius’ playing keeps even the simpler songs from becoming boring. Album
opener “Sixteen-Forty” is probably the most mainstream tune, sounding a bit like
Nirvana meets Jane’s Addiction. “Cold Black River” reminds me of gritty sixties
British invasion rockers like The Animals and Brian Jones era Stones. There’s
plenty of other good stuff on here, but “Bullet” has to be my favorite. A very
good album all around that doesn’t easily fit into any genre. (Bob Ignizio)
Don't know anything at all about
SKINLESS other than I really dig their music. Since I'm getting to be an old man
who grew up on thrash, speed, and death metal when it was first coming out it
always thrills me when I hear a newer band with those same heavy influences.
They always catch my ear! Skinless is one of those bands, but the add some
original ideas of their own to the mix. "The Front Line of SanitY" begins with a
brutal assault of musicianship and heavy riffing and chord changes that are very
impressive. Track 4, "A False Sense of Security" is a short mellow instrumental
leading right into the title track which again kicks it up heavy and thrashing.
All 9 tracks are good and I look forward to hearing more. The political lyrics
are also a plus for me! Crank track 9 "Don’t Risk Infection" even louder! Gawk
at their website: 4skinless.com. (Mike Salamone) 
Mix
Motorhead with The Exploited, top it off with the production sound of Venom’s
‘Black Metal’, and it might sound something like Superchrist. Good riffs
abound, and Hank Bitchlover’s guitar leads display the same kind of tastefully
raunchy fretwork as Fast Eddie Clarke at his best. For the most part metal wins
out over punk but when the two mix on songs like “Stand up and Shit”, “I am Your
Hero”, and “Frano Fucked Yoko Ono” that’s when this band sounds the best to me.
“Old, Fast, and Hard”, “Fuck You Twice”, and “Julie Killed Jesus” could almost
be outtakes from Motorhead’s ‘Overkill’ album if it weren’t for the lyrics, but
even at their most derivative Superchrist still rocks. The two covers
(Maiden’s “The Trooper” and Motorhead’s “Poison”) are probably the least
interesting tracks on here. Still, if you dig the raw, unpolished sound of
early eighties Brit metal and punk then ‘Back & Black’ is worth checking out for
the originals. (Bob Ignizio)