Band: BLACK VEIL BRIDES (Cincinnati/Hollywood)
Who: Heavy glam metal act centered around Andy Biersack.
Active: Since 2006 / 6 albums including the new one
Artwork: Cover of the brand new album THE PHANTOM TOMORROW.
Originally planned for a summer release but due to pandemic, it came out 2 days ago, perfectly in time for Halloween.
Stream album on Spotify…
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BLACK VEIL BRIDES: Facebook
31 October 2021
Like many other artists during lockdown, the question for Richard Ashcroft was also “What I am gonna do with all this free time between four walls?” Most of them started to cover others (that trend never seems to stop), some continued making new music and some were counting their money and/or annoyed their families.
Ashcroft decided to re-dress 12 of his most famous songs (The Verve/solo) and released Acoustic Hymns Vol. 1 this weekend. Acoustic? No, not really. Besides an acoustic guitar,
I hear piano, strings, synths, horns, and layers of harmonies. This album is actually about killing time by turning the selected tunes into bittersweet lockdown symphonies with smooth, elegant, and soothing arrangements.
I’m an Ashcroft fan, but I’ll go back to
the originals for my candlelight dinners.
Stream album via Spotify…
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RICHARD ASHCROFT: Facebook
Every week Turn Up The Volume picks 7 new
firecrackers that burned his ears the past 7 days
‘The Fuzz Guitar’ by THE PINK DIAMOND REVUE (UK)
C’mon, get your lazy ass out of your lazy couch and make some
room to move like a sensual snake with your window dressing
doll while swaying your hips to the sickly sticky beat of Fuzz Guitar.
Wurlitzer jukeboxes were invented to play sultry jams
like these in pubs, discos and your living room.
Now look cool and rock out folks…
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‘Steam Engine’ by EELS: Facebook (Los Angeles)
Mark Oliver Everett and his combo Eels have their 14th album
called Extreme Witchcraft ready for an early 2022 release.
Everett rolls and bowls here. Rock-a-billy is the keyword.
Steam up the engine right here…
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‘Rising Seas’ by MIDNIGHT OIL (Australia)
After they contributed a new song to a compilation album, the veterans
from down under are back. And, yes, the beds are still burning, they still
know how to rock and they still write songs about our fiercely threatened
nature/climate.
“The song is meant to “add the band’s unique voice to billions of others
around the world seeking a safe, habitable, and fair future for our planet.”
Roll the tape…
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‘Paper Flowers’ by PHNTMS (Philadelphia)
Sitting somewhere between arena rock and the classic sound of 1960’s soul
singers, Philadelphia-based band PHNTMS creates music bursting with vast
soundscapes and colliding instrumentation. The band has opened for Kings
of Leon, The 1975, Bastille, Fitz & The Tantrums and Empire of the Sun among
others.
Paper Flowers is the first single from a forthcoming EP.
A funky guitar-fueled pop earworm with charismatic frontwoman
Alyssa Gambino in the middle having a ball.
Big sound, big tune, big vox.
With Gambino identifying as queer, PHNTMS also hope to reach
out to and support the LGBTQA+ community. Damn right!
Let us all have a ball…
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‘False Idiots’ by THE BARBITURATES
Who? A genre’less pack of guerrilla D.I.Y / D.I.T musicians making war on music
of mass production with our satirical not so moderate rock. I’m sure that these
Nothern Ireland rebels will dedicate their upcoming mini-album titled ‘Super
Callous Fascist Racist Tories Are Atrocious‘ to Bojo and his professional idiots.
Anyway, here’s single number two. A haunting and minatory mid-tempo groove
that moves like a vicious serpent waiting to attack, but so far no Tories within sight
unless they’re the ones playing Irish folk instruments in the end. Wankers!
Albums are medals
For the medical Sheep
For the pop propaganda
For the false n the weak
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‘Magnificent Hurt’ by ELVIS COSTELLO & THE IMPOSTERS (UK)
Costello phoned his band The Imposters, they met in
the studio and recorded new album The Boy Named If,
out January 2022.
The lead single takes us back to his 70s sound. Crackling pop
a la Costello with that retro organ glow, vocal twists and turns,
a steady beat/chorus and muscled guitars.
Here comes the King…
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‘Valley Boys’ by THE WILD YOUNG HEARTS (California)
Theis bouncy riff-addicted trio produced a couple of EPs
and 3 albums between 2013 and 2017 and then went missing.
But the sonic surfers are back in business now. A bit older but still wild at heart.
With Valley Boys they do what they do best, dropping bathing a mesmerizing melody
in an electrifying pool of burning guitars. No, they don’t like the spoiled Valley Boys
and Girls and their rich dads.
Let’s hope that music will be the peacemaker…
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See/hear you next week music junkies…
THE PSYCHEDELIC FURS – Berkeley Community Theatre, California – 31 December 1989
THE PSYCHEDELIC FURS: Facebook
Daily electricity to load your batteries
30 October 2021
Artist: BEIJA FLO
Who: A versatile Liverpool-based artist involved in lots of happenings in the burgeoning arts scene. She is a regular life-model, part of the Eggy Records fold of exciting musicians, and a member of performing arts collective The Secret Circus. Spontaneous and with an undying lust for creative output, it’s impossible to say what she’ll turn her hand to next.
New single: HEADS OR TAILS
The first piece of a trio of three.
Flo: “‘Heads Or Tails’ is the rusty ferris wheel that just keeps turning, going absolutely nowhere. The loud neighbors next door with the dog constantly in the garden. Hooded boy, in and out of the front door. Endless. Horrific. Sad. Intoxicated. Hilarious. Hopeful. Hopeless. Unflattering desperation. Omnipresent insanity. You hate it. You want to hug it. You can’t describe it. You can’t taste it.”
Turn Up The Volume: If you look kooky, if you sound kooky and you release
a kooky single with kooky artwork and the length of a punk single then you are
be Beija Flo and I’m her new fan.
Press play and don’t blink your eyes…
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BEIJA FLO: Website
Striking artwork – more info about it here
Band: BAKED A LA SKA
Who: A super charged 11-headed ska monster on a rampage through the
dance floors of the UK leaving a trail of skanked-out bodies in their wake.
Artwork: Cover of their 2019 album Skaloween
Freak-out, folks, it’s Halloween…
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BAKED A LA SKA: Facebook
Best album of October 2021 according to Turn Up The Volume’s ears
29 October 2021
Artist: GLASS SANDS
Who: Musical moniker of indie singer/songwriter
Christopher Laurence Shackleton based in London.
Album: BETTER THAN LIFE
Info: Written and recorded over a five-year period, “Better Than Life” features some of Chris Shackleton’s most mature and versatile songwriting yet featuring ambitious sonics that take influence from alternative rock, post-punk, post-rock, krautrock and shoegaze. Lyrically, “Better Than Life” broaches on both the personal and the political with songs that focus on themes such as loneliness, populism, gentrification and just how far one is willing to go to find satisfaction in life.
Turn Up The Volume says: Expect an intriguing mix of moody moments (Coming Home /
In Your Hands / Ballad Of The Byford Dolphin / Hammerfest), guitar-driven riff-hook-and-lick knockouts that cut like a Swiss knife (Better Than Life / She Hangs On The Western Wall / Phantom Pains / Cigarette Machine) and a slo-mo closer (Basilisk) that could feature on
the soundtrack of David Lynch’s Twin Peaks TV series.
An overall versatile accomplishment that grows on you with every spin. A twists and turns record swinging from dreamy pop to fuzzing and buzzing rock and back. Don’t miss this! You don’t need a pool to throw a party with Better Than Life on the stereo. Best album October 2021!
Stream/buy ‘Better Than Life’ here…
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GLASS SANDS: Facebook
Still living in the fast (now: slow) lane after 50 years.
The institution called the EAGLES (with only Don Henley
and Joe Walsh as original/almost original members)
play massive concert in Hyde Park, London in 2022.
EAGLES: Website
Top singles from the past
29 October 2021
Band: ? AND THE MYSTERIANS (Michigan, US)
Who: Organ pop band fronted by
Question Mark = Rudy Martinez
Hit single: 96 TEARS
Score: Topped the US Singles Chart
this day, 55 years ago.
Lots of tears to cry…
? & THE MYSTERIANS: History
Turn Up The Volume‘s 20 Knockout Tracks for October 2021!
A stream of rattling rippers, jagged jams and romantic reveries.
All together on Spotify…
.
All knockouts, one by one…
‘Magic Medicine’ by DEAP VALLY (California)
After 10 years the sisters in arms want to inject their bond with new musical challenges
to keep their marriage alive and kicking (they’ll be always alive and kicking anyway).
Their new LP called, yes, Marriage and lands on 12 November.
The first taster is a slo-mo synth-vaccinated groove with Lindsey Troy‘s fully charged
guitars all over it and Julie Edwards, as usual taking care of the solid backbone drum
beat. Troy‘s vocals and Edwards echoing voice in the back give the song an extra thrill.
Takeyour medicine here…
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‘Black Widow Spider’ by PARQUET COURTS (Texas / New York)
Last week the wayward Parquet Courts unleashed their 7th album, titled
Sympathy For Life. One of the many highlights is Black Widow Spider.
A sticky head-spinning rocker.
Turn it up, folks…
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‘Faze Out’ by JAMES DOMESTIC (UK)
Expect a slash and trash jackhammer, an angry
spit and sneer storm, a Sturm und Drang uppercut.
143 seconds of furious frustration is what you get. Retro organs
clatter like if a nightmare is just around the corner, but Domestic
thunders like he’s a determined survivor who will not go down
just like that.
Join the wild ride…
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‘Better Than Life’ by GLASS SANDS (London, UK)
I listened to the title track of this London-based singer/songwriter’s new album
about 50 times, so far. It’s a guitar-driven riff-hook-and-lick standout that cuts like
a new Swiss knife with feverish and heartfelt vocals amplifying the dumbfounded
chorus. Holy smoke.
Press play, it’s better than life…
.
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‘Pennsylvania by JESSE STONE (Montreal, CA)
The rock ‘n roll swagger of Eddie Cochran, the surf guitar electricity
of Link Wray, and the fervent fire of Bo Diddley. Get the punchy
picture? This rollin’ razzle-dazzle riffage will boost your mood.
Get up and twirl yourself dizzy
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‘Staying Here’ by ACTING STRANGE (Scotland)
Stadium rockers The Killers will nod their heads in praise
when they hear this Scottish duo new excellent album
Staying Here.
The title track is a sassy stonker, a glam-synth-bam
banger with a relentless beat and vivacious vocals.
Top cut!
Feel the vibe…
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‘Wild Flowers’ by WARMDUSCHER (London, UK)
London’s funk-punk gang is gearing up
for their big breakthrough album.
This first taster is a trippy bass-driven disco groove you can sway
your hips to in the morning while waking up, in the evening while
getting drunk, and during the day when you’re getting bored.
Fucktastic…
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‘Dad Vibes’ by LIMP BIZKIT (Florida)
I never really liked Limp Bizkit. They wanted
to be the white Rage Against The Machine
and jumped on every crossover bandwagon.
But hey, this new single made my ears flap like crazy.
After all these years I clap for Fred Durst & co.
Rap it up, Fred…
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‘Butterfly Room’ by SHATTERCONES (London)
This fulminating sucker-punch tackles the Brexit Apocalypse with
a raging force and poignant frustration. Watch your back, Bojo!
It comes from their staggering 4-track EP This Septic Isle.
Release the bats…
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‘Blacked Out‘ by THE MANIC BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB (Toronto, CA)
When surreality becomes reality cry outs like these pop up to translate
alienated feelings that dominate your daily life. This club of two decided
to embed their frustration into a swirling dance stunner for our doomed
generation.
Pithy, peppery, and a blacked-out chorus that sticks as primo glue.
Add glamorous vocals and a glittering full-on wall-of-sound and the
final result is a supersonic stunner.
Here’s why…
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‘It’s Critical’ by SAVING JACKIE (San Antonio, Texas)
The heated rap-rock gang from San Antonio launched
a video for the title track of their debut album.
The clip is a clear-cut message regarding life-threatening diseases.
Flamboyant frontwoman Jenny 4C Ramirez emphasizes the fight
for your life bravery while making your blood stream faster through
your veins.
Bang your head here…
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‘Chaos Space Marine’ by BLACK COUNTRY, NEW ROAD (London)
These young gunslingers rushed to indie stardom with their ace
jazz and prog-rock influenced debut LP For The First Time.
Isaac Wood (frontman) about this brand new song: “it’s the best song we’ve ever
written. We threw in every idea anyone had with that song. So the making of it was
a really fast, whimsical approach – like throwing all the shit at the wall and just
letting everything stick.”
I smell great shit…
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‘Medicine’ by SLEEPSHAKE (Canada)
A blazing rock slam about the desperate need for stable emotional stimulation.
Blustering guitars, flurried synths, hot-blooded vocals, a discharging chorus, and somewhere in the middle a thunder and lighting guitar solo to electrocute all your
mind-destroying demons. Every time you take this medicine, you’ll get a kick out of it.
If you like British turbo Royal Blood
you’ll go berserk to this cracker too.
Yeahhhhh…
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‘The Met’ by COLATURA (Brooklyn, NY)
Instantly effective pop tunes like these make me smile
from left to right and back. Shiny guitars with shoegazy
sparks, a dizzy-making rhythm, happy-go-lucky sentiments,
and seducing vocals. A song that would turn Taylor Swift
into an indie star.
Check it out…
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‘Count The Death’ by THE CHRONICLES OF MANIMAL AND SAMARA: (London)
A crystal-clear structured protest against greedy political sharks and
megalomaniac charlatans oppressing people for their own devastating
agendas. Again Manimal and Samara show how to fuse poignant poetry
and versatile metal genres.
Manimal and Samara are sonic architects.
Follow their path here…
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‘Blood Moon’ by CONVERGE and CHELSEA WOLFE (USA)
The fab goth-metal gang made an album with goth heroine Chelsea Wolfe
and Cave In‘s Stephen Brodsky. The LP, titled Bloodmoon: I will soundtrack
our nightmares from November 19 on.
Here comes the first piece Blood Moon. A classic mix of deafening bombast,
theatrical doom and gloom, barking voices (except for Chelsea of course), and
hardcore torment. A perfect Halloween monster.
Your Halloween starts here…
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‘Wanna See’ by HANNYA WHITE (London, UK)
White continues her sound-exploring search. Here she fuses
symphonic instrumentation with deep-bass-resonating synth
turbulence. Trippy, dissonant, and even claustrophobic when
short fragments of White‘s restless breathing emerge somewhere
in there.
The ongoing pizzicato violin play adds both an airy and eerie timbre.
I have no idea what the totally silent outro with some echoes of (what
seems to be) firecrackers in the very end, is about. What I do know is
that the first thought that crossed my mind when hearing this, was:
Aphex Twin is back, in disguise.
Stream/buy ‘Wanna See’ here…
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‘Nightmare Pills’ by EX-HYENA
Pretty quick into the song the early days of electronic
British legends Human League and Baxter Dury‘s synth
pop sensuality (especially the female voices) popped up
on my stereo in my head.
It sounds as if this Boston tandem warns us of Big Brother’s ambition to brainwash humankind with mind-altering chemicals with this darksome, yet instantly striking
electro jam. Haunting, feverish, and gloomy are the keywords here. Best played at
night while being dazed and confused by the surreal times we experience the past
18 months.
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‘The Beachland Ballroom’ by IDLES (Bristol, UK)
A new album is canned and sees
the day of light on 12 November.
The lead single is “an honest-to-goodness
soul song named after the iconic Ohio venue.”
Expect the slower side of Idles with hefty eruptions now
and then and frontman Joe Talbot‘s blood cooking.
Feel the heat…
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‘Slow Down’ by MOONWOOD (Sydney)
It’s been a while since I heard an epic belter that evokes
an image on the screen in my head of a massive stadium
filled with a sea of people holding their phones up with
shining lights and scream at the top of their lungs.
This powerful love ballad will
trigger your romantic side…
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See/hear you next month, music junkies…