Greg Dulli in an interview with NME: “Luckily, Patrick, Christopher and I live in
California so I was able to play live with them, [which] gave the record the immediacy
I think it has. There was so much uncertainty, hopelessness, fear and confusion in the
world that I was working on songs to transport me to another reality, so I really feel
like this album was an escape.” Full interview here.
The late monumental voice Mark Lanegan came up with the LP’s title.
He contributed backing vocals to two tracks on the record before his
sudden death last February.
PRESS
Mojo Magazine: “How Do You Burn? finds the group on vintage form throughout.” 4/5.
The Line Of Best Fit: “The new record ups the ante on its two predecessors going
deeper in a richly assured display of Dulli and the band’s abilities.”4/5.
Classic Rock Magazine: “How does it burn? Darkly, but with sparks.“. 4/5.
Record Collector: “How Do You Burn? finds the Whigs in particularly lusty form.” 4/5.
(Lokerse Festival, Belgium – 10 August 2022 – photo by TUTV)
Turn Up The Volume: Greg Dulli‘s pipes reach for the sky throughout this new standout LP. His unique rock voice is the unwearying motor of this burning blast. And when the songs are of supreme quality, as all 10 terrific tunes here are, and your bustling band is on a raucous roll with the vitality of young wolves you end up with an undeniable winner of a record. Not only of the past month but also aiming for the top seat at the end of the year. The Aghan Whigs are a soul band at heart with a brawny blues resonance. Awesome group, awesome album.
Singles/clips: I’ll Make You See God / The Getaway / A Shot Of Lines
Early this month psych rock virtuoso Anton Newcombeand his orchestra
released new LP Fire Doesn’t Grow On Trees. Their 19th and one of their
best to my keen ears.
Ila is a Belgian post-punk trio fronted by bewitching songstress Ilayda Cicek.
Last year they had their stunning debut album Felt out, containing one of the
best singles of 2021 with Leave Me Dry.
Brand new piece Live To Love confirms
the immense intensity of ILA.
They are here to stay!
“This song is about a friend that you loved but just cannot be near. They always get
into trouble, always cause drama/fights, make a bunch of empty promises and get
you to do a bunch of intense stuff for them without getting anything in return.”
It’s a blazing bass/drum tandem that ignites this jiggish jackhammer with ardency
and flamboyance and keeps on steamrolling for the full 140 seconds.
And when an avid Amazon jumps in with pithy and bouncy vocals
you know, you feel and you hear straight away that we have a winner.
6. ‘Baby, I Had An Abortion’ byPETROL GIRLS (UK/Austria)
Last month this raging feminist post-hardcore 4-piece unleashed their 3rd album
named Baby. A badass beast of a record mixing raw power, mouthy screams, and a tsunami of loud and clear messages.
In the light of the incredible Roe v Wade debacle, disrespecting women’s fundamental
human rights, this LP’s sassy slam is a middle finger to all anti-abortion idiots.
American film soundtrack composer DANNY ELFMAN has a new album
out, titledBIGGER. MESSIER., on 12 August with reimagined versions of
songs from his last year’s Big Mess longplayer. More info here.
It features guest vocals from Trent Reznor, HEALTH, Zach Hill
of Death Grips, Xiu Xiu, Squarepusher, Ghostemane.
And the omnipresent Iggy Pop joined the fun too with this kick-ass jam.
These psycho-billy maniacs produce a wall-of-holy-smoke havoc on this horror-ific haymaker with sawing guitars, punk turbulence, hellish vocals a pulverizing chorus.
This razzle-dazzle master blaster races and rushes with vivid vigor and fervid
firmness. Punk ‘n roll at its razor-sharp best. And when the towering chorus kicks
in the sky-screaming vocals go through the roof. Amazeballs energy in overdrive.
If this Krautrock-like rotating electro ripper doesn’t trigger
your body, mind, and senses you need to change your meds.
Its repetitive rhythm mesmerizes and stupefies. Its sickly sticky synth swirl is simply irresistible and its magnetic voice brought the late great Talk Talk leader Mark Hollis
to mind.
On this Herculian stroke metal, shoegaze and classic guitar rock mania (think Eddie Van Halen and Neil Young‘s Crazy Horse) meet with forceful effect, while Rachel Bacon‘s vocals float above the giant raucousness. Bystander is a slow-burning torch, a powerhouse with mammoth riffs. Hefty score from their sterling 5-track EP Spiralized.
The obscure slow-progressing synth/guitar intro could easily be the shadowy intro
theme of a film noir starring this duo – Hana Piranha and Mishkin Fitzgerald – as Femmes Fatales with spine-chilling voices that cause a sensation of puzzlement and perturbation strengthened by the heavy metallic reverberations in the back.
When you look glamorous, move glamorous, and sound glamorous,
you have my attention in a flash. This London’s colorful gang’ new wallop
mourns the loss of heroes such as Tom Petty and genius Bowie.
Its avid flow gets under your skin from the get-go. A voltaic retro-resounding
guitar goes solo midway and challenges the somber mood. And Amazon Jo-Jo spices the ripper with her notable rock voice.
High-passionate mavericks The Afghan Whigs from Ohio
with general Greg Dulli upfront will share their 9th longplayer
named How Do You Burn? with the world on 9 September.
A Line Of Shots is one of the brill tracks we heard so far off the LP.
Vince Grant is no stranger to Turn Up The Volume. His dedication to darkwave
is infectious as he shows again here with his new shadowy single. Sonically you still
hear Joy Division and The Cure echoes.
Too Close To The Sun is an addictive melody at heart locked in tenebrous eurhythmics. Think of lots of The Cure hits (Close To You / Friday I’m In Love / Lovecats and so many more). They were experts in writing uncomplicated pop tunes and made them sound instantly captivating.
Grant also unites aural catchiness with shady musicality including
a melancholic saxophone solo in this new composition. Top.
Two weeks ago New York City‘s darlings dropped their 7th LP titled The Other Side Of Make Believe. In my aural opinion their best
since their 2002 debut.
Kilguss‘s voice is just amazing. Resonating somewhere between the magnific
voices of nightingales Angel Olsen and Sharon Van Etten. Yes, that is amazing and Great White Shark is also a heartfelt sort of musing that those two emotive ladies love. Say no more.
He tears open
From the heart
From the root
From intuition
He tears open
From the gut
From the soul
From inner vision
