Extreme bands, classic sounds.
So you're a huge fan of classic rock. On vacations or road trips, once your Ipod's contents have been exhausted, you scan the FM dial waiting for the car stereo to lock on to the familiar sounds of "Reelin' in the Years" or "Slow Ride". Once found, you again are able to relax with the windows rolled down. All is right with the world.
For our non-US readers, the phenomenon is classic rock radio. It's a distinctly American phenomenon, as every major city in the states seems to have one. Perhaps ours is the only country whose citizens are prone to fits of desire that only "Sweet Emotion" and "The Boys are Back in Town" can satisfy if played on an hourly basis. In fact, it seems that America is more obsessed with this type of music than ever, adding classic rock songs to tv commercials for everything from pickup trucks to investment firms.
Regardless of your mother country, if you're a fan of classic rock from the late 70s or early 80s seeking some new bands to scratch your itch for guitar solos, white high-tops, blues or boogie, be sure to try some of these modern heavies on for size. They're not "retro-bands", but creative new artists building new sounds on the platform of their personal heroes.
"My mom doesn't know who Tommy Lee is, but she does know Ace Frehley." Andreas "Dregen" Svensson of THE BACKYARD BABIES told us in 2005. "We're still trying to figure out if we're a punk loving hard rock band or a hard rock loving punk band." Since forming in 1989, frontman Dregen and THE BACKYARD BABIES have survived everything from grunge's anti-glam backlash to short-haired nu-metal, a couple of MOTLEY CRUE reunions, and a whole lot more. Lucky for us, they've never stopped dishing out heavy, sleazy, rocknfugginroll. It's obvious from early titles like 1998's "Safety Pin and Leopard Skin" that these guys are all about a booze-soaked collision of punk and 70s glam.
Just don't expect any warmed-over POISON covers from this band. Their songwriting is top-notch, influenced by classic fare like THE NEW YORK DOLLS, THIN LIZZY, and MOTORHEAD, as well as metal like ENTOMBED and IRON MAIDEN. Dregen's vocals are gritty and ballsy, but there's no growling to be found in the whole discography. Pickier fans seeking clean vocals should probably start with 2006's "People Like People Like Us". Produced by Nicke Andersson of THE HELLACOPTERS, this platter sports one of the band's strongest set of songs, guitars jumping in and out of 70s-style harmonies, Dregen and Nicke bearing their fangs for riff after spellbinding riff. At any rate, it can provide your copy of THE HEARTBREAKERS' "LAMF" a much-needed rest.
Ironically, this band was conceived by vocalist Jonas Åhlén and guitarist Robert Johansson, hanging out at a biker bar, complaining about the lack of good music being made nowadays! Over the course of the next few years, they formed a band destined to become the living embodiment of MOLLY HATCHET, ZZ TOP, and late 70s Burt Reynolds movies. We're talking bellbottom jeans, mirror shades, swashbuckling guitar duels, Hammond organ sweeps, etc.
Take a listen to 2001's spectacular "Here to Save Y'all" disc. Tracks like "Convoy", "El Rancho" and "Hillbilly Blues" demonstrate that the BACKDRAFT boys have spent a lot of time soaking up the good stuff. Unlike many stoner rock knockoff bands of the late 90s, BACKDRAFT's music is perfect fare for classic rock aficionados, fitting easily on your playlist between SKYNYRD's "Second Helping" and the first OUTLAWS record. Plus, they've recently reformed, unleashing a spanking new set of tunes entitled "The Second Coming" in August of 2007. All you redneck readers be sure to check out the albums' first single, "Just Ain't Right" and decide if you're ready to get jiggy with the Paypal for the full-length at www.gmrmusic.se . Now, get that truck washed.
Cleveland's BOULDER are simply obsessed with classic metal. Terrence Hachins and Mark Gibbs both play Flying V's. 2002's "Ripping Christ" album includes a song called "DLR is King". They're fond of vinyl-only releases. They like to blow up roadkill onstage. Well, that last one has nothing to do with classic rock, but it is true. Actually, there's not a band on the planet like BOULDER. They're a hodgepodge of extreme, filthy, blood-soaked rock 'n roll.
Jamie Walters' sub-human shrieks and unintelligible barks recall classic sludge a la EYEHATEGOD. Majestic guitar harmonies jump in and out of every track, crashing over 70s-era JUDAS PRIEST riffs in a twisted musical car wreck. Song titles like "Arrest Me", "Sinners Gross Beerd -" and "Kick the Pregnant" read like the back of an old punk record from FANG or THE MEATMEN. Unfortunately, things have been rather quiet on the BOULDER front since 2002's excellent "Reaped in Half" record (delivered appropriately with two sides or 'halves' for your listening pleasure). A couple of singles were released in 2005, but no full-length records (most likely due to other projects, vocalist Jamie Walters also plays bass in Cleveland's long-running thrash band DESTRUCTOR, and doom merchants ABDULLAH). But don't let the lack of activity stop you from picking up these masterpieces of demented extreme rock worship. They're mandatory fodder for those who like it hard, loud, and obnoxious.
One of the problems with genre labels is they don't tell the whole story. Boston's DOOMRIDERS could be generically labeled a hardcore band. Sure, guitarist Nate Newton plays in extreme/hardcore band CONVERGE, and consequently DOOMRIDERS are on Jacob Bannon's Deathwish label. But there's so much more to this band than the stereotypical hardcore sound.
As evidenced on 2005's excellent "Black Thunder" record, these New Englanders have been weaned on the fiery licks of early MOTÖRHEAD and the guitar heroics of Scott Gorham, Brian Robertson, and Adrian Smith. Just try to resist headbanging along to the dark "Two Minutes to Midnight"-style riff of "The Chose" or the brazen DANZIG worship of "Midnight Eye". The mix of Jebb Riley's gas-huffing vocals and these nods to heroes of old make DOOMRIDERS a band that sounds like no other. For further evidence, look to their recent split LP with doom lords BORIS entitled "Long Hair and Tights". This gorgeous 2lp collector's item boasts perhaps the greatest artwork and packaging you'll find this year, all done up in homage to JUDAS PRIEST's 1982 classic "Screaming for Vengeance" (but don't feel bad if you can't afford the $80 Ebay price tag). We're looking forward to more great tuneage from THE DOOMRIDERS next year.
Back in the early 70s, bands like THE ALICE COOPER GROUP and GRAND FUNK would release album after album, sometimes even two releases in a single year bolstered by exhaustive touring and promotion. Such a work ethic is almost unheard of in today's world of sparse release schedules and milking live DVDs for three years.
Well, Sweden's self-proclaimed rock gods THE CHUCK NORRIS EXPERIMENT are obviously fans of old-school methods, delivering two stellar discs in 2007, "And the Rest Will Follow" and the appropriately titled "The Return of Rock 'n Roll". For those that were saddened by THE HELLACOPTERS recent announcement of their shop-closing, chin up. THE CHUCK NORRIS EXPERIMENT are ready to pick up the gauntlet with their signature blend of hard-panned AC/DC cum MC5 riffage, dueling guitar harmonies, and bludgeoning punk-inspired choruses. This band is so powerful and ambitious, it's just a little scary. They've just finished a European tour, and are scheduled to set off on another one soon, so be sure to catch them live if humanly possible. We could use some Chuckie time over here in Yank-land, boys.
There's a reason why KEVIN K's '77-style punk sound is so genuine - his roots go all the way back to the early days. Originally from Buffalo NY, Kevin's band THE TOYS opened for the likes of THE DEAD BOYS, THE RAMONES, and SQUEEZE as early as 1980. Since that time, he's never let up, releasing multiple records year after year with different projects like THE HOLLYWOOD STARS and THE REAL KOOL KATS.
He's shared the stage with names like Cheetah Chrome, Jerry Nolan, and the late Dee Dee Ramone. Throwing on a KEVIN K disc is like discovering some rare power pop gem from the early 80s, complete with guitar harmonies, saxophones, singalong choruses, the works. He's got a mass quantity of stuff available, but start with 2006's "Rockin Roll Dynamite" album for a signature collection of KK's zany lyrics and high-octane power pop. Then pick up the new HOLLYWOOD STARS disc appropriately entitled "Cool Ways". For those sick to death of the OFFSPRING and GREEN DAY songs on the radio, KEVIN K should be a strong reminder of late 70s punk appeal.
"I don't think I'm alone in the belief that a really bitchin' guitar harmony elevates a song from just sorta catchy into something really memorable," Mark Hoffman of BIBLE OF THE DEVIL says. "We're trying to mold our influences into our own thing." So far, they are succeeding.
Over the past three years, Chicago's BIBLE OF THE DEVIL have released three outstanding records and toured both the US and Europe, sharing the stage with quality artists like ORANGE GOBLIN, WINTERHAWK, and SLOUGH FEG. Tracks like "Kickin' Birth", "Judas Ships", and "Warrior Fugue" glow with the good-time songcraft of early VAN HALEN, the grit and intensity of VENOM, and more guitar harmonies than the WISHBONE ASH catalog. "It isn't like we've been sitting around dormant since 1986 smoking dope and listening to nothing but "Powerslave'" says guitarist Nate Perry. "I would hate to get known as some throwback nostalgia metal act. I feel we're part of a new era of good, heavy music." Here's hoping a new crusher from BOTD hits our collective mailboxes sometime in 2008.
Another long-standing rock act, TURBONEGRO's early records were death-punk blueprints, built largely on the influences of American punk bands like THE CIRCLE JERKS, BLACK FLAG, and THE RAMONES. But as the band's infamy for sex-crazed lyrics and powerful live shows extended outside of Scandinavia, it quickly spread to underground music sources all over the globe.
The addition of guitarist Knut "Euroboy" Schreiner in 1996 brought about a new depth in the band's overall sound - combining classic punk attitude with 70s guitar-rock trappings. It seems like there isn't a classic rock guitar fill that Euroboy hasn't memorized. From the harmonics of "The Age of Pomparius" (that mimic CHEAP TRICK's "Clock Strikes Ten") to the "We Will Rock You" intro to "City of Satan" to the RAMONES riffs of "I Wanna Come", there's no arguing the fact that Euroboy can zig and zag his way through your classic rock de ja vu. Vocalist Hank Von Helvete, decked out in ALICE COOPER-style face makeup, is a walking rock'n roll jeopardy session, peppering his songs with lines from ZZ TOP, VAN HALEN, GNR, IGGY POP, and a ton of others. But don't get the wrong idea - the buzz surrounding TURBONEGRO has little to do with their respective music collections. Icepick-sharp riffs in tracks like "No, I'm the Alpha Male" and "Get it On" are musically potent and devastatingly heavy. Their lyrics are dark, disturbing, and often simply hilarious, obvious from titles like ""Don't Say Motherfucker, Motherfucker" and "Everybody Loves a Chubby Dude." Fans of hard-charging RAMONES-style power chords, dive-bombing guitar licks, and hopeless promiscuity - the Turbojugend wants you!
"Man, I was 8 when the 70s ended," laughs BBTP's Ben Hogg. "But the influence is still strong within BBTP, especially the SKYNYRD / LIZZY ends of the spectrum. UFO can't be ignored within our sound. I still am playing catch up with alot of 70s music." Fusing obvious influences like these with the sludgy misery of bands like EYEHATEGOD and BUZZOV*EN, Hogg and crew have hammered out three powerful records.
All are spiked with Hogg's subsonic growls, hard-panned guitar riffs, and venomous southern rock. Song titles like "American Vermin" and "Where The Sewer Meets The Sea" are prime illustrations of the band's bleak, enormously heavy style. They're modern take on crushing sludge puts them in the same league as RWAKE, SOILENT GREEN, HAWG JAW, and other southern heavyweights. "We're in the middle of recording our 4th full length titled 'Southern By The Disgrace of God', Hogg says."Keep an ear out for that shit."
As the title, "Blood, Rock 'n Roll, and Black Angels" may suggest, KAPTAIN SUN may not be the perfect fare for your EAGLES and STEVE MILLER BAND-loving next-door neighbor. But for those that can't get enough early IRON MAIDEN and "To Ride…"-era ENTOMBED, the crazed, croaking vocals and guitar harmonies of Andy Wong and Andreas Svensson are sure to be a star attraction.
Wrecking ball-retro jams like the 8+ minute "Golden Harvest" (complete with Moog) and the "Screaming For Vengeance"-style epic "Tides" have carried this remarkable band through two exceptional releases. It's black 'n roll with an emphasis on the "roll" and just a touch of psychedelia that makes KAPTAIN SUN sound fresh and aggressive, yet familiar. Judging from the sounds of their new demo tracks on MySpace, the Kaptain will soon be delivering a drool-worthy third installment. There aren't many bands around today worth paying import prices to hear, but KAPTAIN SUN is one of them. "We're a 100% live band," Wong told us back in 2003. "Everything is based on playing live. If it doesn´t work or doesn't sound good live, then it goes in the trash."
Well, there you have it. Ten bands that enjoy classic rock almost as much as you do. If you've got a hankering for extreme metal, old-school punk, or just quality rock 'n roll, some of these bands should float your boat. Obviously it's just a sampler, so don't get your knickers in a bind if we left our your favorite. 'Til next time, keep it groovy.
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