New Generation Superstars – Crash Course In Rock ‘n’ Roll

Details:

• Year of release : 2007
• Label: Underdog Records
• Review format : CD

This debut album from these Nottingham based sleaze rockers is gaining quite a few well-deserved accolades. Hailed as “serious hope for British rock” by Kerrang! magazine, whilst awarding them a maximum 5K’s for a gig earlier this year, before they had even released this album, is nothing to be sniffed at. Having witnessed a recent performance of theirs, I wholeheartedly agree, they certainly do produce the goods in a live setting, though do they live up to their hype where it counts?

Twelve thundering tracks kick off at a hell of a pace, which they are destined, to keep up throughout this, no room for cheesy ballads or slow numbers here! Come Over and its mini guitar solo over a dirty rumbling bass at the beginning, immediately bringing comparisons to Motorhead. Though, I must add A.J’s vocals bear no resemblance whatsoever to Lemmy’s growling, with a style more in common with say, Phil Lewis of LA Guns. A special mention must go to the backing vocals on here, which are of a quality you wouldn’t normally associate with rock, never mind sleaze! The punching the air “hey, hey, hey” of Own Sweet Hell punctuates a rather fine slab of infectious choruses and catchy guitars. Both Overload and Dopefiend are definitely in the hook-laden territory of the Wildhearts. The former, being pretty much the bands signature tune, declaring rock and roll overload with a snot-laden attitude. Late 70’s punk influenced Done Before, boasts plenty of the album main features, whilst highlighting the fact that all subjects for lyrics have already been covered, ironically creating a new topic. Closer, Do It Cus I Can is another fine example of punk meets thrash, again incorporating a “hey man, hey man” hook to break up the thrash assault.

Summary : Well, what we have here is a top notch meshing of punk, thrash and glam, pretty much a full on celebration of everything that’s great in Sleaze! So many influences can be heard throughout, with Backyard Babies, The Wildhearts, Ramones and Sex Pistols amongst them, that it’s hard not to love just about everything on offer. Not a genre defining album, rather another great example that Sleaze is alive and kicking, ready to stake its claim on a new generation. These guys could quite easily go on to be the superstars they’re so confident of becoming.

If You Listen To One Track Listen To : Overload

Score : 4/5

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DH