HAMMER AND THE NAILS - Hammer and the nails (2018)

Oi! So my friends from Boira Skins recently took this band to their city and asked me to write a review of their latest work.

This time the Bostonians released a 4 theme EP with a fantastic cover as you can appreciate above. 

1.- Icepicks Coda
I may be wrong, but the first thought that crossed my mind after a few seconds of listening to the first song, is that these lads have their own studio where they record their songs. Shame because it sounds a bit amateur specially in terms of volume and strength. This first track is part of a song of their 2012 work. Not sure what is it doing here... so let's skip to the second track

2.- Controlled Rebellion
Japanese Samurai skins alike, the band sounds quite disciplined and the main vocal is truly brutal. Shame that, as mentioned, the recording fades part of their energy away. The song is quite long and misses just a bit of speed. Just a bit. ⭐⭐

3.- Hook, Line and Sinker
This one is even tougher. The guitars sound like the boots of a million skinheads marching to conquer the world! Love it!!! I guess that the hammer and the nails spend lots of time in the rehearsal room and totally pays off. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

4.- Ought
I've listened this one four or five times and there is something that fails somewhere... not sure what it is...but the song becomes repetitive. I think is missing a good singable verse. ⭐⭐

Shame is already over! My advise for Mr. Hammer would be to get out of their basement and record their next work in a proper studio with a professional technician able to blow up our ears! Banzai!

The Best: The Drums
The Worse: The studio

Followers: 377 (August 2018)

BROMURE : A LA ROQUETTE (2017)

Not sure how I got here, but I'm glad I did!

3 theme album of this band from Paris, which seems to be their only record. All songs are in French and... with a Saxophone.  Now, I don't know what do you think about it as I have myself mixed feelings. I hated it in Stage Bottels, but here I kind of like it!




1.- Catacombes
This one really got me straight away. It really pays tribute to the old French bands from the 80s. Strong and catchy if you don't mind the saxo, which I don't. Powerful back vocals and catchy round of chords. Love it. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

2.- Mains dans les poches
Perfect complement of the previous song, with the same combination of saxo and rhythmic guitars. Solid, firm bass and aggressive vocals. The verse is a bit more melodic without falling into pop beats. What a little treasure. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

3.- A la roquette
The poorer brother of these three songs. Have no idea what the lyrics talk about but the song misses the fresh sounds of the other two and gets a bit too repetitive. ⭐⭐

In summary, a very nice surprise that makes my monthly payment to Spotify worth! 

The Best: Whoever writes the songs
The Worse: Only 3 songs 

Followers: 304 (August 2018)

THE OLD FIRM CASUALS - THIS MEANS WAR (2014)

My dear Spotify suggests that I'd like this band founded in 2010, in San Francisco. Not sure why there is no biography yet on Spotify, but some of you will know that the man behind this band is Lars Frederiksen, the same chap who played at Rancid and LF & the Bastards. He has produced many other bands as well, so, he knows his shit. 

Let's see how it sounds




1.- Langskib
Just an Intro. Impossible not to think about the Dropkick Murphys, one of the band Lars has produced

2.- This Means War
Oh, man. This is just a great song. Lyrics, riffs, rhythm... and I love the 1 second micro-pauses now and then. So excellent! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

3.- Perry Boys
And this, lads, is what we call a Skinhead Anthem. This song will stay in your brain and blood forever. Perry Boys, here we stand or here we fall. I'm not going to give the full 5 stars because I'm not convinced about the keyboards at the end and the tempo seems to need a bit more speed. But maybe it's me being a pr*ck. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

4.- Election Day
Excellent punk-rock theme. A Lars special. Again everything stacks up. Perfect riff and brilliant main vocal. Catchy verse as well. I'm enjoying so much so far! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

5.- Off with Their Heads
Not sure so sure about this one. At the start sounds more like a heavy band from the 80s, more punk rock later, but a bit too slow. Nothing wrong with it, but nothing special either ⭐⭐⭐

6.- Never Say Die
The football one. Very catchy verse and melodic riff. It is almost like if it was meant to be the soundtrack of a movie or a hooligan documentary. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

7.- Eternal City
And this is the ballade one. Time to go to the bar! ⭐⭐

8.- Needle on the Record
....rockabilly theme and lyrics... even with a piano on it! Rockers and rednecks may like it but this ain't for skinheads!! ⭐

9.- Apocalypse Redux
Thanks God, back with the good punk-rock stuff. Screaming guitars and impacting bass-line. Gonna buy a T-shirt of this chaps. ⭐⭐⭐

10.- Dear Leader
And even better. Violence! Finally! Dear leader is a bit darker, more aggro violent theme and I like it. Brilliant main and back vocals. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

11.- On Wolves of War
Master piece of how to combine tempo, structure and lyrics. Nothing else to add. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

12.- Victory
Slow one ideal to finish the concert when the lights go on. Doesn't achieve the legend level of Perry boys, though as the final part is just too commercial ⭐⭐⭐

13.- Watford Tuxedo
Bizarre final track that doesn't make any sense. ⭐

In Summary, a great album of very experienced musicians. Sounds very American, as well and doesn't achieve the level of Brutal Oi! we can find in some European or Japanese bands, but hey, it is absolutely brilliant.


The Best: The Band
The Worse: The bloody piano

baddies in the hood

Followers: 8,109 (July 2018)

THE TRADITIONALS - TRIED AND TRUE (2015)

Once reviewed The Old Firm Casuals, Spotify suggests I should hear another American band, The Traditionals. And yet, another artist who does not have images or a bio... Spotify, fix this!




1.- Get What You Deserve
A fast punk track showing good intentions and good musical skills but nothing special otherwise. ⭐⭐

2.- Not Another War
Much better second track with a good structure and catchy verse. The singer didn't convince me on the former song but does much better on this. Great finale. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

3.- Run this Place
Back to more fast punk rhythm and showing good skills again - the bass and the drums play well together- but misses a good verse ⭐⭐

4.- United
And gentlemen, this is a working class anthem. I can't help thinking that the singer should be more aggressive. He sounds like trying to be loud without being loud. BUT, this is a 5 star song. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

5.- Liberty
He sings bad on this one and ruins it despite the good guitar efforts with nice riffs. The final part is pretty dull. ⭐

6.- Dog House
A piano? Really? A f*cking piano?? ⭐

7.- Drunken Hooligan
Fast punk rock with good intentions and I guess a nice pogo if you see them live, but not the best verse and ends up being to repetitive ⭐⭐

8.- Cut you Down
Are they good musicians? yes. Do they play well? Yes. But still miss finding a nice round of chords. Love the guitars talking to each other in 1.25 but then the final part is too long ⭐⭐

9.- Daily Struggle
Another punk - pogo track with good back vocals and good riffs. Not my type though. ⭐⭐

10.- Outside Looking In
Another punk - pogo track with good back vocals and good riffs. Not my type though. ⭐⭐

11.- Media Overload
Was going to paste the same for third time, but this one is bad. Pretty bad song. ⭐

12.- Until They Board the Doors
Finally a break with a good intro and calmer pace. Would be a great punk-rock track if the singer could sing, but he struggles with the high tones ⭐⭐⭐

13.- Allentown
A bit of rock and roll to finish the album with the typical laughs at the end ⭐

In summary, great musicians and very well played music but need more time writing the songs to find the best round of chords as a few tracks are very, very similar... and do not bring that piano again!


Followers 884 (July 2018)

GRADE 2 - BREAK THE ROUTINE - 2017

Ok, let's get started with this band that according to Spotify is from the Isle of Wright. Their music is described as a classic punk sound... let's see how they sound!




1 Devil's Dancen Hours
Promising intro that less than 1m. Promising expectations

2 Pubwatch
Good solid punk sound indeed... until you hear the lead voice... sounds a bit forced to me! Takes some seconds to get used to it but this is indeed a nice good track. ⭐⭐⭐

3 Groundhog Day
And this one starts even better. The Chorus and initial riff are very catchy so now that I'm used to the vocals I'm quite enjoying this one... until it comes the change to the second part which is weird and regretfully the song gets lost with a terrible final part. ⭐⭐⭐

4 Hearts of Gold 
Good intro from Sid at the bass guitar which gets quickly diluted in a simply bad song. ⭐

5 Mr Industry
Another song that starts with a bass riff (My bet is that Sid is writing the songs) but this time the riff is quite - very annoying. The chorus is catchy but doesn't save it. ⭐⭐

6 Money in the Game 
More punk orientated song but probably the worst one so far. Never takes off. ⭐

7 Turning the Tide
Again a very annoying riff!! The tempo then goes into a pogo-time and the chorus is truly quite good, but just that riff is really super annoying and keeps coming! Why?! Argh! ⭐⭐

8 Falling Bridges
Aha! That's it! Punk-Rock fresh and different! Even the vocals sound more solid and finally here we have a good catchy reef. The Chorus is great. Sublime track, probably the best one of the album ⭐⭐⭐⭐

9 Medina Snake
Good intro (maybe too long) and powerful beat and back vocals, but the chorus is ... bad and then all gets boring ⭐⭐

10 Procastrinator
As other tracks, the intro is quite interesting, but leads to nowhere and the pro-cas-tri-nator chorus is really, really annoying, lads. ⭐


11 The life and Tales (Of Danny Ghoul)
Not sure who is Danny Ghoul, but I'm sure the lad didn't deserve this! Awful!
⭐

In Summary, a young bad with good intentions and good instrumental skills but that fail to take their ideas to the next level due to confusing changes and lack of catchy parts. 

The Worse: The singer
The Best: The rest

Followers 1,559 (July 2018)

CROWN COURT - CAPITAL OFFENCE (2016)

After hearing GRADE 2, Spotify recommends me have a look at this band of London, so let's see how this 13 track long album sounds


1.- Sammy Skyves
Well, I have no idea who is Sammy but love this song. You can immediately recognise the London flair, the lads in steel cap boots and the skinhead aggro. Main vocal nails it. Truly skinhead rock'n'roll. ⭐⭐⭐⭐  video

2.- Media Blockout
A bit more (too much?) Rock'n'Rollish rhythm. I have mixed feelings about the choir... not sure if it is boring or if I really like the twist of the final chords.. anyhow, the singer nails it again. ⭐⭐⭐

3.- What are you going to do?
Here they move to more deep-punk sounds, but the combination of chords end up sounding like a Spanish pasodoble. Doesn't really work. Sorry lads, gonna skip this one! ⭐

4.- Hated but Rated
The intro is a blues riff with an increscendo tempo leading to another skinhead r'n'r theme. Nothing special about it. ⭐⭐

5.- 22
Yes, but now I've guessed these lads are really into rock'n'roll. The problem is that the songs are very similar one to the other because the combination of chords are indeed very similar. On this one, on top, the chorus is quite simple.  ⭐⭐

6.- Brotherhood of the Banned
Harder punk sound ideal for a bit of pogo, but the verse kills it. Nevertheless, great job from the main vocal. ⭐⭐

7.- Thames Sake
Slow kind of skinhead ballad. Sounds really British but I bet you they don't hit this one on the rehearsal day too often. Too long. Time to go for a beer. ⭐

8.- Breakout
Starts with a never-ending intro but continues nicely with a catchy structure and (finally) an original and different verse. ⭐⭐⭐

9.- Disco Nightmare
A second pogo theme against disco skins... I guess it may work life and after some pints, but on Spotify sounds quite simple. ⭐⭐

10.- Attack
A summary of what I've been hearing so far. Good and catchy skinhead rock'n'roll with a very characteristic guitar sound and a great singer. Good stuff. ⭐⭐⭐

11.- Park Lane Boys
Weird dark rarity. Sinks despite the lads singing the back vocals. ⭐

12.- The Province
Welcome to Ulster. Is not excellent but is catchy and love the second part when the singer gives us a different tone. They should have repeated that part at the end again. ⭐⭐⭐

13.- Shapes of the Day
An to end the album, anooooother never-ending intro.... guys! Too long! The slow tempo doesn't help either on this occasion. ⭐

In summary, very interesting band with the best promo picture ever. The album is in my opinion too long as a few songs are very similar. I would suggest to put some time in the studio and copy here, paste there to achieve better songs. But worth following.

Followers 948 (July 2018)