MadDogCole

MadDogCole (Ultra Violence)
Note: unfortunately after this release, all members except Mark Cole had left.
Lineup:
Mark MadDog Cole - Vocals
Jim Jeffries - Guitar
Choppy Lambourne - Double Bass
Lee Barnett - Drums

Front man Mark Cole is known well through out the psychobilly community with his unique voice and past career with Psycho outfit The Krewmen during the 80's. It only made sense for the man with the voice, to come back after all those years and release a good album.

This album has a few songs that are memorable to say the least, but overall the album does lack some excitement.
The Lonesome Kings track Hell is what I'm used to is killer, as Mark brings down the line with his mighty vocals, as he describes his evil side. MadDog's back is the iconic song of the album, that describes what the damn title says...the howlin MadDog's back and no one is safe!

The ninth song is not your typical psychobilly song, Just Cos You Don't deals with the isolation and attitude of the psycho culture and what it deals with everyday. Very Strong and powerful lyrics like "Just cause i don't look like you doesn't make me a fucking freak!" lyrics like that don't just lie to your face, but ultimately shows the listener how strong the psycho attitude is.

Torched is one of my two favorite of the tracks on the album, it very much reminds me of the old Krewmen we all loved. Very fast bass playing, and guitar work keeps this song from sinking.

The title track Ultra Violence is the other favorite song, as it is not only fast, but, very good and catchy.

On the other hand, with such great songs their are songs that could of been avoided..
Two songs that do not fit on the album are in fact covers.
Walk the line is probably one of the most over played and covered rockabilly tracks, ever recorded. Not that Mark Cole doesn't do it bad or anything, but i only wish it could of been another Cash song to say the least.
Another cover is done to the psychedelic Garage band The Outcasts track I'm In Pittsburgh and It's Raining. It's good to see that boys of MadDogCole haven't forgotten their roots in garage music, and how it has history in psychobilly, but it isn't working for the album.

At the end of the day, the album leaves me with a feeling of wanting more. I wished some tracks could of been replaced with something more unique. Good to listen and appreciate a band that writes songs on things that have nothing to deal with the ideal subject such as zombies, and graveyard. Also the instruments are amazing on the album don't get me wrong, but i do get a feeling i could play this album though without thinking each song is a different track.
7/10

Future Reviews and bullshit

i am planning on reviewing albums by artist's such as Long Tall Texans, Quakes, Frantic Flintstones, my pal MaddogCole, and a shitload more.
so stay tuned...

on other hand, have you heard of the website Psychobilly-online.de?
it's a great website with alot of attitude! Excitingly, it features members from many great bands that have gained world wide success in the psychobilly genre. Hope to see you there.

Music Music Music!

if anything i will be posting album reviews on this blog, a majority being anything from psychobilly to alternative rock music.
here we go eh:
The Meteors(Hymns for the Hellbound)
Note: The Meteors shifted from comic artist Paskal to graphic illustrator D. Vicente to do the album art work
Lineup:
P. Paul Fenech - Vocals/Guitar
Wolfgang Hordemann-Drums
Simon Linden-Double Bass

Paul Fenech had released this monster of an album back in 07, three years after previous work These Evil Things. The album is filled with the usual amount of evil, Satanic Rockabilly that Fenech is known for. The records starts out with a killer track titled Powder Pain Misery, opening with a sinister movie line by the Devil himself. Song deals with Fenech's obsession with the dark arts, and mysticism behind the creation of Psychobilly.

Fourth song is a cover of the Jody Reynolds Iconic tune Endless Sleep. The Only problem is the fact the cover seems out of place on the track list, as the 3 above tracks are hateful high sped greats including My Slaughtering Ways and Phantom Rider.

We Wanna Wreck here is the album classic, and another example of why The Meteors are the kings. A national Anthem for the "I don't give a fuck" attitude Psychobilly music has. The song sounds very Rockabilly, with the lyrics dealing with the introduction of the band members: "a drummer who hits so hard he can knock down fucking walls and hellbound slapping bass player that will shake you to your balls" with the band wanting to play a venue bringing in mutants and many other chaotic elements.

Overall a great album with many memorable tracks including: Lie Down, The Queen of the Wild Wild Wind, We Wanna Wreck Here, and a shitload more.
The Band never seems to loose their edge. Combining Rockabilly with Satanism, a bit of punk and distortion does the band well. 9/10