On their self titled record from 1996, The Candy Snatchers ripped their way through sixteen high octane tracks in a little over half an hour, setting a brilliant punky blueprint that would suit the band going forward. With tunes like ‘Yeah You’ and ‘Haunted Road’ playing like an unholy hybrid of the Misfits and Electric Frankenstein, and ‘Sauced Again’ tapping into some even more razor sharp rock ‘n’ roll, the band immediately set themselves in place as a force to be reckoned with.
While other punk bands were arguably more long lasting – things appeared to fizzle out after the release of two long players, a compilation of early material and a handful of singles – these lads, at least, came with a feeling of consistency to back up their pure energy. After a long dormant spell, the band returned, older but not necessarily any more refined, and on their 2022 single ‘Shame Shivers’ (issued on I-94 Records), they sounded like the same raw, chaotic act they’d always been, with only Larry May’s slightly rougher voice giving away the passing of time.
Another outing for I-94, ‘Good Riddance’ serves up the kind of punk ‘n’ roll the fans will expect. Despite a slightly slicker production value – the opening drums sound surprisingly hard, and the bass comes through in warm waves, sounding a little more professional than the Snatchers’ earliest work – there’s still a pleasingly rough and ready feel to the song itself. The rhythm guitars power through with a tough tone, attacking with a manner that occasionally makes the likes of the New Bomb Turks seem non-committal, and the punk ‘n’ roll groove that’s set in place is raucous enough to stand with the genre’s best sounds. Naturally, it’s the vocal that makes this unmistakable as being delivered by the hand of The Candy Snatchers, no matter how many decades have passed. From his opening line, Larry latches onto a careening, semi-atonal delivery that makes him sound like the strange deformed child of the young Glenn Danzig and Stiv Bators, and his chaotic, yet classic style is sometimes at odds with a band who sound really tight. But therein lies the charm: the band have created something that feels good and familiar here, but could run off the rails at any given moment. Factor in some simple gang vocals sharing an equally simple refrain, along with a guitar solo that sounds like it could cut through glass, and this becomes a vital addition to the band’s catalogue.
On the flipside, ‘Round Up’ is even more forceful. The opening riffs sound like a psychobilly band ploughing through and old Motorhead banger, before a more obvious punk ‘n’ roll melody breaks through. Halfway through the first verse The Candy Snatchers sound fit to burst. Bassist Mark Ho absolutely wrings the neck of his instrument to match the speed dictated by Serge Ponce’s absolutely frantic drums. As you’d probably expect, Hans Molnar ups his guitar game accordingly and delivers a thrashy punk riff that fits the band’s punk ‘n’ roll mode, and everything ends up sounding like one of Zeke’s slower affairs. With such a speed at play, Larry’s vocals are even more intense, often moving so quickly they don’t seem capable of even thinking about making the best of a chorus hook, but those who’ve journeyed with the band thus far will absolutely love what they hear.
Two absolutely incendiary tracks, one release, no fucks given: this is the latter day Candy Snatchers at their furious best – a punk ‘n’ roll attack that never quite hangs around long enough, but still sounds superb. Although none of the great music will have the desired impact for those who’ve never taken to Larry’s rather theatrical tones, this is more than enough proof that this now veteran punk band have so much to give, and for the fans who are up for experiencing something akin to a sonic slap, this release will be the ultimate treat.
September 2025