In April 2018, Ramsgate Music Hall played host to Japanese indie/punk legends Shonen Knife. It was one of the greatest nights the venue had seen to date. Making what had already promised to be a fun night even better, the night’s support received a rapturous response. That band, KOLARS – a garage rock/retro duo from the US – impressed almost everyone with their display of sweat, sparkle and a tap dancing drummer. Within two weeks, the band had been confirmed to return for their own headline show and on July 16th, they took the stage at Music Hall once more.
MELTED – Thin Skin
Every so often, an album comes along that’s so much about sheer guts over thought, you can’t help be swept away by its general ballsiness. Probably the aural equivalent of tearing along a motorway and giving the world “the finger”, this release from Long Beach indie punks Melted is one such disc. Its twelve songs are largely about speed and always about distortion; even when crossing into other styles, their love for early hardcore cuts through an absolutely frantic set of tunes in a truly buzzsaw manner.
HOOF GLOVE – Hoof Glove EP
What would happen if members of various Leeds-based hardcore and noise-rock bands came together in one unrelenting outfit? Something not far short of a musical armageddon would likely be the result. Featuring members of arty noise rock band Cattle and powerviolence/hardcore outfit Ona Snop and sludgers Groak, Hoof Glove are on hand with some aggressive sounds that listeners will either love or hate; sounds which – like Cattle – could possibly clear a room if an audience is less than receptive.
GRAHAM BONNET BAND – Meanwhile…Back In The Garage
Active since the 60s, Graham Bonnet has always maintained a solid presence on the rock scene, whether solo or part of a band. By the beginning of 2018, he had contributed lead vocals to a staggering twenty three studio albums. As with any artist with such a long career, the results are variable, ranging from the essential (his own ‘Line Up‘, Rainbow’s ‘Down To Earth‘ and the Graham Bonnet Band’s ‘The Book‘) to the workmanlike (most of the 90s releases) to the flat out awful (Blackthorne, Impelliteri’s ‘System X’). Whatever the result, it’s almost impossible not to be impressed by Bonnet’s work ethic and tenacity.
Stream a new track from UK goth band Her Despair
In June 2018, UK goth band Her Despair unveiled the first taste of their debut EP ‘Mournography’. ‘Blaspheme With Me’ mixed the classic 80s style of Sisters of Mercy with something a little more rooted within melodic metal, boding well for the full release.