Top fives: 2005 so far

The new "My brain is rotten" EP from Umeå's Rabid Grannies will be released on May 20 via the always-excellent Wasted Sounds. The band is influenced by 80s punk such as Negative Approach, Gang Green and Black Flag and also shows their roots with a touch of DS13 and Randy thrown into the mix. Check out some samples:

01. Thrashlife
02. I'm Degenerating

Swedish punks Randy will begin recording their new album at Decibel Studios in Stockholm on May 30.

Interview: Peter Ahlqvist (Burning Heart Records)

Swedish punks Randy have posted a demo version of a brand new song called "Evil". Check it: http://www.randytheband.com/?NODE=113

The video for Johndoe's latest single "Ord mot ord" is now available for streaming: http://www.johndoe.no/video/
The track comes from the Norwegian punk band's most recent album "Pyromantikk", a recommended favorite of Fredrik from Randy who says it's "the best record i´ve heard since .... well I dont know." Definitely worth checking out.

Randy reports that they've recorded demos for nine new songs this past weekend and will probably enter the studio in May to record their next album, tentatively set for an August release.

Randy's website is back up and running again: http://www.randytheband.com/
If you haven't already done so, be sure to check out the two exclusive tracks I have posted on the right. It's great stuff, just like everything else those guys do.

Top 10s for 2004: Fredrik Brändström (Starmarket/The Crystal Committee)

Live report: Turbonegro @ House of Blues 12/19/04

Not only do we have a new top 10 today from Fredrik Granberg of Randy, but the band has also given us an early Christmas present: two exclusive unreleased tracks for download! So awesome. These songs will probably end up on a 7" at some point, but for now they're yours for free. Enjoy!
HUGE thanks to the band for making this happen.

Top 10s for 2004: Fredrik Granberg (Randy)

Cadillac
Magnetic city
Kong Tiki Records

At times this albums sounds like Television, at other times Queens of the Stone Age springs to mind (hell, on the title track Cadillac's singer even sings "I sing to the deaf"), but most of the times I want to turn the stereo off. Facts such as Cadillac simultaneously screams and sings "normally" now and then (e.g. "Locomotive"), and that "Top of my guaranties" could have been an outtake from Randy's "Cheater" EP (or something by a very young The Hives), all speak in Cadillac's favor, but unfortunately these moments are way too rare for me wanting to recommend "Magnetic City" to anyone. But please do have a listen to "Top of my guaranties" because it's a rather nice little rock'n'roll number.
- Simon Tagestam

Black Belt
First blood
Novoton

Not to be mistaken with the Sega Master System game of the same name, Black Belt play a brand of rock that is reminiscent of bands from the '70s (AC/DC, Cheap Trick, etc...) and which a lot of bands today are trying to do (I'm looking in your direction, Jet.) In this case, Black Belt manage to do a decent job of it.

The Swedish trio's debut, produced by Johan Gustafsson (the bassist from Randy, who also had a hand in the recording the latest albums from The Hives and the Sahara Hotnights), was something I really enjoyed. A lot of the songs, such as "Shoplift girl" and "Belly up", showed a lot of potential from this band. It's pretty good stuff to play in your Mopar-fueled Mustang while speeding down the street to. The balance between the guitar and bass complimented one another without overpowering each other. I found myself sinking into the guitar solos and trying to pinpoint what they reminded me of.

The only downside is that the lead singer's voice gets too warbly on the first track "Plastic angels" and the first minute or so of the last track "Hands Up!" He has a great voice that reminds me of the lead singer of The Cult but on those two tracks, he strains it too much and it loses its richness. The warbling spoils what is a good album overall. If you could just move past the first track, then you'll enjoy "First blood".
- Navy Keophan

Finally, Burning Heart issues a press release concerning their upcoming "Heart Attack" 10 year anniversary compilation: http://www.burningheart.com/news/article.php?id=140
This thing's been in the works for a loooooong time, so I'm very excited to see that it's finally coming out on October 25. So many amazing collaborations! Full tracklist:

01. T(I)NC - Black Mask
02. C. Aarmé - Tu Puta Mi Casa
03. Promoe - These Walls Don't Lie
04. Nine - Inferno
05. Moneybrother - Reconsider Me
06. Turbonegro - Drenched In Blood (DIB)
07. Nasum - Darkness Falls
08. The Weakerthans - The Reasons
09. Raised Fist - Message Beneath Contempt
10. Nikola Sarcevic - Lovetrap
11. Division Of Laura Lee - Endless Factories
12. Refused - Refused Are Fucking Dead
13. Puffball - Take You Down
14. Looptroop - Don't Hate The Player
15. VOAG - Cause For Alarm
16. Give Up The Ghost - Love American
17. X-Ray Eyes - Randy
18. The Peepshows - Count Me Out
19. Bombshell Rocks - Warpath
20. The Lost Patrol - Alright
21. Between Us - Dialog
22. The Hives - Untutored Youth
23. Millencolin - Happiness For Dogs
24. The Business - No One Likes
25. Division Of Laura Lee - I Don't Wanna Hear It
26. Turbonegro - Repo Man
27. Nasum - The Real
28. Randy - Beware
29. Nobodys Heroes - Wrongones
30. Moneybrother/Looptroop - Looking For More Love
31. C. Aarmé - You're A Dead Box
32. Raised Fist - Time Will Let You Go, All Alone And Break
33. The Lost Patrol Band - My Heart Is Still A Mess
34. Nine - United Forces
35. Club Killers - Some Of Them A Bawl
36. Millencolin - AB Böna Och Be
37. Sounds Like Violence - You Give Me Heartattacks
38. T(I)NC inhale Blacksmoke - Armed Love