I GOT A VIOLET - Backwash {New Model Label} First off, outside of some pasty-faced Goth club, that is one fucking terrible name for a band. ...VIOLET is a trio outta Italy and this, their debut album, was recorded in their own studio on ‘strictly analogue’ gear. It’s a bit odd too as it starts in near Dead Beat Recs fashion with ‘Swing Swang’ and ‘Priest Pube’. Both songs evoke FUNCTIONAL BLACKOUTS sonic Garage mayhem. From there, it meanders off into XTC meets a mellow JAY REATARD with a hint of JOY DIVISION. In fact, disc highlight, ‘Wasted Life’, could easily be a ‘Closer’ outtake. By the time the hallucinogenic hippiedom of ‘Candy Floss’ hits (which is surely one of the most redundant slices of sound heard in many years), I’d lost interest. Closer ‘Junky’s Elevator’ sees a return to destination Rock ‘n’ Roll, but it’s too little, too late. Amp those guitars, sneer your lips and annihilate those nice-boy experimental sentimentalities and next time, I’ll pay a bit more interest beyond the first five songs. (22.02.10)

INFECTED - Awake In Our Own Graves {Add} First slab of new tunes from the latest line-up of Kentucky’s finest, INFECTED. There’s four tracks on this marble-coloured 7" and each continues and expands on that classic, raucous INFECTED sound that mixes melody with dirty, belligerent Punk Rock. Opener ‘TMMDC’ is the most accessible song here, continuing recognised Pop-Punk moves but played with an edge. Nasty’s vocals remain raw, arrogant and caustic without resorting to blind shouting or grizzled, strangulated grunting. ‘Without Regret’ re-ignites the spirit of 80s USHC while both ‘The Patron’ and the title track bring in some JAWBREAKER/ RHYTHM COLLISION dynamics. Whether the departure of guitarist Marc Borders has affected the band is debatable. The guitars here sound less refined and lack the fluidity of Mark’s, but not to the extent where the sound of INFECTED has been diminished. Besides, when you have a vocalist with the individuality of Nate Waters, little could detract from such a formidable sound. When’s the new album due? (17.02.10)

IRON LUNG - Sexless//No Sex {Prank} Ever wondered what it’s like to have your bowels explode? Well, wonder no more cuz the hernia-inducing HC of IRON LUNG will do just that. This is the Seattle band’s second album and mixes a RUDIMENTARY PENI and DYSTOPIA influence with the grinding terrorism of MAN IS THE BASTARD and FLIPPER with an added SIEGE, NOMEANSNO and MISERY inspired thrash attack. This is incredibly tight with epileptic bursts of lightning fast thrash, jarring time changes and grinding, rupturing dirge. Both band members (yep, this is a duo) share vocals that scream and bellow with disgust at materialism and a generally corrupt, insane world. Big hitters for me were the faster tracks like ‘Politics Of Science’, ‘Skills’ and ‘First Night In’. The PENI vibe is continued in the artwork - an incredibly complex drawing by Nick Blinko. 20 songs, 21 minutes of aurally abusive, sense-shattering thrash. Not for birthday parties, but essential for those moments when you wanna see 75% of society tied to the inside rim of an active volcano. (12.07.09)