Posted on June 8, 2010 - by Editor

7″ and EP Reviews: The Undead/ Moral Dilemma/ Detached/ Mimi Soya

I Want You Dead 7”/EP
The Undead
Post Mortem Records

The Undead, the project of legendary Bobby Steele after he was expelled as guitarists for The Misfits in 1981 certainly has its fair share of folklore and this live EP, recorded almost 30 years ago (February 23rd and March 5th 1981) finally sees the light of day. The cover alone has been talked up a lot by Bobby himself, and it’s an ingenious design, playing on the title “I Want You Dead” and a mirror-like cover resulting in the holder of 7” seeing their own image. The music itself is raw and very much old school punk rock with unsubtle hints of horror and rockabilly. It’s an odd thing listening to music recorded so many years ago and trying to place it in a musical timescale. The buzzing guitars and gritty sound run through all five tracks from the get go with ‘My Kinda Town’ a tribute to New York City in its seedier 70’s heyday. ‘A Life Of Our Own’ has Bobby come across clearer vocally but the pace is just as relentless and full of angst. ‘Pretty Baby’ is more classically bittersweet horrorpunk in its sound while ‘When The Evening Comes’ is a little more of a downer mood-wise while the title track is another short ‘n sweet but powerful sing-along, the blistering tracks flying by in at around two minutes  apiece; punk rock to the core. It may have taken a generation to bear fruition but this EP is a timeless and classic snapshot of Bobby Steele and punk rock in its incendiary and provocative prime.

Under Surveillance 7”/EP
Moral Dilemma
Pumpkin Records

The “Under Surveillance” 7 inch single is a limited edition release from London’s fast growing hardcore punk band, printed on clear vinyl, hand numbered and limited to 500 copies. The four songs are a good reflection of band that has toiled and earned its plaudits the hard way, recently rewarded with being added to the Reading/Leeds festival line-up later in the year. The dual vocals of Craig and Chloe, vary from gritty straining and masculine, the latter drawing some comparisons to The Distillers. Side A starting with the title track which is a driving, momentum building introduction taken from the bands recent album “Agree To Disagree” as is the second song ‘Nowhere Else To Go’ which a frontal raw assault whilst side B’s ‘Your Decadence Will Be our Descent’  is a great song varying slightly in sound and guitars but the surprise is the final track ‘Cayenne’. Delivered in French by Chloe, starting off as a slower number and vocally a big shift, before midpoint the raw and hardcore side to the band comes the fore, kicking in with intensity and despite my lack of French the lyrics and song deliver a powerful intent. Moral Dilemma have built up solid foundations and although they arguably don’t have cross appeal within punk rock, they are symbolic of a band coming good and sticking to their principles, this is a great addition for fans of the band and gritty hardcore punk rock.

None the Wiser EP
Detached

The six piece ska-punk band from South Wales are doing things very much DIY and this is their second EP which consist of six songs.  Their sound is instantly generic of the much diluted skapunk scene and carries a Less Than Jake like influence or even similar to Grown At Home in the UK. With whining backup vocals supporting the main leads on occasion and horns in accompaniment there is a danger of the band’s sound being copycat and formulaic, although the EP does remain upbeat and high tempo which creates a good sense of energy, the bigger concern is whether they are really doing anything new? Perhaps it’s of greater appeal to fans of the afore mentioned bands and the skapunk genre on the whole in which case they certainly tick right boxes; fun, upbeat and made for dancing along to. ‘Teeth Rattling Boneshaker’ is a skanking sing-along track whereas ‘Horizons’ with its brass/guitar intro is also a very decent song and ‘Rid Of It’ has some nice variations and tempo changes.

I Can’t Stand Pop Bands EP
Mimi Soya
LAB Records

This Brighton based quartet are unashamedly power pop punk and rely on massive melodic sing-alongs, but it’s a bright and positive female fronted sound. Along the lines of bands like Letters To Cleo this four track EP has some great vocals from Jorja with riffing guitars driving the tracks whch are based on massive hooks and catchy power pop. Obviously not for fans of street punk, hardcore and Oi but it will have massive appeal to a younger audience and anyone in need of a massive feel good factor. Regardless of criticism from punk purists, the band’s tongue in cheek EP title-track ‘I Can’t Stand pop Bands’ and lyrics “Regardless of what you say, we are going to do it anyway, say goodbye to the cynics, we are in it to win it” has to be viewed with some respectability; the band know what they are about and show their true colours from the onset so fair play to them.