Reckless Relations!

Continuing my series of posts on the great Zodiac Killer Records, I've got a real gem here dating back to 2009 (can you believe that's already five years ago?!). The Adjusters were a young band out of Wigan, U.K. that were totally up my alley. Sadly, I missed the boat on these guys while they were still around (they split two years ago). But the good news is that it's never too late to discover awesome music. The Adjusters' debut album Reckless Relations is one of the best things that Zodiac Killer has ever released, and that's really saying something! These kids were all 20-21 years old and totally got it - demonstrating that trashy rock n' roll and Johnny Thunders worship will never go out of style. And it wasn't just that they played the right kind of music. It was that they freaking rocked! Opening track "Drinkin' Red Wine" is as great of a Heartbreakers/Joneses rip as you'll ever hear, and the band injects plenty of its own attitude into the mix (sample lyric: "You're a high class hooker/Just like your mother"). And there's no let-up from there. Led by charismatic vocalist Ash Corner, The Adjusters kinda came off like a younger, snottier Humpers. Reckless Relations is a non-stop romp of sleazy punk rock n' roll with lyrics addressing all the finer things in life: chasing women, getting trashed, and chasing more women. Echoes of the Dead Boys, Stones, and New York Dolls abound, but The Adjusters definitely put their own spin on a classic sound. Whether you're talking about sonic fireballs like "Can't See" or the good old glammy rock n' roll of "Kickin' Down The Doors", Reckless Relations is chock full of killer tunes that will hit the spot whether you're looking to raise hell or just feel like dancing. It's still available from Zodiac Killer on CD, and you can buy it off iTunes or Amazon as well. Definitely one of the better '77 punk rock n' roll albums of the last 5-10 years - go get it! 

Free music player widget at ReverbNation.com

-L.R.

http://www.zodiackillerrecords.com/
http://www.reverbnation.com/theadjusterspunknroll

Speedozer!

Belgium's Speedozer totally live up to their name on their scorching debut album. You see that name, and you imagine a machine of sonic destruction wreaking havoc at breakneck speed. And that's exactly what you'll hear! Out on the always dependable Zodiac Killer Records, this self-titled long player will indeed destroy anything in its path. Speedozer play loud, high octane rock n' roll - and they do it with power, speed, and a ferocity that never lets up even for an instant. These dudes are pissed-off and primed to kill - and their weapons are pummeling riffs, red-hot guitar leads, bonecrushing bass lines, and relentlessly thumping drums. "Supercharged" tears out of the gates with pure speed and aggression - and at the point Speedozer is just getting started!

Like a punk rock Motorhead, these guys stay on the attack from wire to wire. They play every note of every song as if they're trying to obliterate everything and everyone they despise. How can they possibly play this fast and this tight? Are they even human? As advertised, they are a veritable rock n' roll war machine. And while a recording can never fully duplicate the experience of seeing a band tear it up live, this album is the next best thing. It's very true to the band's mission to keep rock n' roll where it belongs: in the underground clubs and dive bars where cheap beer flows and the women are as fast as the music. There's nothing better after a frustrating day of dealing with the shitty human race than blasting "Fuck Off n Die" at the highest possible volume. It's truly an instant classic - and proof that Speedozer have the songwriting chops to match their insatiable sonic fury. Mixing light speed thrillers such as "Don't Cheat On Me" and "Drugtrain" in with high voltage rock n' roll smokers like "Go Loose" and "Gonna Fuck Tonight", this album keeps the pedal to the metal but never grows repetitive. If you looked at the cover art and surmised that this band has to be fucking great, then you are 100 percent correct! You can buy the album on Amazon and iTunes under the title Supercharger, or order it on CD from Zodiac Killer. If you don't love it, you are not to be trusted!



-L.R.

http://www.zodiackillerrecords.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/SPEEDOZER/201161766574448
https://soundcloud.com/speedozer

Disguster!

Given that I attempted a retirement from writing between late 2007 and mid 2011, I missed a lot of great music while I was out of the game. So one of the things I'd like to do with this blog from time to time is to get caught up on some of the essential stuff I missed. Over the next couple of months, I'll be writing quite a bit about Zodiac Killer Records. Looking at the list of releases that have come out on ZKR in recent years, I definitely put this label among the very best in the punk world. ZKR has worked with everyone from legends like Electric Frankenstein and The Supersuckers to international sensations like Dead Vikings and Sonic Negroes to modern-day greats like The Hitchhikers and Stiletto Boys. I fully support Ron's mission to keep punk music dirty and dangerous. And one of the most representative releases of what his label is all about has to be Disguster's superb 2009 album Not So Sweet.

Disguster is notoriously one of the most acclaimed live bands in southern California. If you enjoy the gloriously unwholesome stylings of the Dead Boys and Dwarves or the classic SoCal sounds of The Humpers and Black Flag, this is definitely a band for you. I also hear strong hints of Bon Scott era AC/DC, which can never be a bad thing. Factor in two killer guitarists, a couple of Hitchhikers, and a creepy degenerate peeping Tom front man named KC, and you've got yourself some first rate sleazy punk rock n' roll! What I like about Not So Sweet is that it takes the wildfire energy the band is known for on stage and finds a way to capture it in the studio. Close your eyes while you're listening to "End of the End", and you're immediately transported to some club or dive bar that's about to have its roof blown off. And while I love the full-on ferocity of this track and the face-smashing cover of Led Zeppelin's "Communication Breakdown", this is far from a one-dimensional record. Not So Sweet finds Disguster working with a number of different tempos and really showing off their songwriting chops. "Feelin With A Dealin" is up there with the best of The Humpers' stuff, while "Secret Shame" is truly a punk classic of its time. And even if you've never ingested an illicit chemical in your life, you'll be hard pressed not to jump out of your seat and shout along loudly to the chorus of "Drugs". It's that catchy.

As the name suggests, Disguster is not a band for the easily offended. If you're ultra-PC or prefer your punk rock to be "nice", you might wanna steer clear. Not So Sweet is appropriately named, and it's darn near a masterpiece of its genre. This is punk music the way it was meant to sound - raw and nasty, with real guts and a sick sense of humor. I'm embarrassed to have been unaware of this great album for so long, but I've been making up for lost time in recent days...with the volume cranked way up! Check out http://www.zodiackillerrecords.com/ for ordering information!



-L.R.

http://www.zodiackillerrecords.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/pages/DISGUSTER/97402473773 
http://www.reverbnation.com/disguster 

Liberator!

Wow! The long awaited third LP from the Stiletto Boys is finally here, and to say that it doesn't disappoint would be a severe understatement. We're talking about one of my favorite bands of all-time. And even by the boys' lofty standards, Liberator is a stunning achievement. If this is truly the band's parting opus, what a way to go out!

The story behind Liberator is pretty incredible. The first version of the album was recorded back in 2008, but Stiletto Boys singer Sean Wolfe wasn't 100 percent happy with the final product. In a bold move, he decided to scrap the whole recording and start over from the beginning. He had an idea in his head of how he expected Liberator to sound, and he wasn't going to be satisfied until it was perfect. Lesser artists would have just said, "Ah, good enough" and released the album as it was. But "good enough" is not in the Stiletto Boys' vocabulary. Come hell or high water, they were going to get it right. A lot of people probably figured that Liberator would never see the light of day. But Sean never gave up. He and guitarist Eric Benner recorded, produced, and mixed the album over a period of five years with band members tracking recordings in three different states. And now here it is - a pop masterpiece that was every bit worth the wait! It is, in my opinion, the best Stiletto Boys album.

Arriving nearly 13 years after the release of 2000's Buzzbomb Sounds, Liberator is the band's most sophisticated and mature release to date. Yet it does not lose sight of what made the Stiletto Boys such a great band to begin with. The group's music remains rooted in the powerpop and classic melodic punk of the late '70s. But over a long career, the boys have cultivated a sound that is uniquely and fully their own. From the first strains of phenomenal opener "Cannon Fodder", you know this is a Stiletto Boys album. And for that, you are grateful! You know how sometimes you'll have a friend that you haven't seen in years, but as soon as you meet up with them again, it's like you never spent a day apart? That's what it's like listening to this album. When that first chorus hits, it's magic. Every time the Stiletto Boys make a new record, you can hear how their sound has progressed from the last one. They are never content to repeat themselves. But with each step forward, they manage to retain their knack for gorgeous melodies and flawlessly constructed hooks. And while I will always love the energy and immediacy of the band's earlier recordings, Liberator is equally satisfying in a very different way. Instead of whacking you in the head upon first contact, these songs grow on you. I've been hearing them in my sleep (not that I'm complaining)! In this age of instant gratification and bands rushing to get their music out there, it's great to hear a group that has clearly worked hard at honing its craft and realizing an artistic vision.

Liberator is truly the punk/powerpop album the world needs right now. While there are some love songs on the record (the gut-wrenching "Happy Endings" is one of the boys' best songs ever!), the scope and variety of the lyrics are beyond what anyone would have expected. If Liberator is "about" anything, it's about making one's way in a scary modern world and getting wise to the powers that are conspiring against us. Lyrics run the gamut from deeply personal ("Basement") to contemporary dystopian ("Follow The Leader"). And through a combination of insightful lyrics and highly pertinent sound bites, this album really implores people to stop being willing participants in their own oppression. While sometimes music serves as mere escape from the harsh realities of life, in certain cases it can actually inspire people to get out there and do something. The bad guys don't necessarily have to win. There's definitely meaning in the title of this album.

Hats off to Sean, Casey, Benner, and Garvin for making a truly special record. And kudos to Ron from Zodiac Killer Records for believing in the band and this project. Anyone who questioned the time it took to make Liberator will be eating their words once they hear the album. Every time Sean insisted on re-doing a song, it was only because he knew they could still do better. And now the proof is in the pudding. The production is impeccable (listen to those harmonies!), the songs are brilliant, and Benner's guitar work is positively sick. I never cease to be amazed at how talented these guys are. Liberator gives you everything from bouncy powerpop gems like "Self Destruction" to masterful minor key ballads like "Ttwsyf". Yet no song seems out of place. This is not just 15 songs randomly thrown onto a CD. It's a true album - which may be a dying concept in the digital age. Go to http://www.zodiackillerrecords.com/ for ordering information - or download it immediately from iTunes!

-L.R.

http://www.zodiackillerrecords.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/ZODIAC-KILLER-RECORDS/243039189478