A Culture Of Killing - The Feast Of Vultures, The Cry Of A Dove

Labels: Drunken Sailor Records/Tape Or Die

Formats: Vinyl/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 18 Mar 2019

Tracklist:

1. Bridges

2. A Cry For Help

3. Promised World

4. Victims

5. Order

6. The Toast Of Despair

7. Problem

8. All Will Be Fine

9. Futuro?

It's been a couple of months since I reviewed the self-titled LP from Italian anarcho/post-punks A Culture Of Killing. While sifting through an ever growing review schedule, I noticed that I hadn't written about the band's second album The Feast Of Vultures, The Cry Of A Dove. It was originally released on tape via Tape Or Die in early 2019, before it was given a vinyl release by UK punk label Drunken Sailor Records in 2020, becoming the second record from A Culture Of Killing to be released on wax by them in the same year. 

Anarcho punk has always been slightly on the periphery for me but A Culture Of Killing’s take on the sub-genre is very much one of melody and harmony, especially on album opener ‘Bridges”. The dual male/female vocals aren’t something I recall from the the self-titled album. That album seemed darker. The instrumentation here is still crisp and tuneful, while the percussion is sensitively delivered.

‘A Cry For Help’ begins with a sample about the torture of animals and what follows is very much inspired, musically at least, by The Clash and while it may at times sound bleak, it isn’t. It sends a clear message.

There’s an oddly chilled out vibe on ‘Promised World’, which isn’t completely unexpected. In terms of structure and tempo, it’s a mid-paced song that makes use of riffing and time-signatures that bring to mind dub/ska at times (to these ears anyway).

They’re back to their full-flowing best on ‘Victims’. The influences that A Culture Of Killing wear on their sleeves help them to produce gloriously old-school punk, which is precise, clear and engaging, despite it’s gloomy and sometimes anarchic undertones. I can see this record being enjoyed by a wide variety of music fans, even if they’re not familiar with the current punk underground. 

Instrumentally, everything is so tight. It’s strange to hear an Italian band of this ilk, as I (sometimes wrongly) associate the country with progressive and more operatic music. A Culture Of Killing proves that there’s much more to their homeland’s music scene on ‘Order’ and I fear that they’re now going to lead me down another rabbit hole. If you’re more familiar than I am with the Italian punk community, please send some more listening suggestions my way!

While ‘Order’ guides you into the album’s second half in a strangely positive way, ‘The Toast Of Despair’ isn’t as forgiving. It’s not because it’s particularly heavy or anything, it’s far from reaching that dynamic. There’s just a mournful feel to the song that’s hard to ignore. More like a dower folk song, it certainly changes the mood somewhat. Next up is ‘Problem’, which is the album’s shortest song. The Feast of Vultures, The Cry Of A Dove benefits from being very consistent, so much so that no songs on it sound like filler or like they’re out of place.

The 80’s pop is strong on ‘All Will Be Fine’, which could well be a case of reverse psychology if you overthink it! If you ignore that sentiment and let it guide you, it’s really just a minimalist punk song that’s meant to be appreciated and enjoyed. Album closer ‘Futuro?’ follows in very much the same way, but with the dual vocals providing extra depth for one last time. The control and sensitivity that A Culture Of Killing maintains throughout is the reason that this record is so effortless to listen to. There aren’t many albums you can say that about these days I think. 

You can stream and download the album directly from A Culture Of Killing below:-

You can still buy vinyl copies from Drunken Sailor Records below:-

https://www.drunkensailorrecords.co.uk/products/684493-a-culture-of-killing-the-feast-of-vultures-the-cry-of-a-dove-lp-drunken-sailor-records-drunkensailor-131

Tape copies from Tape Or Die are sold out.

Drunken Sailor Records - https://www.facebook.com/DrunkenSailorRecords

Tape Of Die - https://www.facebook.com/TapeOrDie

A Culture Of Killing - S/T

Labels: Self-Released/Voice From Inside Tapes/Detriti Records/Drunken Sailor Records

Formats: Digital/Tape/Vinyl

Release Date: 27 Dec 2017 (taken from A Culture Of Killing's bandcamp page)

Tracklist:

1. Walls

2. I Wonder Why

3. Take Me Away

4. Dancing

5. War

6. We Can Never Go Back

7. Mirror Breaks (The Mob cover)

8. Was It Worth It?

I was looking through some copies of MRR last night that I've kept in a cupboard (I'm a bit of a hoarder when it comes to music related stuff) and I can feel a proper deep dive into punk music coming on. I haven't been sharing enough lately, so that's gonna change. Also, I saw an e-mail pop up in my inbox from Drunken Sailor Records telling me about the newest release from Italian band A Culture Of Killing, so I thought I'd give their first album a spin before writing about that one.

There's not a great deal of information existing about A Culture Of Killing and aside from bandcamp, there's no social media presence as far as I can tell. They exist somewhere between post-punk, anarcho punk and no wave, and their self-titled album was released at the back end of 2017, before Ukrainian label Voice From Inside Tapes pressed it on tape in 2018. Following that, German label Detriti Records did a tape re-press a year later before UK label Drunken Sailor Records gave it it's first vinyl release in May 2020.

Last day of January and I want to blast through a few things today, so starting early is always good. I guess the post-punk/anarcho punk description in my intro paragraph above might have painted a bleaker picture than what you’re actually presented with on this album. First song ‘Walls’ is actually a lot more melodic and power-pop influenced, with minimal use of the kind of reverb you expect from the darker sides of punk. It’s fantastic so far and is the perfect antidote to the progressive, symphonic nature of Italian metal.

It’s very 80’s in approach and A Culture Of Killing doesn’t merely copy the sound. They make it their own while paying respect to those that helped influence them. ‘I Wonder Why’ has gloomier undertones but is still upbeat enough to stop you from moping. I’m really trying to hold back from mentioning the obvious comparison when hearing those low vocals. When they’re joined by the repeating guitar riffs on ‘Take Me Away’ it becomes almost hypnotic. The mid-paced percussion and bass are equally mesmerizing and in spite of the tempo, you stay hooked right to the end.

On hearing the opening riff on ‘Dancing’, I could’ve sworn I’d reviewed this album before but I haven’t. Anyway, this is the first of a couple of shorter songs and it keeps a steady pace with A Culture Of Killing never threatening to blow up in tempo or volume. I think this is what makes them so approachable, especially if you’re not a fan of more raucous punk. They are fun though and ‘War’ is a protest song wrapped up in a brief slab of goth pop with bright melody joining the party. 

By the time you get to ‘We Can Never Go Back’ (if you’re anything like me) you’ll be in a state of bizarre bliss, just enjoying what you’re hearing. That’s the hold music has over us, it helps us drown out the noise that’s bombarding us from all directions in life. This simple yet inspired punk is the ideal tonic and with that in mind, A Culture Of Killing turn their hands to a cover of The Mob’s ‘Mirror Breaks’ and it’s great. The addition of synths or brass (I think my ears are deceiving me here) is perfect. Actually now I think about it, I wonder if The Mob is where Tim Armstrong (Rancid) got inspiration from for side-band Transplants (random unrelated thought there!). 

With their final throw of the dice A Culture Of Killing asks ‘Was It Worth It?’ and the answer is most definitely yes. The band does it their way and if you didn’t know when this record was released, you wouldn’t say in the 2010’s that’s for sure. Punk blurs the lines between old and new so well and this album is a strong example of that. I’m going to look forward to hearing that new album now! 

You can stream the whole album and grab it as a name-your-price download below:-

Physical copies can be purchased (if still available) via the below links or via Discogs:-

Voice From Inside Tapes (Tape) - http://voice-tapes.blogspot.com/p/distro-shop.html

Detriti Records (Tape repress) - Sold Out

Drunken Sailor Records (Vinyl) - Sold Out

Voice Of Inside Tapes - https://www.facebook.com/voicefrominside666

Detriti Records - https://www.facebook.com/detritirecords

Drunken Sailor Records - https://www.facebook.com/DrunkenSailorRecords

Cement Shoes - A Love Story of Drugs & Rock & Roll & Drugs 7"

Labels: Drunken Sailor Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 29 May 2020

Tracklist: 

1. Smashed On Glass

2. Knocked Into The Reptile Enclosure

3. Going Off The Grid

I just opened a beer and out of nowhere it decided to explode all over me. All I can smell is honeycomb as well (it was a honeycomb pale ale, don't ask!). Anyway, stickiness aside I'm here with a review of another Drunken Sailor Records related 7", this time from Richmond (Virginia, USA) band Cement Shoes. They have been very prolific since their formation, releasing a demo, three EPs and an album in little over three years. This 7" EP is their latest and was released in May.

The improvised Universal Studios intro to 7” opener ‘Smashed In Glass’ is a stroke of genius and it announces Cement Shoes in the best fashion here. This is great hardcore-punk with a cracking upbeat tempo, garage-punk attitude and riffs aplenty. The percussion could sit right in any 80s punk band while the vocals are a mix of harsh and feedback-laced spoken word. 

‘Knocked Into The Reptile Enclosure’ again shows the band’s sense of humour and their ability to inject fun into their music. There’s something here for any fan of hardcore, punk and even power-pop. It’s not just senseless noise and it’s definitely not sloppy, Cement Shoes are a band brimming with musicality and some really clever song-writing to boot.

EP closer ‘Going Of The Grid’ is a bit of a mid-paced rocker, with off-kilter instrumentation and a mood that’s more akin to post-punk and even Americana, in a subtle way. It’s hard to put a handle on bands that they sound like, so I’m not going to try, this is entertaining enough anyway. 

All in all this is a really cool EP from a band with a real sense of imagination and a clear enjoyment for what they do. They may be glorifying drugs (tongue in cheek or not) but punk was never supposed to be vanilla. 

A Love Story Of Drugs & Rock & Roll & Drugs is available to stream and as a free download below:-

You can buy vinyl copies from Drunken Sailor Records here - 

http://www.drunkensailorrecords.co.uk/products/667276-cement-shoes-a-love-story-of-drugs-rock-roll-drugs-7-drunken-sailor-records-drunkensailor

Drunken Sailor Records - https://www.facebook.com/DrunkenSailorRecords/

Heterofobia - Queremos Ver El Mundo Arder

Labels: Drunken Sailor Records/Voice From Inside Tapes

Formats: Vinyl/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 24 May 2019

Tracklist:

1. Huele A Muerte

2. Me Das Asco

3. El Infierno

4. Vida De Mentiras

5. Rincones Polvorientos

6. Falsos Aliados

7. No Podemos Ser

8. Silencio Absoluto

9. Ya Esta Bien (La Uvi Cover)

10. Queremos Ver El Mundo Arder

Raw and angry punk from Mexico makes for a perfect accompaniment to this slightly hungover bank holiday Monday. This is the latest album from Monterrey's newest queer, pink punks Heterofobia and was released on vinyl and digitally by UK label Drunken Sailor Records only last week, while there has also been a tape pressing via Voice From Inside Tapes from the Ukraine. Spanish language punk with more than a nod towards the garage punk and death rock sounds of the 80s, with a La Uvi cover to boot.

There’s an ominous atmosphere that greets you on album opener Huele A Muerte, with it’s authoritative percussion, riffs that sound slightly anti-melodic and the shouted vocals. It’s not blasting like crust punk but it has as caustic edge to it that’s really infectious. It’s also fairly mid-paced but it leads into the more urgent Me Das Asco, which makes use of dual vocals and a larger garage punk influence.

El Infierno has a real danceable goth-like vibe to it, despite the destructive vocals. It’s over too quickly. Talking of being over too quickly, Vida De Mentiras is the shortest song on “Queremos…” and as a result, it’s stark urgency is all too obvious. Heterofobia’s sound is perfect on here. There’s nothing too technical about it but then punk doesn’t need to be. Before you know it, you’re racing to the album’s mid-point with Rincones Polvorientos. It’s tempo seems to get faster and faster as it goes, but I may be imagining that.

Falsos Aliados is death-rock personified. It’s cruel and dystopian march is oddly hypnotic. Heterofobia really let themselves go on No Podemos Ser, which has to be the loudest and most aggressive song on “Queremos…”. The bass tones on Silencio Absoluto are strangely soothing at first, even if the song itself isn’t so. They cover of Ya Esta Bien by Spanish 80s punks La Uvi and they manage to retain the caustic sound of the original while also pumping their own melody into it.

The album finishes with the title-track and the distilled anger set against the backdrop of garage-punk instrumentation is a contrast that definitely works in Heterofobia’s favour. It may not be an easy listen for some but it’s well worth dedicating the time to if you are a fan of punk in its many forms. 

You can stream and purchase "Queremos Ver El Mundo Arder" directly from Heterofobia below:-

Heterofobia - https://www.facebook.com/Heterofobia

Physical copies can be purchased from the labels below:-

Drunken Sailor Records - http://www.drunkensailorrecords.co.uk/

Voice From Inside Tapes - https://voice-tapes.blogspot.com/p/releases

Drunken Sailor Records - https://www.facebook.com/DrunkenSailorRecords/

Voice From Inside Tapes - https://www.facebook.com/voicefrominside666/

Vintage Crop - Company Man 7"

Labels: Drunken Sailor Records/Anti Fade Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 18 Jan 2019

Tracklist:

1. Company Man

2. Guarantees

3. Right To Censor

4. Stock Options

I think this is a 7" that many of us can relate too. Aussie punks Vintage Crop have just released a new EP that focuses on the unconventional subject of working for the man! It's been released by UK label Drunken Sailor Records and Anti Fade Records, who share their hometown with Vintage Crop. It's also canny timing because the quartet will be touring Europe and more pressingly, the UK in April. They'll be playing shows in Bristol, Manchester, Glasgow, Brighton and London (in that order). The flyer is underneath this review.

Vintage Crop’s sound is so much fun. The short and sharp title-track is filled with spoken/shouted vocals and riffs that sit at the rock n roll end of the punk spectrum. It reminds me a little of the music that graced the Grange Hill or Only Fools And Horses theme songs (strenuous links there to classic UK TV shows of the past). Guarantees is no different, as it talks about the frustrations of being low down in the office pecking order. It’s actually really clever and musically Vintage Crop nails it in a simple but very effective way.

There’s a hint of bands like The Stroked and The Vines woven into Right To Censor, mainly in the guitar work and the drumming. It also feature the lyrics that appear on the EPs cover. Closing song Stock Options is more laid back and takes cues from surf punk/rock, which is cool. The song is super positive and will definitely leave you in a good mood. Overall, this is a super happy and (slightly tongue-in-cheek) EP. Go get it and check out Vintage Corp when they’re in the UK in April if you happen to be in any of the cities they’re playing in.

Stream and grab "Company Man" digitally/physically from the band here:-

Vintage Crop - https://www.facebook.com/vintagecropband/

Physical copies can also be purchased from the labels below:-

Drunken Sailor Records - http://www.drunkensailorrecords.co.uk/categories/drunken-sailor-records

Anti Fade Records - https://antifaderecords.bandcamp.com/merch

Drunken Sailor Records - https://www.facebook.com/DrunkenSailorRecords/

Anti Fade Records - https://www.facebook.com/antifaderecords/

The flyer for the up-coming Europe/UK tour is below:-

Vanilla Poppers - I Like Your Band 7"

Labels: Drunken Sailor Records/Feel It Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 28 Sep 2018

Tracklist:

1. Get Away From Me

2. Stranger

3. I'm An Adult Baby

4. I Like Your Band

I'm starting to get my mojo back (in writing terms anyway) and feeling more inspired by the music that is sent to me, so the aim is to crank out more reviews over the next week or so. With it being a Monday, I figured you all could do with a pick me up (god knows I need one). That's where Cleveland, Ohio's Vanilla Poppers come in. The band recently released a four-track 7" via UK punk label Drunken Sailor Records and US counterparts Feel It Records. I'm afraid I don't know too much else about the band, though vocalist Christina Pap is originally from Australia and they recently toured Europe and the UK.

This is riot-grrrl punk mixed with hardcore-punk anger and pop-hooks. Get Away From Me is a quickfire opening song and it more than sets the tone for both this EP and for Vanilla Poppers themselves. The vocals are shouted but audible, which is where the band’s hardcore influence comes in. Stranger is raucous yet you could also party to it quite easily.

I’m An Adult Baby could well be the sound of somebody having a full-on meltdown, just like a kid might in the aisle of a supermarket. Its great fun! The title-track at the end of the EP captures Vanilla Poppers are their wildest and it’s a belligerent performance that will burst eardrums no problem. This is just great, loud punk with instrumentation and vocals that keep things simple. Just turn it on, turn it up and don’t give in!

You can stream "I Like Your Band" and purchase it digitally below:-

Physical copies of the EP can be picked up from the links below:-

Drunken Sailor Records - http://www.drunkensailorrecords.co.uk/categories/drunken-sailor-records

Feel It Records - http://www.feelitrecordshop.com/FEEL-IT-RELEASES