The Lifetakers: The Lifetakers
Half a decade ago, Vancouver’s sewers spewed up a beautiful abomination called Crystal Pistol. They were sorta like Mötley Crüe mixed with werewolves, and they were amazing. Sometime soon after, in that same town, a band called Chinatown formed. They wore scarves and sounded like the Rolling Stones, and they were also pretty fuckin’ incredible. Naturally, because this is a terrible, wicked world, both bands imploded before they ever got to sink their claws into Planet Rock. Luckily it’s difficult to keep a would-be Canadian rock-god down. Those two forces were combined, and the glorious result is The Lifetakers, a hard-charging, power-glam outfit that combines the serpentine slink of Chinatown with the guns-blazing sleaze of Crystal Pistol. Their debut EP is chock-full of teenage lust and boozy bravado, complete with a pogo-ready ode to 70s snot-rock (Dead Boy), and a soaring arena-rattler (Mommy Don’t Know) that rivals Urge Overkill in its easy swagger. Third time’s a charm, sounds like. (8⁄10)
Vibravoid: Minddrugs
The important thing to know about the latest transmission from this long-running, space-streaking, freak-rock institution is that it ends with a 20-odd-minute Pink Floyd cover. Before that, it throbs and pulsates and gurgles in waves of groovy, black-velvet fuzz. Then it goes completely berserk. Top-notch mind-fry from these debauched acid-warriors. (6⁄10)
Amos Blood: Coffin On The Tracks
I almost always know what’s going on with a rock’n’roll band, but Amos Blood have me happily stumped. They’re from Boston, so I get the bottles-smashing-skulls vibe. But they sound like gypsies – electric ones. Basically, this is the Pogues strangling the Dead Boys over a cask of stolen rum on a quickly sinking pirate ship. Gorgeous lunacy. (8⁄10)
Sugar Louise: Everything’s Better With Sugar
Remember Norwegian sleazeballs Slomber – all razor-blades and bloodbaths? Well, Sugar Louise are the same names, but this new outfit offers up poppy, jittery glam-punk. Fun, weird and packed with (ahem) sugar-powered hits. (6⁄10)
The Slow Poisoner: Roadside Altar
The Slow Poisoner is a one-man band from San Francisco. Well, I suppose he’s a snake-oil salesman first, but once he’s done conning the rubes, he straps drums to his feet and strangles a guitar and woozily warbles Cramps-y, death-billy tunes about all the unspeakable things he’s seen on the road. An alternately terrifying and hypnotic experience. (7⁄10)
