Pepperman - PC demo
Got hold of this for only a quid from the man with an Org (Sean) whose not afraid to use it. Hmmm. Anyway, a new offering from yet another Southend based band. I guess Southend = UK Hardcore, but, as ever these days, there’s a little more to it than that. 
There’s a couple of times where Rollins springs to mind, but that’s not really a benchmark for this.
3 Tracks on offer, with first track, P.C setting the tone, where, if you listen a few times, there’s a good song in there. It’s not all shouty, but solid and well constructed. Maybe that means it’s unspectacular, but really, so are most things. Shell Shocked is next up, with it’s refrain of “when I’m loaded, there’s no empty chamber”. Final track, Hangnail is maybe the best track on here and sets the seal on a fine demo. 
They’ve already been on the Org CDs, and if this is any example to go by, they deserve to be on a damn sight more in the future. Really, this is such a good demo I should write more about it, but I can’t think of the words at the moment. Bit of a blockage I guess. So, do me a favour and help me out by picking up a copy of this, and get the Liberty 37 EPs while you’re at it. See what the UK can produce.
Org, Unit 205, The Old Gramaphone Works, 326 Kensal Rd, London W10 5BZ

Katfight - Violet Feline Movements demo

Hmmm, got to be honest, I’m not really convinced or into this. I don’t know that I should comment, but well, there may well be others that like this.
When I was given the tape, I think I was told it was something sleazy, but with industrial like overtones. 
Never was one for sleaze much, cos to me it equalled glam, and that just wasn’t my bag. And that’s what I get coming through here. And a few too many guitar solos. 
I guess it is fairly modern, but there’s a sense that they maybe wish the mid 80s were still around. Which is fair enough, cos despite the bollocks spoken by many bands these days about those “bad old days”, there was some good stuff around. Fuck it if it’s not trendy these days. Where were all those punks and hardcore kids in the 80s? If everyone that claims to have been hardcore then actually was, then those gigs would’ve been packing arenas, and metal bands would’ve been confined to playing to an audience in a dustbin. It wasn’t like that. 
But still, this demo, though making up in a 90s guise, hints that they are still fond of the 80s, so for the honesty you have to respect that.
It’s also got 6 tracks for your money, of which I don’t know how much you need to send. Couple of quid normally seems to do the trick.
And Elegance does have a guitar part that is annoying in the “damn, it sticks in the mind” sort of way. Which is usually a good thing as far as I’m concerned.
It’s well played, but it’s just not stirring anything anywhere for me at the moment.
Contact
Katfight 43 Victoria Road Sherwood Nottingham NG5 2NA.
Tel : 0115 962 2276

Mini Reviews

Once more, too much stuff. Some mini reviews. Enough talk.

Dropkick Murphys - Do Or Die Ok, I know I’m late on this one, but there are only a certain number of hours blah blah blah. Boston punk / Ska sorta band, but who, for whatever reason, OD on some Irish antics. Which helps to set them apart. There’s a great deal of bands on labels like Epitaph and Fat Wreck Chords etc, who put out good music, full of good toons blah di blah, but it’s getting all a bit samey isn’t it. Well, yeah, it is. Which is why it’s nice when something comes along which is just that little bit different. Which this is. I think they’re touring here in the summer. Check them out, it should be good. Shit, that was a crap review wasn’t it?

Suicide Machines - Battle Hymns. First up. Has to be said. Horrible horrible title. No no, no, no NO. Reach for ye loins cloths and thoust broadsword. Anyway, the last Suicide Machines album stood up, peered down and then took a bloody great piss all over the last Rancid album. This one hasn’t got time to unzip it’s pants. I mean, 22 songs - 31 minutes. Two songs of 4 seconds each. I’m all for not stretching something past it’s sell by date, but sometimes this is just silly. Take my favourite track, Confused. Glorious, glorious song. Try playing it twice and not be singing along. Switches between ska and punk. A sound in the ska which is pure summer. Infectious. I love this song. One of the longest tracks on the album. And it’s over in 2 minutes. Just when you’re thinking ‘aaaaah’. Dead. Gone. Frustrating. And that’s what this album offers so much of. So many good tunes, but over before you want them to be. As such, I still have to recommend the Destruction By Definition album. Hope Hollywood Records don’t fuck them over as much as they did Human Waste Project.

Pulkas - Greed. Pulkas are the great British hopes. Or at least this weeks,. Look, there’s many great British hopes out there. Let’s just accept that. But Pulkas deserve to be lumped in there as well. The demo tracks that have appeared on the Organ radio CDs (and other  compilations) have served to build their reputation and increase the anticipation of the release of this album. And it doesn’t let itself down either.
Loaded is the perfect opener for the album. Catchy enough to grab your attention early on, showcasing many of the bands talents. Groove, Luke’s vocals, songs.
Talking of songs, which ones are the best. Well, at the moment for me it’s Rubber Room, Hippy Fascist, Control, Rebirth. Well, it’s all good. I guess there is an element that it’ll get compared with stuff like The Deftones. Maybe that’s good, maybe not. You decide. For me, I’m perfectly happy with this shiny CD thank you very much. Nice one.