Monday 6 April 2015

Album Review: Manchester Punk Festival Volume 3


The Manchester Punk Festival is now just a couple of weeks away, last week the organisers released a brand new compilation showcasing yet more of the amazing acts playing on the 17th and 18th of April.

The album begins with some legends of the UK's punk rock scene, VanillaPod. This year these fine gentleman from Kings Lynn are celebrating twenty years of being a band, an astonishing achievement for any band but especially impressive for one that's always been and independent DIY act. The song Best Intentions shows the band at their best, a heavy back beat, crunching guitars and fantastic melodies. Up next is Northern gruff punks Bear Trade. Fresh from a tour with Red City Radio and Pears, the song If Stoic Was Normal is a classic Bear Trade sing along punk rock anthem. They will also be playing a Replacements cover set at the festivals after party that is not to be missed. Smoke Or Fire's Joe McMahon is up next with an acoustic version of the amazing Monsters Among Us. Playing the acoustic stage at The Thirsty Scholar Joe brings an element of superstar to the festival and is sure to be a highlight of the weekend. 

 
Portsmouth's Sombulance are a band that are hugely influenced by the Fat Wreck Chords and Epitaph Records of the 90's. Anaesthetic Ultimatum is a loud, fast hard hitting punk rock jam with a vocal assault that mixes A Wilhelm Scream and Strike Anywhere. London's Wonk Unit are the band who I'm most looking forward to checking out for the first time at the festival. With a legion of fans Wonk Unit are one of the most popular bands in the scene at the moment, with a unique sound all of their own, it's hard to really give a good description of Wonk Unit that would do their brilliance justice. The song Idiotic Train Looney is a great way to immerse yourself into the Wonk Unit world, I really can't wait to see them live. After playing Reading and Leeds festival and The Fest out in Gainesville last year Muncie Girls are continuing their rise to the top. At the beginning of the year they finally got round to recording their debut album and if it's anything like their previous EPs it's going to be a classic. Feel It Soon is a catchy indie/pop punk song that will be stuck in your head for days. RevengeOf The Psychotronic Man are legends in the Manchester punk scene. Playing fast, furious, uncompromising punk and thrash I imagine their set will be one of the wildest of the weekend.


Leeds trio Speed Dinosaurs are another brilliantly unique act. This band, consisting of a double bass, ukulele and a cajon started out playing Bad Religion and Rancid covers before progressing onto original songs. I Wish I Worked Harder At School is a strange but incredibly fun song that really displays the variety of different bands playing the festival. Wadeye bring some skacore to the proceeding with the song Never Forget. Mixing hardcore guitars and drums with horns that carry the melody of the song it's hard to keep still whilst listening, for sure a band to watch out for. That Fucking Tank are a punk band like no other I'm aware of. Comprised of just two members they are fully instrumental and unbelievable. Two of the most talented guys in the scene proving that punk music isn't just about playing loud and fast. The song Stephen Hawkwind is an eight minute long epic that keeps you entertained from start to finish. If you want to check out something different at the festival then That Fucking Tank are the band for you. The compilation is finished by a band that are unfortunately no longer playing the festival. The Stupids are a hardcore punk band from the 80s. Their fast, aggressive sound will be a big loss to the festival, hopefully they will appear in Manchester sooner rather than later. 







Now listening to White Collar Fraud by Street Dogs  

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