Mama, we’re all crazy now!
Well what can you say about a band that spits out lyrics in a brash and slightly bratty/punky way? Ontario’s, Sound And Fury are a bastard mix of the Pistols, Alice Cooper, Iggy Pop and US Bombs, and have toured extensively with fellow Canadian’s, Sum 41.
First song, ‘Eighteen’ instantly has me thinking of Alice Cooper’s song of the same name before it starts, however, even though the lyrical message is the same, whereas the Coop was a little more laid back and conceding in saying, “I’m eighteen, and I don’t know what I want // I’m eighteen, and I don’t know what I need?”, here, main screamer Luke Metcalf spits almost as an excuse, “Eighteen, and I’ve had enough! // Eighteen, oh, you don’t like? Tough! // Eighteen, and I’ve been through Hell // Eighteen, can’t you tell? // …I ain’t buying what you’re trying to sell!” and again I was a little worried that their song, ‘Schools Out’ was going to be a cover, but no, it’s almost like as a homage to Alice as they have taken the title and what the song is about and updated it to be their very own rock anthem. What we get is a hard rock song with a hint of punk that may just be rocking enough to not be labelled as sounding like a hair band from the ‘80’s. Certainly there are echoes of Van Halen here…
“The first time that she got high // Don’t you know it was from my supply // I keep ‘em coming back for more // and now they’re lining up on my front door!” sings Luke in ‘Bad Touch’ as we have an ‘80s riff chugging out from guitarists Daz and Griffin. This perhaps does cross the retro line, with the throwaway lyrics and dated glam rock sound. Don’t get me wrong, if you loved Kiss, AC/DC and Slaughter then this is a good song.
Last song, ‘Teenage Rampage’ is probably one of the best songs here being a cross between The Ramones and Iggy Pop. It’s a 3-minute pop/punk adrenaline shot to the arm with it’s ‘70’s feel, but classic rock’n’roll ethos.
This is a taster of the album that is to be released later in the year, and certainly this makes me want to hear more. Sound And Fury play classic down and dirty rock’n’roll in the spirit that it should be done. Possibly a band that could be a guilty pleasure, it’s not always easy to know whether the band are playing slightly tongue-in-cheek, although the band do state that, “(the music is for) People who really sincerely live for the music and don’t give a shit about anything else.” Great, where’s my hairspray and leggings gone…?