No Fun At All

No Fun At All has been exporting Swedish punkrock for over 25 years in the same style that Ikea has done for furniture. In that quarter of a century some members left, some joined and the band disbanded for a few years. Luckily they have been touring now and then for these last years and Groezrock was given the No Fun approach once again. Time to find out more about their latest endavours with vocalist Ingemar and guitarplayer Krister.

Welcome back at Groezrock. Can you still remember the first you played this festival in the '90ies?

Yeah, i remember it very well. It was not so big then. Hardly any backstage.

 

No Fun At All has a tight connection with Belgium. Your first show outside Scandinivia was in Heist op den Berg. Yesterday you played the Groezrock pre fest, 300 person capacity. How did it go?

It was good, a really good show. Good crowd.

 

Groezrock is celebrating it's 25the edition. No Fun At All is about the same age. Anything special planned from you to celebrate this year?

Not really, we're just happy to be here.

 

The band has become a hobby band, doing one off tours now and then. Probably in your vacation time from regular work. How does it feel to be playing this way?

Ingemar: Pretty much.

Krister: I think it's good. We choose our shows. We don't have to all the shows like we did back in the '90s.

When we had to pretty much everything because or record label you have to do this tour. And you have to do this and that. Now we just do things we want to do.

Ingemar: I think it's good. There's no pressure. We are actually doing everything ourselves. There is no else involved in anything. No booking agent, no record labels, nothing. We fucking book the shows with the clubs. I think that feels really great. Even though it's a hobby we are even more DIY now then we ever were.

 

It does get you places, last year you toured Japan with Satanic Surfers. Any places you'd still want to tour if possible?

We went to Japan before in the 90's. And now i had the idea that we should go back to Japan. And everything just clicked. Like this. In Japan we know the drummer, we just mailed him and said give my contacts to your promotor there. And two days later i had a mail, like yeah, of course we're going to help. And then he said maybe we should bring Satanic Surfers as well. It turned out to be a really nice tour.

 

Any other plans on Asia, maybe China?

Ingemar: I don't know. I don't know if we have the following at all. It's not impossible.

 

The band has disbanded and reconnected a few times over the years, this is the third incarnation of No Fun At All. Third time, good time?

Ingemar: If you consider when Steven came in as one. Yeah, we're down now to, it's hard to say, we're more grown up.

 

Of who does the current line up exist?

Ingemar: We are the same since we've been since 1999. It's me, Krister, Mikael, Kjell on drums and Stefan on bass.

 

Your last release was Low Rider, in 2008. Do you feel the urge to start writing and recording again?

Ingemar: No concrete plans, not at the moment. It's a big procedure to record a new album. It takes a lot of time. And we don't have it right now. We'll see what happens.

 

Last time you released on your own label. Would you do that again?

Ingemar: It would be on our own label.

 

One of the songs that always gets the crowd going is your cover of Alcohol by Gang Green. Why did you pick this song in particular?

Krister: It think it started with me being a big fan of Gang Green. I grew up with their first single. I don't really know if it's their first single. Skate To Hell and Alcohol. A 7”, i really liked the songs.

Ingemar: It's really agressive, it's so rock'n roll. So you die when you hear it. First time we tried it in the rehearsing studio it just like… fuck this is our song now.

 

You don't always play it?

Ingemar: We took it out of the set for actually quite a few years. Because we were tired of it, but now we took it up again.

 

Any last words?

Ingemar: Nah. It's good to be back in Belgium. It's really good to be back at Groezrock. I just hope we have a good as show as last time we were here. That was really good.

Photo by Gresle Photography
Interview by David Marote

No Use And Friends

No Use For A Name, one of the flagships of Fat Wreck Chords in the nineties punk revival have conquered many punkrockers hearts over the years. Unfortunately their legacy was cut abrupt in 2012 with the passing of charismatic frontman and vocalist Tony Sly. Leaving behind a big void in the heart of many punks worldwide. Almost four years after the disbanding of the band the remaining bandmembers came back for some final shows during the San Francisco performance of Fat Wreck 25 years. And since Europe couldn't be left behind the fine folks at Groezrock arranged to get No Use And Friends to their festival for a special performance. Core members Matt Riddle, Rory Koff and Dave Nassie will hit the stage once again backed by fellow friends and musicians who help out on the vocal parts. Time to speak with some of my personal heroes on a life changing band and their upcoming future and projects. Matt, Rory and Dave are still marvelling at the flyer for Graspop present at the press room and discussing the tons of great bands featured on the lineup.

Welcome to Groezrock. And a special occasion since it's No Use And Friends. Who may we expect to pay tribute to Tony and the band this evening?

Mattt: There are going to be people here at the show. We got Joey, he's in The Gimme Gimmes here. He's coming up and doing like six songs with us. And they we got Chuck from Mad Caddies. We got Spike from The Gimme Gimmes. Trever from Face to Face. I think that's it. We had John Carey too from Old Man Markley. He's working with Juliette Lewis but he had to leave early for the next show. So he's not going be able to do it. I was like 'damn'. I think that's pretty much it. And i'm singing like six of them.

 

You've done this type of performance before in San Francisco for 25 years Fat Wreck Records and took the whole crew out to Japan too. Europe is very thankful that you've decided to perform on Groezrock this year. What made you decide to come over for this one off performance?

Matt: No we didn't do Japan.

Dave: It happened in Japan but the three of us weren't in Japan when it happened.

Matt: Somebody else did it. We don't know why, but hey, that's the way of the world.

 

So now Europe.

Matt: We seriously found out like two week ago that we were going to do it. Dave Pollack, who's our booking agent over here.

Dave: Destiny Booking

Matt: He asked if we wanted to do it. It's rad, with Tony's wife coming over with the kids and all that. It's really neat. It's going to be fun.

Rory: We're thankfull to be here too.

 

Since Tony has passed away, four years soon, the band has officially disbanded. What are you currently doing, be it professional or music wise?

Matt: I'm in a band called Implants. It's great, it's fun just playing. I also do like graphic design work for like a tattoo company. That's what i am doing.

Dave: I do a lot of guitar lessons. I have been taking guitar lessons. I just have been teaching actually at home. I play in a  cover band at home, like a country cover band.

 

Do you also tour with the band?

Dave: I do play with another band, which is called Throwdown, it's like a straight edge hardcore band. Which totally fits my personality. But we played here last year, that was like the only show we did in two years. We don't really do anything.

Matt: You played Groezrock last year, that's rad.

Dave: Just been doing the lessons and that's what keeps me happy these days. And Rory is playing himself.

Rory: I'm playing in a country band now with Dave and an another project i'm working at. Otherwise i'm just attending my business at home. I'm just super happy to be doing this with Dave and Matt and the No Use guys. Just playing the songs, someone asks what are you doing…it's just us and the songs. Keep it simple, we're just super stoked to be playing the songs.

 

So you've been here from today?

Rory: We were here yesterday. We got here from the time the bands started untill they finished.

Matt: Frank Turner was really good, Rancid they are always good, Mad Caddies.

Dave: I enjoyed Hatebreed.

Matt: Less Than Jake, always rad and really cool guys.

 

Many artists and bands have payed tribute to NUFAN and in particular Tony Sly these last years, from covers to original songs, like Yotam's Tony Sly. Do you have any particular rendition or song that touches you most?

Matt: Really good friend of ours. I actually like how Yotam did it. That's kind of my thing. I actually posted it on my personal Facebook page.It thought it was so good. I really like it a lot.

Dave: I've enjoyed watching people doing the covers. There's a guy who did it, i can't think of his name. He did International You Day on  a steel like acoustic version and it's on Youtube. It's like the coolest thing i ever heard, the interpretation of one the band's songs. I enjoy seeing people do that.

It's really neat. It makes me think of what we were  doing when we practiced it. Or when Tony first played it for us. When i heard International You Day i thought about the time we were all sitting in Tony's house, i remember where he was sitting. The first time i heard that song. I like that stuff, it makes me think of the good stuff.

 

Back when NUFAN started in the late '80's, did you ever see the band evolving into such a well know and respected band inspiring many other to start a band?

Rory: It makes me feel very old. I feel really good about it. Just the whole thing. Time heals. I'm just happy to be here with Dave and Matt and just play these songs.I would have never imagined that it went on as long as it did with Tony. We're getting to have a little afterlife and enjoy something like this weekend here, i'm really proud of it. I wouldn't be doing it unless these guys agreed to doing it. It is a group effort.  Just come together, if one of us doesn't feel right about it we steer away. If we all feel good about it then it's a feel good thing. It's been such a long journey, i didn't think it would take up so much of any of our lives. It's been a great experience. We all had ups and downs with bands. Now that we've moved it and we're here. Just good vibes and good thoughts, very fortunate to be doing this today.

Dave: We were just meeting some people at the merch area and we were signing stuff and i dated something with 2016 and that tripped me out. Because i remember dating 1999, 2000,… Obviously there was a period of time i wasn't with the band, i feel very fortunate to do it.

Rory: it's very wild. I started playing with the first incarnation of No Use For A Name in 1986, we got Tony in 1989. That's how long it's been and we are not that old. It's more than half my life. It's a trip. We have all done music before and after this band and we'll keep doing it. To have this incarnation of No Use in our lives, we all feel fortunate about it. It's cool.

 

The band has been around for over two decades, the music industry has changed a lot over those years. How do you feel about today's music and the industry surrounding it? (physical releases, touring,…)

Dave: Of course. I think we slipped under the crack of the last era of bands where people bought records. We were there when it fell of.  So that's the biggest change, like watching a company like Fat Wreck go from a giant building with a bunch of employees to not being a giant building with a bunch of employees. Like we have to run this by the office, cracking a joke, could you yell that to the guy next to you. I say it in like a kind of funny way but everybody excepted it.

Matt: You also have the shows, that's what cool. Even though the music industry has changed you'll always have a bunch of kids in front of you. I call them kids because i'm almost fifty now. Anyone under thirthy is a kid. There all there in front of me, holy shit, that's still awesome.

Rory: I would like to add something to that, about the changing about the business side of the music. One thing we've gotten to see uptill now. From going to cassettes to records to CD's to digital, to pretty much all platforms. You can't sell music, music doesn't sell anymore, it's not a viable commodity, people just get it from the internet, they watch Youtube. There has been so much change. Bands that are able to keep busy and survive, keep working, it's a real challenge and sacrifice for bands to keep doing it today. You hope the band are in love with what they're doing it not doing it for the wrong reasons.For us we are just happy to be doing it for the right reasons, pay tribute to Tony and the songs. We get to do this with our group and the friends that want to join us.

 

The band has toured across the entire globe, what show will always be your most fond memory in those years?

Dave: You know what i always think of when people ask me that. The first time i played with you guys with Bad Religion. Outside in Austria before Brooks was in the band.

Matt: Oh yeah

Dave: It was a gig in Austria in an outdoor part of the venue. It was us and Bad Religion. It was my first experience playing with Bad Religion. These guys were coming up to me, look at the drummer, look at this guy. They were giving me an educational history of Bad Religion. I remember that a lot.

Matt: I think the craziest one to name is the first time we went to Japan. We had cancelled a number of tours going there, so when we finally got there the hype was so big. Me and Tony were walking around in Tokoy and kids started coming up to get autographs and stuff. All of a sudden there was like a swarm and the cops had to come and break it up and escort us back. It was weird, we never considered us rockstars in any way. It scared the shit out of me. These guys are gnarly, they really want a piece of you. So when we got up on stage and played, you always feel an energy when you are playing, but that one was really weird.

 

Are there still some unfinished songs of NUFAN laying around that could possibly ever see the daylight?

Dave: Rory can tell you about the project.

Rory: It's a whole thing, nothing has been materialised yet. For the last year and a half i have been compiling all video, pictures, everything we can. We would like to do a few things. A documentary, a story of the band. That's something that will probably happen sooner than later. We would also like to put together a boxset, a definitive collection with personal pictures. Who knows what that might entail as far as any new music. Putting something together, a soundtrack to it. There's quite a big library out there from songs that we could choose from. I wouldn't say there's one particular thing. This thing is down the pipe that we like to see done. Maybe we get lucky enough to do more shows like this. No stress situation that people want to see us and we want to do it. At this point, without Tony here, we try do to things with his consideration, with the family's consideration, with the record label's consideration. To be honest, with our own personal consideration, If it doesn't feel right, it won't happen.

Matt: That's the thing. We decided a while back not to continue on as a band. Tony's death, he died, it's the worst thing. He was our front guy, we don't just want to replace him with a guitar player and keep going. It's not what it's about. It's a tribute to him, it's a tribute to everything we accomplished as a band. It's a special occasion.

Dave: As long as it's a way of honouring him.

Matt: A lot of people would carry on like that. We can all do other things, that's fine. This kind of stuff is really fun from time to time. We're not going to go out as a touring band.

Dave: As long as it's respectfull to the family, we all agree on it and it's a way to share it with people. And if we feel that Tony would be into it.

 

Photo by Jurriaan Hodzelmans
Interview by David Marote

Yotam

Yotam Ben Horin has been conquering the world for over 20 years with his punk band Useless ID. Already armed with previous solo material and a new full album release recently titled California Sounds, Yotam is once again travelling the globe to spread his heartdriven music. Even Joey Cape of Lagwagon fame noticed Yotam's hard working ethos and enlisted him on his One Week Records team of artists. So when the One Week Records tour recently passed through Ostend, Belgium, only a day after the recent Brussels terrorist attacks, we at RMP took some time to sit down with Yotam and discuss his new album and more.

Hello Yotam, welcome to Belgium and congratulations with your latest solo album California Sounds. How has the response been so far?

It's been great. I think for this solo album, unlike the other i released on Hardline Entertainment, Distant Lover, i'm actually really out there on this album. I'm promoting the hell out of it, i'm on tour probably more than i should be. So i think people are slowly catching up on that. That they see that some guy is just out there constantly touring the States, touring Europe. Now i've been invited to tour Russia to do a few shows. It seems that it's slowly picking up. But it's very hard work, it's full on devotion.

 

Currently you are on the Stitch Puppy tour with Joey Cape, Laura Mardon and Walt Hamburger as part of the One Week Records crew. You also recorded with Joey for One Week Records recently. What may we expect?

Yeah, Joey wants to do a One Week Records with me. But we couldn't really find the right time to spend a week at his house.  I've had like a bunch of breaks in between my tours where i could go to San Francisco for like four days or three days. And everytime Joey was like working on someone else his records but he said come by and hang out. So i ended up playing shakers and tambourine on this guy Seth Anderson's record. And doing some back up vocals for it. Last time i recorded a bit for Stich Puppy on three songs. Eventually we're going to come round and record a One Week Records for me. I'm looking forward to it, i'm writing songs right now.

 

Next to your solo career, most will know you of Israeli punk band Useless ID. The band has been on a hold but i believe a new album is coming soon for Useless ID?

We prefer to keep it quit for a while. We didn't have anything really big to talk about. We're already a few years after Symptoms came out. We didn't have any tours lined up so i ended up doing the solo thing. But when i got back from the first US  tour we said let's get in a room, let's start writing, let's see what's up. We had a few songs laying around, but it was like OK. Then things started rolling really fast. We dedided to record another album at the Blasting Room. It's called Status Burning, it's going to be out later this year. We're going to be back on the map once that thing is out. We're lining up things right now but we're not talking about it untill it's like big news.

 

In the past you were active in many different projects. What are some of you current activities?

I have another hardcore band called Spit, it's like a side project with my brother. He's the singer in this band. He has a band called Mondo Gecko, it's like thrash core, i think they toured Europe a few times. And two of the other guys play in a band called Kids Insane, they toured Europe a lot.

So it's like this hardcore thing, whenever everyone is in Israel we put a few show together. It's an inside project most. That's pretty much all i have.

 

Any Israeli bands we need to keep an eye out for? Like Not On Tour…

Not On Tour are doing great. I think they are touring a lot in Europe. Kids Insane is also doing great. In Israel it's like a wave that is going up and down all the time. Useless ID used to do pretty great at shows years ago and then there was like a sudden break in interest in this sort of music. And then it came back around, and now every time we do a show in Israel it's packed. But we don't play a lot. I'd say as far as the punk scene, it's small but people know how to appreciate. It's a small scene. There's the main city Tel Aviv, there's another main city Haifa and there's Jeruzalem. There's not much of a scene going on there. They might be bands coming from ther but everyone goes to play Tel Aviv. And you don't want to play to much because the place is so small and whoever saw you the first time a month ago will be saying i saw them already. You have to spread it out a bit more. I guess that's how it goes.

California Sounds is a tribute to the Californian lifestyle and of course punkrock. But you also recorded a different version titled Colorado Sounds.

How did you hear that?

 

I noticed on your Bandcamp.

That was a joke at the Blasting Room, i recorded a version for Guy from Useless ID, after the Blasting Room he went for a vacation to Costa Rica. So i recorded a version Costa Rica Sounds just for him. And while i was recording i was like, hey Bill, i'll record a version for you. So i made up lyrics as i went along. It was like a joke and a  small thank you to The Blasting Room.

 

One of your track is titled Young Man Bones, can you define that expression?

The thing is, i'm a bit over my mid thirties right now. I thinks the more you grow up and the more you still have that inner naive thing that you are desperately  trying to hold on to. The world has it way of just ruining it for everyone, just putting you in like this cube of work and then you're just like working the whole 9 to 5 thing. So you kind of get lost in that and then you find yourself at older age and oh my god i'm an adult already. And i have to provide a family. I'm not against that way of life but for me. I kind of reached a conflict where i had a job set up for me and i was doing Useless ID tours along with that. Life was just moving, just going on. I was like, i got to stop this race. I don't want to live my life racing to pay bills and having my little fun with Useless ID and then going back to work life. I want to have fun with Useless ID then i'll do a solo tour, i'll be with my guitar untill we do more with Useless ID. With that song it's kind of my way of talking what i'm going through. I feel both inside and out that i'm not old. It's like a general feeling of myself.

I've got like friends my age that are like i'm too tired, my back hurts, i'm too tired to hang out. Many times i'm just left at home listening to records and writing, i'll totally go hang out with someone but everyone is like sleeping.

Another thing with this song is the recording of the album is like recorded through a video camera.

I just finished writing the songs and it was in the middle of a tour, so i was sitting at like 3 AM in a van. And i liked that version so much that in the studio i wasn't able to get that feeling. So i just left it the way it is. Very lo-fi.

 

My favorite track on the album is definitely Tony Sly. A fitting tribute to a great artist. How did Tony and No Use For A Name have for an influence on you and your music?

It's crazy, i discovered NUFAN around the time that Green Day blew up with Dookie. I would watch Headbangers Ball late at night and just watch whatever. And then this colourfull video comes up with this guy wearing a backwards hat and the guy with purple hair or something. I was like, wow what is this. I pressed record right away, i thought, this is great, i wonder if these guys have any more. And then Fat Wreck ut out Leche Con Carne. A lot of years later like in 2002 we did the Warped Tour and like two days in the tour i came up to Tony Sly and told him how much of an influence he was to me and how much we loved his band. He heard of Useless ID, we were about to record a new album when the tour was over. I asked if he wanted to produce it or give some tips.

He is like one of my all time favorites. Him and like Joey Cape, Elliot Smith, Kurt Cobain,…

I like to include them. They are the songwriters of our generation. Tony agreed and i worked a lot with him on the bus. We became friends, a long the years NUFAN took us on tours, always treated us great. In 2003, 2005 they also came to Israel and showed up to my 30th birthday. Tony was singing Gorilla Biscuits, we did like punk rock karaoke.

It was tragic one night, it thought it was a joke when i heard about it. It was like one Facebook post, i was like, this is like so Tony. He would totally post himself, i died. But someone called me up that Tony passed away, it's true. It was a life changer for everyone.

 

Any last words?

I'm very happy to see anyone coming out to any shows, whether it's on the Stich Puppy tour or some other place. I'm very thankfull for people liking what i do. Much much more to come…

 

Photo by Niels Duytschaever
Interview by David Marote

Petrol Girls – Some Thing

Female-fronted punk bands are quite rare nowadays, so it’s a pleasure to see that there are still some kickass ladies in the scene. “Some Thing” has a nice Tsunami Bomb-ish touch, yet I really missed the softer, more melodic vocals. Girls, you don’t have to sound like The Restarts, even though it’s hardcore punk! In general, ‘punk’ is not the best word to describe this album, because it sounds somehow dramatic. I remember punk tunes as stuff that gives you a boost of energy and inspires you to go against the flow rather than lock yourself up in your room and cry. I’m really missing that feeling on this album.

– Dana Maslykhina

Muncie Girls – From Caplan To Belsize

Three-piece punk rock band Muncie Girls from Exeter, England, has released their brand new debut album “From Caplan To Belsize”. Kicking off the album is the first track “Learn In School”, and it is clear to hear from vocalist Lande’s voice that the band’s English. She hasn’t changed her voice to fit in with the usual pop punk act. It really stands out, and gives the band a unique sound. The whole album addresses the issues of modern living as a self-aware young adult, describing everything from interpersonal relationships to politics. The fourth track on the album “Balloon” is a reflective and hopeful song, indicating a past break-up. It has a different feel then the rest of the tracks. “Social side” is a reflective song about family and loneliness, and how Lande got influenced into music from her brother. The guitar is really powerful throughout and halfway through the song, it really picks up. The best thing about the album is that there are no breaks in between each song, they just carry on playing. “Gas Mark 4” is an upbeat track with powerful riffs and a loud drum beat. Lande’s voice is strong and she sings with such passion that your ears could listen to her singing all day long. Muncie Girls are in for a very good year, especially now as they are playing this year’s Download Festival!

– Holly Reijs

Face To Face – Protection

Face To Face turns 25 so what better way to get into a midlife crisis by taking it back to the basics. “Protection” is the new long-awaited album by our favourite Californians and features melodic skate punk like it was the nineties. To bring it full circle Trevor and co even signed up with Fat Wreck Chords for the release of “Protection”. Eleven songs are all they need to convince you that this band helped define its own genre back in the days. Still remaining relevant today and touching base with hot topics in their lyrics such as stardom and fundamentalist thinking in tracks as “14:59” and “Bent But Not Broken”. Face To Face is back and here to stay, their Groezrock performance is one I'm looking forward too. Dance like It's 1994!

– David Marote

Across All Oceans – Homegrown

Five-piece emo/pop punk band from Middlesbrough, the North of England, Across All Oceans, have released a brand new six-track EP for all you pop punk fans! Having only formed in 2012, they released their debut EP back in 2014, and are releasing their brand new EP, “Homegrown” on 22nd February. The first track “Everywhere But Home”, is very energetic. Vocalist, Andrew Thomson has a very aggressive vocal style. This made me think the next tracks were going to be outstanding. “Permanence”, the second track on the EP, shows the band’s pop punk in a nutshell. The very first second of the song sounds so pop punk, you know it is going to be a standout track. Andrew’s vocals are so raspy, your ears get attracted to the sound, making you want to carry on listening to the rest of the EP. The third track “Monophobia” has some great sing-along moments. It starts off slowly with just guitars and vocals but then the band picks up the tempo slightly from an emo sound to make it a blend into a sincere punk sounded balled that can’t be avoided. Title track “Homegrown” jumps back to a more typical emo sounding sound where Andrew’s vocals are a lot less destructive. The song is about questioning where you are in your life, or where you should be in your timeline. They’re an incredible band and I can see them going far in the pop punk scene!

– Holly Reijs

Toothgrinder – Nocturnal Masquerade

A blend between total onslaught and beautiful melody, Toothgrinder exceeded expectations on their debut release, “Nocturnal Masquerade”. The New Jersey natives had previously released an EP in 2014, titled “Schizophrenic Jubilee”. It was a solid release, yet never something I listened to much. Although three songs from the EP also appear on the full-length album, the musical complexity, concept, and progressive flow make “Nocturnal Masquerade” an essential record for the heavy metal masses. The album begins with “The House (That Fear Built)”. Toothgrinder wastes no time establishing the main facets of their sound including heavy whispered vocals, aggressive screamed vocals, powerful drums, and heavily distorted guitar. Justin Matthew’s spitfire vocals reminds me of Corey Taylor at his most vicious. Although I generally do not endearingly compare bands to Slipknot, Justin manages to maintain enunciation with speed, while still remaining overwhelmingly brutal. These vocals overlaid on the frantic drumming and guitar riffs was also quick to remind me of The Dillinger Escape Plan. A great record that deserves to be heard.


– David Gilmore

Ray Rocket – Do You Wanna Go To Tijuana

Ray Rocket, it sounds slick and smooth like a greased up rockabilly in a lube pit adjusting his engine. Ray Rocket is the new moniker for Ray Carlisle from Teenage Bottle Rocket to fame his solo project. Acoustic guitar in one hand, heartfelt lyrics in the other, bringing it back to the bare essentials. From title track “Do You Wanna Go To Tijuana”, the listener gets treated to the melodic talent of Ray, transposing his pop punk to six strings and vocal chords, but not steering away from adventure the 11 tracks on this album incorporate sounds from handclaps to ukulele. And the perfect treat for a well-rounded album always is a cover, in this particular case it's “Pet Sematary” by The Ramones. Ray Rocket has surely blasted off.

– David Marote

Drowning Pool – Hellelujah

To be honest, I had never really listened to Drowning Pool after their first album and lead singer Dave Williams’ tragic death. Since then the line-up has changed quite a few times, but whatever their history, whatever their struggles may have been, one thing needs to be said: Hellelujah is a freaking kickass collection of songs! With smashing drums, formidable riffs and raw melodies, this album is everything a good hard-rock/metal album should be. The only downside to it may be that it’s not a very innovative album. None of the songs are really eccentric or different. But in the end, does that really matter when all you want to do is rock? All in all, I can’t really say Drowning Pool has gained a fan, but they definitely have regained one.    

– Renske Gommer