Hostages For Smack
Stevenage’s HOSTAGES FOR SMACK bring back what was great about ‘good old fashioned’ British punk, with an updated twist of heavier guitars and heavy rock. Their self-financed and self-released ‘Hostages for Smack’ keeps in the niche of oi punk and doesn’t fail to deliver. Drawing from such influences like Motorhead, Black Flag, Rancid, Anti-Nowhere League, UK Subs and Sex Pistols, the album delivers a good taste of what’s good about British punk and what it was originally about (i.e. none of that disastrous American ‘punk’ that was knocking about in early 2000).
The album itself is a well-rounded, well presented representation of the band and has the trademarks of paint-by-numbers punk. Such tracks as ‘L.A.P.D.’ and ‘Hot Food for the Rich’ contain the ironic humour of the shit in everyday English life, while keeping the dark serious undertone in the music. ‘Oi Tony’ opens up with the anarchistic swagger that made this genre so good, keeping the British feel of punk and keeping in the vein of anarchy and attack on the powers that be. The band keeps the swagger and balls of the likes of Anti-Nowhere League and Rancid in their music, giving the impression that these guys not only play this music but that they live it, something which lacks in a lot of the ‘punk’ bands of today. However, tracks such as ‘Switchblade Blues’ keeps an old blues, almost Little Richard/B.B. King feel to it which really surprised me in a pleasant way.
Overall I would say this album brings back what was good about punk, and dons the Doc Martins for some proper floor stopping, non-stop smashing British punk. HOSTAGES FOR SMACK are taking a tried and tested genre which is about life and the music that is played that has no room for posers or wannabes, shoving it down your throat and proving not only that they ARE the music they play but that they are the leaders of the revolution.
To find out more about Hostages For Smack, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Noel Horton
The album itself is a well-rounded, well presented representation of the band and has the trademarks of paint-by-numbers punk. Such tracks as ‘L.A.P.D.’ and ‘Hot Food for the Rich’ contain the ironic humour of the shit in everyday English life, while keeping the dark serious undertone in the music. ‘Oi Tony’ opens up with the anarchistic swagger that made this genre so good, keeping the British feel of punk and keeping in the vein of anarchy and attack on the powers that be. The band keeps the swagger and balls of the likes of Anti-Nowhere League and Rancid in their music, giving the impression that these guys not only play this music but that they live it, something which lacks in a lot of the ‘punk’ bands of today. However, tracks such as ‘Switchblade Blues’ keeps an old blues, almost Little Richard/B.B. King feel to it which really surprised me in a pleasant way.
Overall I would say this album brings back what was good about punk, and dons the Doc Martins for some proper floor stopping, non-stop smashing British punk. HOSTAGES FOR SMACK are taking a tried and tested genre which is about life and the music that is played that has no room for posers or wannabes, shoving it down your throat and proving not only that they ARE the music they play but that they are the leaders of the revolution.
To find out more about Hostages For Smack, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Noel Horton