Destroyed by Madness

FURROWED BROW Outdoors Man Notes From Underground (30/06/23) Manchester’s psychedelic, proto-punk, garage rock eccentrics Furrowed Brow return with Outdoors Man, a barmy ode to wholesome pastimes out in the countryside. Imagine wandering the Lake District whilst high on mushrooms and reading Nietzsche….  The band are a self-housed unit, with recording, mixing, and artwork all handled through a true DIY ethic. It’s a commendable affair and one which diffuses the ethos of DC punk into a fuck-you attitude to a modern society where everything is handed to you on a plate so you can remain comfortably numb and dumb. Scratch the surface a little and see what you might find. Enough of the manifesto! The song itself is a caustic romp that balances the catchy refrain across rhythmic structure, starting a little later than you’d expect to give a slightly disorienting sensation. It’s an excellent tool that creates a syncopated groove between vocals and rhythm section. From there, the sardonic ...

HAIL SPRAYTAN I Don’t Wanna Meet Your Dog Self-release (02/06/23) Fuzzy, fizzy, fulfilling, and as sweet as a SodaStream, Hail Spraytan offer up a cup of power-pop inspired juicy punk goodness on latest single I Don’t Wanna Meet Your Dog. These Manchester melody-makers deliver hook after hook across three minutes, starting with a melancholic chord sequence, spindly lead guitar, and bubblegum ‘woah-oh-oh’ backing vocals. I’m getting Mallrats soundtrack vibes for sure… if only it were soundtracking the Arndale remake. Verses skip along delivering the news that although breaking up is hard to do, remaining friends afterwards is even harder… and no, I don’t want to see evidence of your amazing life littering my social media feed. The vocal delivery is earnest and true but sprinkled with self-aware humour.  The chorus joins the party and pops with the titular refrain alongside the return of those earworm backing vocals. It’s heartfelt and ramshackle, bringing to mind that early-90s spli...

REASON TO LEAVE Last Words Horn & Hoof Records (16/06/23) On the first single from their upcoming Rise And Grind EP, self-proclaimed ‘drunken style riff merchants’  Reason To Leave  hit the sweet spot between late-90s skate punk and the harder edged sound of the early 2000s underground punk scene. Furious guitar stabs and a knotty riff welcome the listener before smashing into a double-time verse that instantly gets the head nodding. The rhythms switch-up beautifully, with a chopped Detroit groove leading into a motorik beat before diving into a half-time slam. It’s a powerful rhythmic delight, with a killer main riff that is anxious yet melodic, tugging at the heart and head in equal measure.  The energy and sense of longing presented by the instrumental is amplified by Mike’s impassioned bark. It’s soulful stuff, reflecting the bruised feeling of the lyrics and perfectly matching the tone of the song.  And just like that… it’s over. Two minutes of classic sound...

GARLIC BREAD CLUB #11 Retro, Manchester 3rd June 2023 A sunny day in Manchester is worth its weight in gold; the industrial nouveau-chic of the city reflects the warm rays of light, inviting you inwards to discover the joy of its eclectic endeavours. For those of a punk rock persuasion, the DIY delights of  Garlic Bread Club ’s 11th edition entices one to come as you are, deep unto the underground and onto the sticky dance-floor in the basement of Retro.  For the uninitiated, GBC has a reputation as being THE night in Manchester that pulls together the best on the underground circuit. It’s a community affair, giving new bands an audience with an open mind whilst offering artists on the up the kind of celebratory sweatbox atmosphere that the most memorable shows are often made of. All of this in a fun, open, safe and inclusive environment. Junk It  make the relatively short journey over the Pennines from their native Leeds to open the show with a psychedelic take on noisy,...