Classy UK artist abs has featured on these pages a couple of times. Earlier this year she became the 24th act to appear in the Mayhem Virgins series back in March. The following month we had the pleasure of interviewing her. Now she is back with a brand new single, “Hunting Season”. It is sultry, sexy, sweltry and sensual and is performed with a swagger of sensual lust at heights that come close to the peaks that Marvin Gaye and Millie Jackson reached in that kind of song. But it is not all about bringing sexy back (apologies to Mr. Timberlake for that) it strikes me as a song of female empowerment with the woman taking control, the prey becomes the hunter! abs is in total control on this track she is strong, charismatic with just the right level of chutzpah. “Hunting Season” sets up residence in your head after the first listen and is impossible to evict, but frankly who would want to evict such a great track? If I have any criticism it is only that at 1 minute 52 seconds it is a little short, but that is easily solved, just put it on repeat! This is a magnificent and ambitious release from abs and I bloody love it!
If you have enjoyed this article, feel free to follow the blog.You can also follow us onInstagram, Bluesky, and Linkedin.
Are you interested in writing and reviewing for With Just A Hint Of Mayhem? If so then please get in touch via EMail.
Margate based Squangey Bobbins are a phenomenally good band. Some would describe them as indie, but indie isn’t really a genre is it? For me they have the cheeky intellectual chaos of the Libertines, the wordsmithery and sharp as fuck poetry of the Arctic Monkeys and, the powerful harder edge of some of Britain’s greatest new wave bands (the Damned, the Jam). They have just released the first single, “Fake I.D.”, from their upcoming album ‘Margate Crows’ which is to be released in January.
“Fake I.D.” has a wonderfully jaunty pop rock feel with a hint of country rock styling. It drives along at a subdued frenetic pace and has some vocal “woah, woah, woah” hooks to die for. The song also features backing vocals from Billy Lunn of the Subways. The track was recorded at Farm Factory Studios and was Mixed, Engineered and Produced by the aforementioned Billy Lunn and was Mastered by Alex Wharton at Abbey Road Studios.
Squangey Bobbins are Lewis Colley on vocals, Chris Bourne on guitar, Jack Elliot on bass and, Tommy Pearce on Drums. The band have said this about the song “Fake I.D. was written to capture that feeling of misspent youth — romanticising the days when the only reason to work was to earn just enough to go out with your mates at the weekend“. The song shines with a sunburst of joyful, carefree vibes that took me back to the nostalgia of my own misspent youth!
If you have enjoyed this article, feel free to follow the blog.You can also follow us onInstagram, Bluesky, and Linkedin.
Are you interested in writing and reviewing for With Just A Hint Of Mayhem? If so then please get in touch via EMail.
Dead Animal Assembly Plant are Zach ‘Dead’ Wager (Vocals), Rebecca ‘Buzz’ Wager (Guitars), Nick ‘Nix’ Snyder (Bass) and Jason ‘Skorn’ Moore (Drums). They formed in Portland, Oregon, USA in 2007, initially as a solo project for Zach Wager. They became a full band in 2011. Their influences seem to be drawn from a wide range of iconic bands and artists; Nine Inch Nails, Gary Numan, Slipknot and Rob Zombie to name just a few. They released a new single today, called “The Only Good Dictator Is A Dead Dictator” and it is an oven ready classic. It oozes dark industrial riffs, passionate maniacal musings, huge planet splitting drums and a perfect message for these times. Is the song directed at the Orange Turd in the White House? Probably, but it would also easily apply to the likes of Putin, Kim Jog Un and many others. The lyrics are a succinct reflection on what much of this supposedly modern world has become. “Now we’re choking as they’re stoking, All the pretty wars. We can’t decide which genocide we should be rooting for” Those lines pull no punches and that is what makes this song work so well.
Zach Wager said this about the song “his song “It is aggressive from tonality to message. The song underlines society’s complicity towards totalitarianism and how we are controlled through fabricated fears and toxic vitriol spewed by those in power. The cyclical nature of humans falling for the lies and promises of dictators. It’s a tale we’ve spun over and over and yet it continues to happen. Doing the same thing over and over expecting different results. In the end – the only good dictator no matter who or where – is a dead dictator. Anyone who desires that much abusive power is a blight on humanity and the world is better off without tyrants.” There is no doubt in my mind that Zach Wager is bang on and this song nails the message home wonderfully. This will be one of the first songs I play when I hear the news that the vile orange arsehole a.k.a. Captain Bone Spurs has died.
If you have enjoyed this article, feel free to follow the blog.You can also follow us onInstagram, Bluesky, and Linkedin.
Are you interested in writing and reviewing for With Just A Hint Of Mayhem? If so then please get in touch via EMail.
Last month US artist Celeste Corsano, who is based on the border between Pennsylvania and New Jersey, released a quirky, off the wall new song, “XS”. Now, with some excellent and endearing work from Brother JT the song has a curiously eccentric and haunting animation the song is accompanied by a compelling animated message to enhance the songs impeccable and meaningful lyrics. The song questions the pressure to achieve perfection and leading to a symbolic release or escape, embodying freedom through transformation. It explores feelings of insecurity and the meaning of success, often driven by media and external standards. This is highlighted by lines like “But the Execs say, I’m either fitting in or not at all“.
Celeste said of the song “it is about feeling like an outsider and trying to fit in, insecurities about body image and the trap of perfection. These mindsets come from my own insecurities based on my personal experiences, examples of women I’ve seen growing up and by outside sources such as the media and the entertainment industry”. Corsano has an individuality reminiscent of Kate Bush, Tori Amos and Lene Lovich. The song is available through Magic Door Records and was produced, recorded mixed and mastered by Ray Ketchem (Guided by Voices, Elk City, Gramercy Arms, Luna) at the Magic Door Recording Studio in Montclair, NJ.
If you have enjoyed this article, feel free to follow the blog.You can also follow us onInstagram, Bluesky, and Linkedin.
Are you interested in writing and reviewing for With Just A Hint Of Mayhem? If so then please get in touch via EMail.
Indie rock band from London away//fans have a banging new song out. “Keeping On” is a celebration of percussive danceable rock music with a great pop twist. The repetitive chorus refrain of “come on home” is one of the strongest earworms that has inhabited my head in ages. If you are able to just sit and listen to this track without even thinking of dancing there is clearly something seriously wrong with me. For the first time the band have collaborated with SEY.MOUR who provides some sublime, ethereal backing vocals. Soundwise they remind me of the Beloved, HardFi, Lost Trends and LCD Soundsystem.
The band’s lead vocalist Tom Fisher had this to say about the track “The song is about that moment post-argument with your partner, when the initial anger has faded and you just wanna sort things out but don’t know how. That sort of malaise when you’re desperate to get back to how things were but aren’t quite sure how to get there“. In respect of where the band took some inspiration Fisher said “We took inspiration from bands like Primal Scream and The Prodigy, who managed to keep the live feel of a band, whilst still fitting in with the rave and party scene“. I am new to this band and I bloody love them!
If you have enjoyed this article, feel free to follow the blog.You can also follow us onInstagram, Bluesky, and Linkedin.
Are you interested in writing and reviewing for With Just A Hint Of Mayhem? If so then please get in touch via EMail.
One of Sheffield’s finest bands, the Suncharms have returned with a new two track single featuring “Monster To Me (Halloween Version)” and “Tuesday Afternoon Séance”. The first song, “Monster In Me” is a beautifully crafted slice of indie pop rock with a sublime shoegaze overlay. At times it made me think of some of the best Beatles outtakes on the Anthology series. The brass sounds, (actually is that real brass or synth emulation?) add a moving depth to this frankly marvelous easy going song. Meanwhile “Tuesday Afternoon Séance” has a similar, but sometimes darker, musical vibe with some wonky fuzzed riffs and an ethereal vocal refrain that is reminiscent of Donovan at the height of his hippie powers. If this band is not in your life yet, then do something about it! The Suncharms have featured regularly on these pages since 2018 and I am sure they will appear more in the future too.
If you have enjoyed this article, feel free to follow the blog.You can also follow us onInstagram, Bluesky, and Linkedin.
Are you interested in writing and reviewing for With Just A Hint Of Mayhem? If so then please get in touch via EMail.
UK band Toys That Bite have just released their eponymously titled debut single, via Dr John’s Surgery Records, and it is a rifftastic barrage of powerful rock. The band have described the song as “a superb track that takes you back to the good days of rock, with a twist that’s uniquely theirs“. Frankly it would be hard to disagree with that. The band was formed by Karl Bauers on guitars and vocals (former Metal Gods) and Adam Stanley on lead vocals and drums (former Whailtale, King Walrus & Communicators). They are joined by Jason Shepard (Bass Guitar), Terry Anderson (Drums) and Dave Rivett (Guitar/Vocals). Their sound draws on a wide range of old school influences and could be the bastard child of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal from the early 80s. I can hear elements of Iron Maiden and Judas Priest in this track to name just a couple. The bands fans are called biters and maybe that is because this band bites fucking hard when they hit top gear, as they do on this track. This is an awesome song from an awesome band! You might not know it yet, but soon you will know that you need Toys That Bite in your life!
If you have enjoyed this article, feel free to follow the blog.You can also follow us onInstagram, Bluesky, and Linkedin.
Are you interested in writing and reviewing for With Just A Hint Of Mayhem? If so then please get in touch via EMail.
London born singer songwriter has just released a new single and it has the makings of a classic. Brooke Law is new to me but this won’t be the last time I listen to her music. She has a great voice which draws on the likes of Alannah Myles and Alanis Morissette. The song has a perfect blues rock vibe with an injection of 21st Century country styling and makes you want to move. There is a powerful rawness to her delivery and she knows how to write a great song. Lyrically it is top class, my particular favourite lines are “Love is a messed up circus, The world is a bowl of a goldfish, We’re all freaks in a freak show” This song was written a few years ago with Ben Earle of the Shires. While it has had a few outings at her full band shows it has not been recorded and released until now. I need to see her playing live now!
If you have enjoyed this article, feel free to follow the blog.You can also follow us onInstagram, Bluesky, and Linkedin.
Are you interested in writing and reviewing for With Just A Hint Of Mayhem? If so then please get in touch via EMail.
York band Vagabond invited me to review their recent gig at the Fulford Arms after I reviewed their support slot for Asylum at this same venue back in December. Back then I said this about them “This band has great potential and my advice is ditch the Oasis cover and get some more original songs.” They promised not to do an Oasis cover, did they keep that promise? Read on and find out! The show was presented by Warren Records of Hull.
First up it was Culture Clash from Hull. They were raucous, loud and frankly fucking ace. They are in possession of some great riffs and excellent songs, some of those reminded me of early Manic Street Preachers. But they weren’t just full speed punks, they had 99% of the crowd sitting on the floor for a delightful slow number. To be fair at that point the punters probably needed a rest after some monumentally mental moshing. Kai from the band also makes comics and bought a copy of his latest, Mr. Zombie. It is weird, wonderful and simply bloody good!
The second band on the bill were also from Hull, they are called Sovereigns. They emanated a real 70s prog rock vibe early in their set. Then they moved onto some rather special pop rock songs which simply made you want to dance, especially their current single “Do You Wanna”.
Vagabond were clearly fired up for this headline show, they exploded into a fiery set . They were rambunctious, brash, roaring, strident and were clearly having fun. They displayed a degree of arrogance, which frankly stems from them being absolutely on the button and on fire. They played a set of their own songs and clearly they are growing into a great band. At times I even sensed some shades of Motorhead style thrash. They appear to draw inspiration from bands like the Sex Pistols, Blink 182 and early Clash. I am also pleased to say that they kept their promise and didn’t even go near Oasis, and nor did they need to. They won Jorvik Radio’s Battle of the Bands earlier this year. Vagabond are most definitely a band to watch and they could be huge in 2026. You heard it here first, possibly!
If you have enjoyed this article, feel free to follow the blog.You can also follow us onInstagram, Bluesky, and Linkedin.
Are you interested in writing and reviewing for With Just A Hint Of Mayhem? If so then please get in touch via EMail.
When did music become a nostalgia fest? Probably sometime in the last 40 years birthed by Live Aid I guess. Now we are presented with opportunities to celebrate the anniversaries of classic albums on a regular basis. Usually 10 years, 20 years, 25 years, 30 years, 50 years and more. Then there is the cash in of former huge bands coming back together to squeeze every last drop out of their fan base, often with that most ridiculous development of dynamic ticket pricing. Yes I’m speaking to you Oasis. The press, radio, TV and social media are full of these anniversaries and reunions and it seems there is no slow down in the frequency. But while a part of me finds the whole nostalgia worship thing a little crass I am a part of it and I am one of those people that will purchase anniversary album releases and box sets from my favourite artists, notably David Bowie. (More of him later!)and the occasional reunion tour ticket. Not Oasis, but definitely Gene, who are my favourite 90s band. I never expected them to get back together but I was excited when thy did and I simply had to get a ticket! I finally managed to get one for the Sheffield show, the second gig of their reunion shows. So yes, in spite of my negativity and misgivings I am well and truly on board the nostalgia train!
The evening was opened by a wonderfully skilled and chilled set from two members of Danny and the Champions of the World, billed as Champs Acoustic Duo. Their short set warmed up the crowd perfectly. The highlight for me was “(Never Stop Building) That Old Space Rocket”. When Matt, Kev, Steve and Martin took the stage it was almost as if they had never been away. The keyboard player was none other than the Style Council’s keys maestro Mick Talbot. They opened with a thumping singalong “London, Can You Wait” from their first album, followed swiftly by 1994 single “Be My Light, Be My Guide”. Two songs in and the crowd was lapping it up. The energy stepped up even more for a monumental take on “We Could Be Kings” a 1997 UK top 20 hit. Experiencing Gene in a live environment again made me remember just how many great songs they had. The pre encores set was a stonking nineteen songs with many, many highlights. That part of the set closed with a towering triptych of “Haunted By You”, “Olympian” and “For The Dead”. By this time it seemed that the whole crowd were emotionally drained, it had been a special night, but did we have the passion for more, of course we did!
The band returned for two three song encores the first was a monumentally powerful trio of songs that kick arse on a good day, here they kicked the planet’s arse! Those three tunes were “You’ll Never Walk Again”, “Sick, Sober And Sorry” and a tumultuous “Fighting Fit”. Encore two was very slightly more subdued kicking off with “I Can’t Help Myself”, followed by “Somewhere In The World”. But what a perfect choice the final song was, “Who Said This Was The End?” I sincerely hope this is not the end for such a great band, there are five more dates to come in 2026. Will there be new music? Who knows, but let’s keep our fingers crossed. Honestly it doesn’t feel like the Gene story has arrived at the last page yet.
Before this gig I had seen Gene ten times and I truly believed that it would stay at ten, but then the band reformed, so now I have seen them eleven times, so far. I have only seen three acts more times than I have seen Gene; David Bowie (13), Frank Turner (14) and Avalanche Party (15). See I told you Bowie would get another mention, but the question is will Gene move up my personal gig table, there is clearly a strong chance now! This stands as one of the finest gigs I have ever attended and one that I never thought would happen. Just a final note on the nostalgia thing, I went home with two signed vinyl albums and two t shirts!
If you have enjoyed this article, feel free to follow the blog.You can also follow us onInstagram, Bluesky, and Linkedin.
Are you interested in writing and reviewing for With Just A Hint Of Mayhem? If so then please get in touch via EMail.
With Just A Hint Of Mayhem 