The Hellfreaks - Birmingham

Okay this is what I need to do more of.  I literally found out about this the night before, booked a  hotel, booked a train and just went.

I'm not doing these gig highlights as live reviews, they are just snippets of what I'm up to while you're all at home playing Skyrim or whatever.  Anyway here's the flyer and a quick round-up of the night.

The Venue:

The Rainbow was an interesting place to party. The entrance was all painted up to look like Dr Who's TARDIS on the inside which I'm sure leads to all sorts of Instagram hilarity.  The staff were all friendly enough and the selection of drinks was fair.

The Bands:

Nottingham's own Headstone Horrors opened with a storming set.  I have finally ordered their CD so I'll let you all know what that's like soon.

Next up we had the ever popular Healthy Junkies who seem to gain more members and more gusto each time I see them.

Pink Hearse dove in third and treated us to some brutal horror inspired punk.  We were also included in a shakycam sequence for a future music video and I had my face licked by singer Nikki Hearse.  This is punk.  Stuff like this happens.

Headliners The Hellfreaks came all the way from Budapest to give us a tight and very polished performance.  They featured mainly newer material which is more punk orientated than their former psychobilly sound.  They've also dropped the standing bass guitar.  This may displease some of their older fans but the band are obviously moving their own direction.

Sadly the venue turfed out at 11:30 so we stumbled down to a nearby metal venue for a nightcap.

Overall a great weekend romp in another city which made an interesting change.

Thirteen Shots - Tales That Start With A Whisper

"Spooky Rock Roll with a Punk Attitude!"

 

Thirteen Shots are a fun frenzy of rock & roll riffs, punk style vocals, punchy lyrics and a cult-cinematic flavour.  They have played some enjoyable shows with bands such as Trioxin Cherry, Army Of Walking Corpses and psychobilly legends Demented Are Go.  They also released a popular EP called Vaudeville back in 2012 and a single called Danzig back in 2011.

Thirteen Shots are always a very generous band when it comes to their sales. At their gigs they often tend to throw in some extra merch with their CDs and this EP was first released in a great summer offer included a Zombie Pinup T-shirt and a sticker.

The whole EP is fast paced and lively with elements of classic rock & roll plus shades of popular punk. Out of the whole EP I’ve picked out a few songs will doubtlessly be popular, especially on stage.

Starting with a sporting intro before kicking into action, Death Jam 2000 features the band’s own take on the Johnny B Good riff as is an awesome start to the album.  Zombies from the USSR is a semi-political horror rock rampage and can be enjoyed on a YouTube video too.  Another popular song is the wonderfully belligerent Nekro Sexual… I’ll leave the theme of that one to your imagination!

Visit The Site and Buy Cool Stuff:
http://thirteenshots.bandcamp.com

Follow The Band:
https://twitter.com/thirteenshotsuk
https://www.facebook.com/thirteenshotsband

Spontaneous Combustion by Larry LaVoie (2010)

“Dramatic from start to finish”

Spontaneous Combustion follows the traumatic struggle of James Cody, a firefighter whose daring attempt to be a hero costs him his job when things go horribly wrong.  Discredited and depressed he returns to his home town to recover but he has not finished paying for his reckless act of bravery yet.  When a vindictive killer begins targeting the people he cares for James finds himself not only fighting to clear his name but also fighting for his life.

This book is dramatic right from the start.  The opening scene is so tense you can almost feel the heat of the blazing inferno.  All the action scenes are reasonably well described throughout the story.  It is also obvious too that a fair amount of good solid research has been done by the author before writing this novella. I wouldn’t want to say the story is completely airtight but there are no gaping holes that defy the laws of physics, logic or legality that I have picked up on.

The characters are reasonably well rounded and understandable figures.  Cody himself is a sympathetic protagonist who you genuinely feel for.  He is a man who has tried to do good things and been punished unjustly.  The supporting characters are generally identifiable, not overly complex but easy to fit into the scenario and believable enough.  Cody’s nemesis is a villain that you will just love to hate, full of self-righteous fury and totally ruthless.

I am impressed with the comfortable writing style that keeps you flowing quickly throughout the novel.  There were unfortunately a few minor typos in the edition I read – an unfortunate but understandable by-product of publishing your own work on Kindle.

All in all I would not call Spontaneous Combustion a masterpiece but it is a good solid read and dramatic from start to finish.  The novella is certainly worth its value Kindle price and I’d like to buy more work by Larry LaVoie in the future.

But it at Amazon


Follow The Author:
http://www.larrylavoieauthor.com/

The Picture House By Janet McDermott-Brown (2013)

“Life On Mars Meets Alice In Wonderland”

 Cover Art By Vanessa Morris

The Picture House is a children’s fantasy story about a young imaginative boy trapped in a coma and the struggle of his three friends to save him from both his condition and the embodiment of his nightmares. Over the course of the story the three brave friends explore the fantastical regions of a child’s imagination, meeting lost souls, angry gardeners, enslaved trees and a wily black cat.

Although it is a story aimed at children The Picture House certainly does not talk down to its readers. The vocabulary, although not too baffling, is beautifully descriptive and vivid. Younger readers may struggle with some of the text but only in a way that encourages further learning. The themes in the book do not pull punches either. There is a very real sense of loss for many characters in the story which is dealt with in a sincere and compassionate way. These themes are not morose or morbid but rather encourage hope and understanding.

The characters are sympathetic and fun to read about. They are not action heroes but rather ordinary people who go through their ordeal because they care about their friend. You could maybe question how the children adapt so readily to such a bedazzling environment. But hey, kids are tough and it would hardly be an exciting story if they spent half the book going to pieces.

I would recommend a story like this to an imaginative child, boy or girl, who may enjoy watching Tim Burton Films, Doctor Who or Harry Potter. It is not wholly educational but is fun to read and steers away from patronising young people. I may not normally be a fan of this sort of book (and I’m probably old enough to know better) but I enjoyed it for it’s ability to amuse and entertain my imagination.

 Follow the author:
https://www.facebook.com/JanetMcDermottBrown
https://twitter.com/JMcDermottBrown

Bad Pollyanna - Monstrous Child

"Succulent, sexy as f@ck rock with an industrial edge"

 

Those familiar with the gothic music scene (and its extended family tree) will no doubt have heard Bad Pollyanna’s stylish brand of alternative rock already. They made a good name for themselves as a support act but they are now moving forward quite capably under their own steam. With well received appearances at Whitby Goth Weekend and Dark Waters Festival under their belt Bad Pollyanna are ready to move on to the next level.

The much anticipated Monstrous Child is a concept album about a young woman kidnapped and being used by a mad scientist in an experiment reminiscent of “The Bride of Frankenstein.” Fans of Bad Pollyanna’s stage shows will be delighted to hear their favourite songs in one full length album.

The clean quality of the recording and the pristine instrumentals against a powerful voice put their songs on par with anything released in the major rock charts. Throughout the album the lyrics are sincere and articulate. This is especially highlighted in “Letting You Go” which boasts deep emotion and loss portrayed through powerful vocals that would make a frozen-era Madonna proud.

Whether you’re into rock, gothic music, metal or just great female-driven songs I would recommend Monstrous Child. Bad Pollyanna will cater to a wide variety of tastes and are setting the standard for the future of alternative music.

Check out their site & order the album:
http://www.badpollyanna.com

Follow On Social Media:
https://twitter.com/Badpollyanna
https://www.facebook.com/badpollyanna

Magic Of Thieves by C. Greenwood (2012)

“Fantasy Without The Usual Suspects”

 Magic Of Thieves is the first in the Legends Of Dimmingwood series. It chronicles in first person the life of Ilan, a young girl whose village was destroyed by royal soldiers. Fleeing after seeing both her parents murdered for witchcraft she finds herself taken in by bandits and starting a new life under the vast shadow of Dimmingwood.  Unlike most fantasy settings, Dimmingwood has none of the usual elves, goblins, or dragons which is frankly a refreshing change.  Despite the elven-looking cover art, Ilan herself is in fact human, although obviously from some kind of shrouded ancestry.

It is only a short read and is probably best suited to teenagers and young adults rather than children. The use of language is fairly stocky and robust like the setting itself but that is not a poor reflection on the author. We are introduced to a gritty unforgiving world so Magic Of Thieves needs little in the way poetic flourish.  The writing is direct but not at all clumsy.

As an overall story Magic Of Thieves can seem a little unstructured. There are no overwhelming morals or plot twists in this first installment, it merely sets the scene. Ilan is rather flawed as a main protaginist. She is selfish and immature in many ways but I have the feeling she will settle and find her place in the world later in the series.   It’s a case of bearing with her for now because at some point she’ll come through for you.

I’d recommend this story and this series to anyone over 13 if you like fantasy but are perhaps sick of orcs, elves & dwarves.

Get it Free at:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00AEJG2KY/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Follow the author:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/C-Greenwood/192593944231127

The Accidental Demon Slayer by Angie Fox (2013)

“Funny, cheeky, sexy and ridiculous…”

I stumbled across this book during a browse through the free section but in truth I would not have minded paying for it.  Unlike most freebies, this is not a novella but a full size novel with enough room for character development, plot twists and lots of humour.

Lizzie Brown is an ordinary modern woman, fresh into her thirties, teaching at a primary school.  Her well-to-do life is turned into a bizarre adventure when her long lost grandmother pulls up on a motorcycle and tells her she is destined to save the world from a powerful demon.  Guided by her grandmother’s coven of biker witches, protected by a shape-shifting griffin and supported by her talking Jack Russel, Lizzie must learn to use her formidable powers to overcome the forces of darkness.

Although the romantic side of the story may be directed more at a female audience there are enough action scenes, plot turns and funny jokes to entertain any reader.  I’d recommend this if you enjoyed shows like Buffy or Charmed but even if you didn’t there is enough to keep most horror-fantasy fans going.

While the word use is very colloquial and sometimes just a little clumsy it is fairly deliberate and generally suits the story.  Some parts of the character dialogue and development seemed a bit rushed too but not to a point that ruins the whole book.  On the whole it seems that Fox was writing the kind of story she’d like to read rather than fill a genre market-gap or follow a formula.

The Accidental Demon Slayer certainly does not hold back too much on gore, language or indeed sex. For this reason, despite its somewhat jovial look at the supernatural I would say that only adult readers should buy this book.

Get it free at Amazon

Follow the Author:
http://www.angiefox.com/

The Wolfgangs - Cannibal Family

"Shout With The Devil"

I can't get enough of The Wolfgangs. This female fronted Psychobilly band from France have a classic rock & roll sound with smooth but powerful vocals. They sound great. They look great. Their presence is great.

Cannibal Family is so far the only official video the band have produced and is taken off their album "Shout With The Devil" which is also worth a write-up on here sometime.

I rate the band as being ideal for fans of of Imelda May or even Demented-Are-Go but you may have you own ideas. Either way, watch the video and see what you think!

Follow The Band:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Wolfgangs/191487380890799

Buy the album at Amazon

Bad Pollyanna - Hollow

"An experiment reminiscent of The Bride of Frankenstein."

The much anticipated Monstrous Child is a concept album about a young woman kidnapped and being used by a mad scientist in an experiment reminiscent of “The Bride of Frankenstein.”

 If you have not heard the band yet you are missing out so here is their official music video for Hollow which captures the whole essence of Monstrous Child in one short film.

Check out their site and order the album:
http://www.badpollyanna.com

Follow the band:
https://twitter.com/Badpollyanna
https://www.facebook.com/badpollyanna

Dead Thing by Andrew Hawnt (2011)

“Painting The Town Red!”

 Cover art by Richard Woollatt

The story centers around the actions of an otherworldly entity, a demon which survives and grows by inhabiting human hosts. Our major protagonist is Kevin, a young man whose days are numbered by Cystic Fibrosis. After a short encounter with the fiend he finds himself assisting a team of paranormal investigators in a desperate race to save his estranged lover Julie from becoming the creature’s final host.

While the supernatural action is incredibly graphic and extreme the brief episodes of normality are amazingly true to life. Andrew Hawnt clearly has a good grasp of his characters in their everyday lives with their pet hates, daily routines and waking thoughts. These scenes of the mundane serve to make the scenes of the macabre surprisingly believable. The main characters are realistic, intelligent and sympathetic people whose world is torn apart by a foe that you genuinely want them to defeat. In true Tech-Noir fashion much of the action takes place in the seedy world of clubland, where violence and panic are easier to camouflage into a backdrop of leisurely excess.

All in all Dead Thing is a fairly short read but it’s impact is hard. At Kindle price it is certainly worth buying just to try something a little different. I look forward to reading (and hopefully reviewing) the sequel.

Buy it at Amazon

Follow the author:
http://andrewhawnt.blogspot.co.uk/

The Hero Gotham Deserves

"Just Put This On The Damn Screen Already!"

Okay so this is a couple of years old now and I don't know how I missed it at the time but I have just been watching part 1 of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns on Amazon and it strikes me how we have never got the Batman movie we actually deserve.  This animated action-thriller is probably the best version of Batman I have ever watched on the screen.  I read the original by Frank Miller and Klaus Janson a few years back and liked the story (it's heralded as one of the best stories ever).  I never knew how well it would transfer onto the screen until now.

Batman has had a varied history on screen ranging from darkly gritty to downright ridiculous over the years.  We've never really had a definitive Batman in the movies because there simply isn't one.  Each writer either at DC Comics or in Hollywood has their own take on the caped crusader.  This is probably one of the factors in his longevity.  

However I would argue that having your own take on something does not have to mean presenting us with yet another origin story.  We are constantly bombarded with cinema reboots at the moment.  Having to see how Fantastic Four, Spiderman, Hulk and even Superman started yet again just because someone else had their own take on the story is getting downright boring!

We already know who Spider-Man is.  We already know who Superman is.  Everyone with a TV knows who Batman is!  Even if you're not a comic geek I'm sure you know at least enough to get you through a two hour movie.  More to the point these characters have been starring in creative and original printed stories each week for generations now.  Could we please see a movie about one of them at some point?

There are plenty of writers, reviewers and Bloggers who feel the same way.  My eyes were opened to origin overload on Andrew Hawnt's blog back in 2011 and later in 2014 with his comments on The Amazing Spiderman and Fantastic Four, two franchise re-imaginings that had the chance to break the mold and didn't dare  There are plenty more out there but you get the idea.  With yet another Batman reboot on it's way I'm holding out hope that Ben Affleck will get to so something other than just becoming Batman for the entire first half of the movie.


This is where The Dark Knight Returns comes in.  Here is a story that assumes the viewer knows who the Batman is and gets on with telling us the story in hand.  We're taken to a Gotham city some years in the future.  Batman has not been sighted for ten years.  Once again crime is spiraling out of control as a new criminal movement known as The Mutants attack indiscriminately and people are scared to walk the streets at night.

Bruce Wayne, now well into his fifties, dons the cape once again and takes the fight to them.  His reappearance provokes the return of the Joker, the birth of a vigilante army and also inspires a determined teenage girl to join the fight as Robin.


This film is almost a frame-by-frame recreation of Miller's Masterpiece.  It pulls no punches.  The Joker guns down innocent people, torments an aged Selina Kyle and almost kills Batman in a vicious knife attack.  Batman himself is the very definition of dark.  He breaks bones and beats criminals into a bloody pulp.  These aged versions of the characters are more brutal than ever.  They know their time is coming to an end.  They know they have little left to lose.

So back to the titular point of the article.  This is the hero Gotham deserves.  This is the hero we as viewers deserve to see.  This is the story we deserve to see.  The Nolan trilogy (cool as it was) drew many influences from The Dark Knight Returns.  Dawn Of Justice has obviously stolen the idea of an epic Batman/Superman fight from The Dark Knight Returns.

How about someone just swallows it down and makes The Dark Knight Returns?


Mask Of The Phantasm.  SubZero.  The Dark Knight Returns.  Son Of Batman. Assault On Arkham.  I could go on.  Animation studios are bringing some of the true classics to our screens.  But every time there is a live action movie it becomes another by-the-numbers origin story where each director/producer arrogantly wants to plaster "their take" on Batman all over our screens

Maybe I'm right or maybe I'm wrong.  At the end of the day it's still about a grown man that runs around dressed as a giant bat.