Monday, 9 December 2024

The Art Of Sod. Nothingheads

Yes, folks, I have exiting news for you. Johnny Rotten has reincarnated while alive! Singer (and guitarist) Rob Fairey has that same sneer in his voice with which Rotten took on the whole establishment and the rest of the U.K. in 1977. No one was secure in that short period Sex Pistols were on the scene. From the queen to the chimney sweep, they were both shocked by what they were hearing.

Of course, there is a huge if not insurmountable difference with 2024. There's not much Fairey and the Nothingheads can do to achieve that kind of shock. We, including king Charles and the latest generation of chimney sweeps, have heard it all before. That does not go to say that The Art Of Sod is not an exciting album. Nothingheads rocks out with a punk attitude and throws in some post punk antics and even some riffs bordering on metal. For one, the sound of the album is so much bigger than Sex Pistols and its contemporaries could ever achieve at the time. Almost 50 year of experiences and innovations went into The Art Of Sod and it pays off.

Nothingheads is a band from London in the U.K. and consist of three other members, Matt Holt (bass and/ synths), Ed Simpson (guitar) and Chanter Whitehurst (drums). In the past few years, you may have found some singles and an EP on the blog. That the band's debut album follows will not come as a surprise. In those few years the band has obviously progressed into a tight and energised foursome. 'Sunlit Uplands' was nice but nothing compared to what the band presents on its new album. Everything has a deeper layer, is a bit wider and bigger as well.

Did I write in June 2023 that with 'Rat' the band could score a huge hit in an alternative universe, (at present) I do not hear one on The Art Of Sod. That 1,2,3,4 The Ramones simplicity is gone as well. Nothingheads are slowly but surely carving out its own little niche somewhere between punk, postpunk and loud forms of rock. Still relentless and without compromise but spot on for most of the album.

And, no, this is not an album that I can play any time of the day, but when I need a shot of energy, this is exactly the album that will provide me with the right dose. And, no, I'm not going to pick out one or more songs to underscore what I'm hearing. There's no need. When I need that shot of energy or a loud album for that matter, this is one of the ones I'm likely to select. Rock on, brothers!

Wout de Natris - van der Borght


You can listen to and order the album here:

https://sister9.bandcamp.com/album/the-art-of-sod-vinyl-lp

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