Now when it comes to supergroups it can either be a word many wince at or one to be ecstatic about. Venomous Concept are the latter. Started by legend Shane Embury (Napalm Death) & Kevin Sharp (Brutal Truth) in the hope to tap into their love for all things hardcore punk & rock & roll. They together forged a project that has become one of the best outfits in the underground scene.
“Politics Versus the Erection” the band’s last album released in 2020 was released to high acclaim & was noted as one of the best hardcore punk albums of that year.
Now in 2023, the band will release their next full-length “The Good Ship Lollipop”. Thirteen tracks & just under forty minutes of electrified upbeat rocking punk & hardcore!
The opening also titles track “The Good Ship Lollipop” oozes upbeat. The signature bass work of Shane Embury shines & carries the track, While chorus chants from Sharp get the blood pumping.
Guitarist John Cooke’s (Napalm Death) use of effects works perfectly for the verse section, distorted delays swirl in conjunction with Emburys thunderous driving bass line. A first track to get the listeners’ pulse up & spirits high!
Channelling Black Flag & Poison Idea, “Slack Jaw” & “Clinical” just shows how Carl Stokes (Cancer) ‘s simple but effective punk drumming can keep the band’s sound tight & organic.
Where most punk & hardcore drummers want to be fast, loose & in the end become sloppy Stoke’s regimented but flowing drums allows the band to have the solid foundation that allows Cooke’s rhythmic changes to stand out individually & also complement each other so well.
The highlight of the album “Voices” gives me aggressive hardcore vibes, VC turned to 11, full of piss & rock n roll. Close to the death-n-roll era of Entombed, this track is fantastic & the nice bit of grit the album needs. Utter brilliance.
“The Humble Crow” shows just how great writers Cooke & Embury are. Ten tracks deep & they are still able to craft interesting song dynamics & structures. Featuring a blistering out-of-nowhere solo from Cooke sent this rocket of a track into the stratosphere.
At the last few minutes of the album “Life’s Winter” lets the band fully flex their rock-influenced muscle. Sharp’s vocal range throughout the album & even thirteen tracks in shows he’s not just the grindcore vocalist we all know & love but the man has such a huge voice! Heavy Rollins Band & Killing Joke this track leaves the album on a high point.
“The Good Ship Lollipop” is an album chocked full of brilliant moments, giving you all sides of the hardcore punk sound, also giving you the balls out rock n roll swagger most bands lack when doing so.
If you’ve never given Venomous Concept the much deserved listen, do so now. This album is some of the most fun, interesting & energetic music you will hear for some time.
Joseph Mitchell
‘The Good Ship Lollipop’ is released in association with Extrinsic Records on 24th February on the following formats:
Digitally worldwide via Graphite Records.
CD & black vinyl in the UK via Graphite Records.
Limited edition coloured vinyl and cassette in the U.S via Decibel Records.
CD in Japan via MCR Company.
Pre-order now: https://linktr.ee/venomousconcept
TRACKLIST:
A1. The Good Ship Lollipop
A2 Time Line
A3 Slack Jaw
A4 Pig
A5 Clinical
A6 Fractured
B1 Voices
B2 So Sick
B3 Flowers Bloom
B4 Humble Crow
B5 Can’t Lose
B6 Everything Is Endless
B7 Life’s Winter
Venomous Concept are: Kevin Sharp (vocals), Shane Embury (bass), John Cooke (guitar), Carl Stokes (drums)
‘a gritty, energetic, and finely crafted platter’ – Angry Metal Guy
‘the perfect means to drown out the tsunami of bullshit pouring through your various media conduits‘ – Blabbermouth
Listen to previous single ‘Voices’ now – https://linktr.ee/venomousconcept