CD REVIEW: S/T by Dead City Ruins

S/T by Dead City Ruins
(Metalville Records)

As any discerning music fan knows, there are only two kinds of music: Rock and Roll. And in these times of social calamity, financial ruin and uncertain tomorrows, rock 'n' roll remains the only thing that most of us can always rely on. As a result, bands like Dead City Ruins are to be cherished and celebrated.  Starting out in London England and making their way home to Australia whilst playing as many down trodden, these steely-eyed purveyors of balls-out, barnstorming classic rock are on a mission to put a smile back on your face. Ultimately, it's all about getting the basics right and giving the people what they want. The band is made up of, Jake Wiffen on vocals, the dual guitar attack of, Tommy Teabag and Sean Blanchard, Tony Alkemade on bass and Andy Alkemade on drums. These guys rock with plenty of balls and while there's no attempt to reinvent the wheel with any of their music, that suits the likes of me just fine.  What I also like about these guys is that a sense of rawness, energy (no doubt that of youth) and also authenticity shines through in their music. That energy and rawness is evident from the moment you press play and "Hapenzella" blasts out of your speakers with no let up as the lads let loose with balls out rockers like, "Til Death", "D.I.B.", "Shot Through" and the down right nasty swagger of, "Blue Bastard". The lads also pay homage to the late Ronnie James Dio, with "Dio". Whitfield Crane from Ugly Kid Joe makes a cameo on a ball busting cover of the AC/DC classic, "Rock 'N' Roll Damnation". Rather than trying to be a clone of some 1980's LA bands, they have a sound that has elements of those bands but still has a great deal of originality with it, thus creating a sound uniquely identifiable as theirs. Killer riffs and catchy sing along choruses from front to back with no filler tracks to be found. If you like your guitars up front and out loud then give these guys a listen, you won't be disappointed. - Highly Recommended
Tony @ The Dedicated Rocker Society/All Access Magazine