Album Review
Revenge Of The Psychotronic Man – Make Pigs Smoke
For a self-made, self-promoted and self-reliant band to defy the often less talented but more money backed competitors. They sometimes need a slice of luck similar to that which gained Hot Hot Heat more exposure than a het up Didier Drogba, when they coincidentally titled one of their singles ‘Bandages’, releasing it in the midst of the Gulf War.
By which they earned themselves a Radio ban and the ultra-cool status attached to that. Well, lady fate is nodding, winking and flashing a bit of leg at the mercurially manic Mancunian trio, Revenge Of The Psychotronic Man (ROTPM). This is because the title of this fourteen track melting pot of punk and most things alternative. Could give scientists the necessary inspiration to create a cure for this swine of a flu we’re currently enduring (sorry, but you have to allow for at least one cheap play on words!).
An opening double whammy that builds from the rampaging bass lines of Andy, representing a more abrasive take on punk, setting the challenge for himself to raise his vocal profile and fully communicate their independence and grab life by the nuts philosophy, through, ‘i durst venture south’ and ‘cosmopolitan.horse.tits’. Something he does with impunity and despite line up changes ROTPM, continue to show a tight understanding and a desire to flash the frills, urgency and free spirit of punk and what’s beyond it.
‘blackpool rock’, builds from an atmospheric 80s rock foundation, as Andy’s guitar chutzpah goes head-to-head, lick for lick with Big Hands’ rattling percussion and though a dead-heat ensues, it’s the rambunctious dual vocals that win the day. It gives the necessary aggression and gusto to make this sub-two minute skank-fest.
The fact that ROTPM continue to self-release their work, allows them to veer off in a more abrasive direction, providing a mild metallic shine to their erstwhile commentary, something that gushes out in ‘felch death fuck storm’.
A more rhythmic, atmospheric and ska chucked diversion, ‘needless to say’ exchanges heaviness for instrumental foraging, lending variety and a little bit of warmth to matters. Of course, punk, as much as anything, is about the lyrics and sloganeering tendencies. ‘bouncing back’ encapsulates just this;
“Maybe you should try to do something good today, instead of criticising everybody else?”
‘Make Pigs Smoke’ is an album that provides this erstwhile and pulse rushing manc’ punk outfit with more effective ammunition to stun those seeking an independent spirit, ballsy approach and an act with something still to say.
This album can be purchased for £6 (the price of a pocket of pork scratchings in Norway) from [link]>