The majority of punk bands seem to have a hard time to stay together for more than a handful of releases. I can see positive sides of this as loads of musicians just go on to form a new band where new sparks of creativity can be released upon an unsuspecting world. Sometimes it hurts a bit when a band decides to disband. Either because their output was already greatly satisfying or because you suspect their best material is yet to come.
In comes New Gods. I’ve been looking forward to their new release quite a while, but somehow missed it last fall. (But here I am, repairing the damage!) I was happy to see the band had a new EP out, but was a bit let down after reading in the promo-blurb this was also to be their last release.
Weird War Tales is only the second EP by this Irish band and it’s a shame it will be their last. On Weird War Tales, as on Gods of Punk (a little self-confidence can not be denied…) a mix of Dead Boys, The Wipers, and Poison Idea can be heard. And why shouldn’t they? Never change a winning team, right? Again this mix reminds me of Turbonegro (Ass Cobra-era). The band seems to have slowed down slightly and added some minor (really minor) glam influences. There’s heavy yet catchy riffs, harsh vocals that at times just ask to be sung along ("Lookin’ for a Cure") to and, to top it off, loads of swag.
Just like on their previous release, this EP is lasts just over 9 minutes. You’ll find yourself flipping this record over and over wishing there was more. So it’s sad the band will never release that LP that I was hoping for. From my perspective this band stopped just a little too early...