EP REVIEW: The Suicide Notes – Trampstamp (self-released)
The Suicide Notes are a five-piece gutter-trash rock ‘n’ roll band from Witney in Oxfordshire, and this is their third EP.
Formed in 2019 as a four-piece, they released a couple of acoustic singles and an EP before going electric for second EP Pleasures Of Despair in 2020.
That year’s lockdown saw them add a second guitarist, which has beefed up their sound nicely, and this third EP is the expanded line-up’s latest offering.
Heavy riffing
They sound like they grew up on a diet of whisky and cigarettes while listening to Dogs D’ Amour and Guns ‘N’ Roses records.
This EP kicks off with the turbo-charged Rolling With The Punches, whose dirty bass rumble paves the way for some heavy riffing guitars and a guttural yell from vocalist Billy T that Axl Rose would be proud of.
It’s a tremendous song, full of hooks, and mixing just the right amount of punk and sleazy glam with a classic rock sound.
Snakes Grin Within keeps the vibe going, and if anything Billy’s voice sounder even rawer, becoming a sandpaper rasp at times.
But the best is yet to come, with their cover of the Rolling Stones’ Dead Flowers the outstanding song on this EP for me.
Their foot comes off the pedal just a little, and the band get to show off their musicianship in this mid-paced gem, which pisses all over the original.
Things are rounded off with an acoustic version of Black Dog Howlin’, taken from the aforementioned Pleasures Of Despair EP.
Sleazy glam punk
I prefer the electric version, but it’s an interesting take which shows there’s much more to The Suicide Notes than just sleazy glam punk.
The band they remind me most of is 80s rockers The Quireboys, with a dash of early Guns ‘N’ Roses thrown into the mix for good measure.
They’re good and they know it. They just need the rest of the world to find out. The band they remind me most are ’80s rockers The Quireboys (yes, I’m old enough to remember them!).
The Suicide Notes are Billy Tee (vocals), Alex Holmes (guitar), Danny Gould (guitar), Damien Beale (bass) and Gavin Hobbs (drums).
They’ve toured with the likes of Healthy Junkies and The City Kids, as well as going down a storm at the rescheduled HRH Sleaze 2021.
I bet they rock like a bastard live, and I’d love to see them get a full-length record together.
Check out their Facebook page HERE for details of where and when they’re playing, and do yourself a favour: get along and see them.
