Damn Vandals - Rocket Out of London
by Adrian Huggins
published: 6 / 5 / 2014

Label:
Sexy Beast
Format: CD
intro
Cliched and adolescent rock and roll on second album from London-based group, Damn Vandals
Londoners Damn Vandals' have a sleazy approach to rock and roll and do things in a stripped back style. ‘Rocket Out Of London’ atarts off pretty well, as the first few tracks feature plenty of Cramps-esque imagery and a somewhat Meteors-like delivery. Rock and roll attitude is evident from the start of first track ‘Twist and Tangle’. Lead singer Jack Kansas’s gravelly vocals compliment the low growling bass. There are also Josh Homme style guitar sounds from fellow axe-slinger Frank Pick. ‘I Hate School’ may appeal to some, but in my opinion no one that sounds this old should be singing about hating school. It was bad enough when Alice Cooper and Twisted Sister pedalled this nonsense when they both well into their thirties, and Damn Vandals here sound juvenile and irelevant. The music veers dangerously near to a dad/pub rock sound at times, which of course, has its place although I’m not sure this is Damn Vandals intention. If it is, then great, they’re doing a smashing job of making no-nonsense rock and roll to fuel beery nights of fun, but all too often tracks such as ‘Too Lazy To Die Too Stoned To Live’ lack substance. Overall I found the album to be more Newcastle Brown Ale than Pineapple Express. That said, their combination of Lemmy-style vocals and poppier Queens of the Stone Age guitars is definitely not without its charm and live I would imagine they’re probably belting, so I would be very keen to hear them in their natural habitat.
Track Listing:-
1 Twist up and Tangle2 Cities of a Plastic World
3 Too Lazy to Die Too Stoned to Live
4 I Bring You Love
5 Number One Fan
6 Whisky Going Free
7 I Hate School
8 Mad as Hell
9 This Music Blows My Tiny Mind
10 Rocket over London
Band Links:-
https://www.facebook.com/damnvandalshttp://www.damnvandals.co.uk/#music
https://damnvandals.bandcamp.com/
https://twitter.com/damnvandals
soundcloud
reviews |
You Me the Devil and the Sunshine (2021) |
![]() |
A year’s worth of pent-up energy and emotion blasts through Damn Vandals' new album with one banger after another |
most viewed articles
current edition
John McKay - InterviewRobert Forster - Interview
Cathode Ray - Interview
Spear Of Destiny - Interview
Fiona Hutchings - Interview
When Rivers Meet - Waterfront, Norwich, 29/5/2025
Carl Ewens - David Bowie 1964 to 1982 On Track: Every Album, Every Song
Chris Wade - Interview
Brian Wilson - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Shrag - Huw Stephens Session 08.12.10 and Marc Riley Session 21.03.12
most viewed reviews
current edition
Peter Doolan - I Am a Tree Rooted to the Spot and a Snake Moves Around Me,in a CircleGarbage - Let All That We Imagine Be The Light
Vinny Peculiar - Things Too Long Left Unsaid
Vultures - Liz Kershaw Session 16.06.88
John McKay - Sixes and #Sevens
Little Simz - Lotus
HAIM - I Quit
Morcheeba - Escape The Chaos
Pulp - More
Lapsley - I'm a Hurricane, I'm a Woman In Love
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart