Fresh Picks: Obliterations

Whether it’s Black Flag or Black Sabbath you hear when listening to Obliterations, you most definitely choke on your JD and Coke when you realise that Lemmy (see ‘Shame’ below) is on vocals.

Obviously Lemmy isn’t on vocals (instead we get a glorious modern Punk rattle) but the anti-capitalist grainy punch that comes in on ‘Kick Against the Pricks’, the opener to the bands self-titled EP and is as heavy as any other song the band have gone on to do.

Their debut EP rocks old-school Hardcore and the follow up The Hole, follows in just the same fashion.

‘Pay to Live’ begins with a machine gun of instrumentation and ‘The Hole’ is maniacal from the sinister screech at the very beginning, to the “summon satan” riff that is played until we make a transition from Doom Metal to Punk.

‘Can’t Afford to Live’ reflects on modern life and the constant struggle, but not in that “I have an acoustic guitar so listen to me” way. Instead, Obliterations are as honest as ever and lyrically the song reminds me of ‘Kick Against the Pricks’. Basically, despite everything we put up with, it all comes down to the fact that we can’t even afford to live.

Their debut album Poison Everything isn’t “more ambitious”, it’s just longer because it’s an album, obviously.

The band still sound angry and ‘Mind Ain’t Right’ sounds like it could be an Off! song – those Black Flag and Circle Jerks influences spreading onwards and outwards.

Speaking of Black Flag, the song ‘Shame’ sounds like it could have been on the second side of their album My War. It is slow and more sludgy than the crusty edged mud pies the band have been cooking up for us. Suddenly Obliterations sound like they’ve been finished off in the frying pan instead of being shoved in the oven at 180 C for 10-15 mins.

The rest of the album beyond ‘Shame’ is noisy and abrasive and just how you want it really. If you like the crazy energy of Iggy & The Stooges than you’ve got to give Obliterations a listen or two.

Somewhere in this hot Punk mess, are catchy songs and buzzing riffs. Obliterations are worth keeping around on your most convenient modern day device for those days where you’ve just got a load of laundry to fold and are thinking ‘why bother?’

Find them via their Facebook and bandcamp profiles.

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