A release all fans of garage punk/ punk will find more than a fleeting interest in is the split album from two raw and intriguing Serbian bands, Šut and Big Charmin’ Men. The album is a retrospective release from the pair of Svilajnac bands in that it brings together potent moments from their undiscovered careers, beyond their borders anyway. 2000 album Hladna Soba (Cold Room) from Šut (an album from what we can tell was unreleased), consisting of 13 tracks makes up half the release along with an additional three songs from 1998 and is matched in the number of tracks by the 2006 mini album Birthday 31 and an additional eight songs which include covers of tracks from legendary bands from the former Yugoslavia by their compatriots. Released on underground label T2 (Torpedo Boom), it is a raw and honest collection of sounds and tracks which from start to finish are compelling and enlightening.
Šut was formed in 1993 by Mouse and Pop alongside Voja (bass). Their sound from accounts evolved over the years until 2002 with the band building a strong reputation and fan base for their fiery sounds. A demo was released in 1997 to be followed by the recording of Vetar (The Wind), an also unpublished album from which the three additional songs on this album come from. With a line-up of Mouse (guitar/lead vocals), Voja (guitar/vocals), Darius (bass/vocals), and Dreja (drums/backing vocals) for Hladna Soba, the band has brewed up a tasty mix of garage and post punk for songs which capture the imagination constantly.
The quartet open up the album with an excellent instrumental simply called Intro, a piece of rock n roll fused from punk, garage rock, and a loud whisper of rockabilly neatly moulded into a brief and infectious invitation. The following Ovih Dana is a boisterous fusion of old school punk and garage punk abrasion which hits the spot with its heavy bass breath and riotous energy and attitude and as with the majority of the songs on the album and all from Šut the lyrics are sung in Serbian but ensure it is not an issue by raising a passion and energy which triggers the primal instincts only punk of any form can touch. The first full song is seeded in punk but from the following Pesak U Satua a post punk vein begins to make its voice heard especially within the best tracks from the band in the magnetic form of Pad, Pucaj, and Predsoblje. The first is a mesh of blustery sonics, harsh snapping drums, and a cold yet incendiary groove. There is an underlying drone to it which is irresistible and within the melodic sonic flames it tempers and compliments the heat of the instrumental elsewhere. Pucaj immediately from its discord dripping groove and scathing riffs reminds of bands like Artery and Crispy Ambulance and offers a cold contagion impossible not to devour eagerly. It is the best track on the whole release though easily equalled by Predsoblje, the song a Joy Division meets Thee Headcoats which again just enthrals and leads limbs in to a chaotic response as does the band for most of their presence on the album.
Big Charmin’ Men sound like their influences are similar to their conspirators but offer a more blues and sixties punk breath to their garage furnace of noise. Consisting of Mihajlo Belolule, and Andreja Vlajic the band began in 2005, recording the eight track mini album which makes up half their contribution here the following year. Their first CD New Life appeared in 2010 to good responses to be followed by Born (Down Somewhere) a year later with the band apparently calling it a day the same year.
The duo start off their part of the release with the challenging attitude of Iskovan Od Bola, a slab of provocative rock n roll which stamps and stomps like a belligerent teenager. Next up the Ramones veined I Dalje Tu is an excellent piece of punk rock whilst the blues fire raging within Ja Sanjam shows the diversity of the band and their open sound. Elevated highlights from the band come through the punk grazing of Jedva Čekas Da Odeš with a great guitar blaze for is climax and the muscular intimidating Dobro Sam, again the songs bringing an accomplished variety from the band. The band take influences from the likes of Majke, Pokvarena Masta, Machine Gun, and Kaoticne Duse, and contribute a few very decent covers including one of the Pokvarena Mašta song Ne Budi Divlja and the Majke track Loš Život featuring the harmonica skills of Sarma. They end their participation on the record with the wonderful Rođen Negde Dole, a blues driven romp of total pleasure with more mesmeric harmonica craft this time from the soulful skills of Knucklehead. It is a delicious brawl of rock n roll and the perfect way to end a fine release.
If punk, garage, and to some extent blues raises strong flickers of passion within than checking out this thoroughly enjoyable release could just make your day.
To find out more about the album and how to get it https://www.facebook.com/mihajlobelolule.markovic?ref=ts&fref=ts
7/10
RingMaster 08/02/2013
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