After their recent introduction as the newest member of the Undead Artists family though the label’s compilation album Monster Mash-Up, we had real eagerness to check out the new album from Finnish psychobilly outfit Wanton. Their track was a potent teaser to their forthcoming second album, but only hinting at the bloody fun and raw adventure which was discovered within Harmageddon Get-Together.
Hailing from Rauma on the Finnish west coast, Wanton infuse a healthy dose of punk and instinctive rock ‘n’ roll in their psychobilly bred sound, a mix giving it a strain of individuality which sparks the imagination. and creates the visceral captivation cast by the Häiriö Piirinen recorded and Toni Randell mixed and mastered Harmageddon Get-Together. Wrapped in the artwork of Saara Jansson, the album casts its horror bound Intro before hitting the ground running with Fun ‘n’ Gore. With swinging beats from Eetu Ritakorpi aligned to the plucked throbbing of Santeri Toivonen’s double bass, the track is swiftly into its darkly aired stroll with swagger as compelling as the suggestive melodies and scything riffs from the guitar of Oskari Nieminen. There is no escaping the predacious tone of the song, its gait never forceful but more a stalking of ears as the grisly growl of vocalist Santeri Kero prowls. Even so, its catchy swing is openly lively and persuasive, leading ears to a truly seductive chorus and more flirtatious enterprise. Like a mix of Demented Are go and Zombie Ghost Train, it is an irresistible full start to the album quickly matched by its successor.
Censor This! is just as tenacious and catchy, Toivonen driving the temptation with his resonating strings as a rockabilly seeded guitar jangle courts the vocal growling of Kero. It is an easy going and simple to get involved in roar leaving a lingering snarl even as the excellent theatre and rapacious intent of Bump In The Night brings its ghostly haunts to bear on ears and imagination quickly after. Shadows line its corners, infection its vaunt as body and spirit bounces to its eager twists and turns. Nieminen’s guitar again spins a web of intrigue and melodic adventure, keys just as keen to toy with the senses as they spook the atmosphere.
DAG again comes to mind as 21st Century Haunting stomps through ears next, riffs and grooves compelling incitement within a web of imagination before Town Of Nihilo serenades with its suggestive caresses. Of course that initial smoulder is soon a feisty blaze as riffs and rhythms escape their restraints. Throughout the song they are caught and escape again and again as the western air of the song coats the senses with its sultry embrace.
There is a touch of cowpunk to next up Cyanide & Arsenic too, the song featuring a duet between Kero and an unknown but seductive female companion. It is like a bend of The Hillbilly Moon Explosion and The Only Ones when vocalist Peter Perrett dueted with Penetration front woman Pauline Murray and quite captivating, charming ears ready for the rhythmically skittish and hungrily infectious Meteors scented Scare Tactics And Human Frights. As in all tracks, Wanton soon sculpt their own creative character, an identity subsequently turning the outstanding Hyde into an insatiably addictive proposal with Ritakorpi ‘s anthemically stabbing beats and Toivonen’s pulsing riff the virulent heart to the enticing tangle of varied guitar and vocal devilry.
From one big highlight to another as Dystopia romps and rumbles with riotous intent and contagious endeavour straight after. It carries all the ingredients and zeal to ignite instincts and revitalise the spirit; psychobilly to leave the body and soul uninhibited. It is a prowess just as impressively found within the raw mouth-watering quick step of Second Coming and the passions nagging rockabilly bred Front Row Ticket. Imagine The Comets under the leadership of P Paul Fenech and you get a sense of the joy found in the latter alone.
Drama and attitude fuel the escapades of Vendetta next, where melodies and grooves are just as dangerous as the rhythmic and vocal trespass enslaving the appetite, while Infected is a corpse strewn infestation of senses clipping beats, brooding basslines, and sonic clang, all dripping decay and raw temptation as putrefied raw vocals scowl. Both are a trespass to devour and on their own a reason to declare Harmageddon Get-Together is a must.
The album’s fine conclusion is provided by the cleaner cut presence of The End; a warm and seriously enticing slice of boisterous balladry which may be missing some of the sparks of those before it but only leaves behind a lingering greed for more.
Psychobilly is blessed with some truly exciting potential loaded bands at this moment in time but, such the mighty assault of Harmageddon Get-Together, it is easy to suggest that Wanton have stolen a march on them all.
Harmageddon Get-Together is released April 1st through Undead Artists with pre-ordering available now @ https://wantonpsycho.bandcamp.com/music
https://www.facebook.com/wantonpsycho/
Pete RingMaster 17/03/2017
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