The tail end of last year saw the attention seizing arrival of German outfit Blast Bomb on the punk ‘n’ roll scene with debut single Born To Lose. Offering up three ravenous slices of heavy rabid rock ‘n’ roll, the release announced the Hamburg hailing quintet as one explosive proposition. Since then the band has made a just as striking and powerful impact on the live scene, sharing stages with the likes of Honeymoon Disease, Conan, Monolord, El Colosso, and Grumpynators along the way. With their reputation seemingly growing by the week, Blast Bomb is poised to release the Burn History & Live Today; an encounter confirming them a feral trespass of sound rather easy to devour and be excited by.
Blast Bomb emerged early 2017 as a project when guitarists Torben and Klaus, bassist Kai, and drummer Tobi came together though the foursome had played together in various permutations and outfits including notably High Gain District and Skull Harvest across previous years. Swiftly they enlisted former Thirteen Shots vocalist and founder Johnny Rose and together honed a sound which is an aggressively imposing and irritable yet instinctively contagious collusion of punk and hard rock with varied metal bred essences. Born To Lose soon proved it was an ear grabbing proposal which demands attention but fair to say as potent as that release was, it has been fiercely eclipsed by Burn History & Live Today in adventure and imagination let alone raw confrontation.
Recorded by Franz Schedlbauer at No Moss Studio and across its quartet of songs lyrically inspired and linked by the emotions and desire leading to Rose’s resettlement in German from England a couple of years ago, the EP swiftly reveals bolder imagination in sound and enterprise through opener Gambler. From an initial bike throated rumble, the band’s new single swaggers in with a hungry groove and rapaciously swinging beats. That grooving continues to bait as things evolve, getting under the skin as Rose’s distinctive tones bring their equally compelling invitation to the hook loaded rock ‘n’ roll incitement. Also spilling a horror punk scent over its punk ‘n’ roll instincts, the track provides a web of old school nurtured but intrusively fresh confrontation while increasingly building on its creative hand.
The following Stray prowls ears with an almost portentous air as it makes its entrance; its threat escalating by the riff and chord as the growling bass of Kai and scything swings of Tobi bring greater imposing texture and attitude to the senses challenging encounter. Stoner spicing adds to its character, further flavouring an inescapable intensity in sound and emotion as well as another inventive aspect to the Blast Bomb sound before Burn History bounds in with devious hooks and snarling riffs amidst an eager ferociousness quickly sparking blues flamed spirals of guitar. This all springs into a spicily searing glaze of sonic liquor which subsequently triggers a repetition of the song’s opening whirl of irresistible hookery and in turn a horror punk lined stalking. With imagination and drama growing in every persuasive note and vocal twist, the track rivals the first in best song honours.
Live Today concludes the release, its gentle opening saunter easily luring the imagination, seducing as guitars and bass unite in an even tempered invitation unsurprisingly carrying an edge and suggestive volatility. That aural simmering eventually erupts in a caustic wind of sound though it is still held with a restraint which escalates the intrigue and creative nature of the song.
It is a fine end to a release which confirms Blast Bomb as one exciting prospect and though you can sense that their sound is still evolving, finding its true voice it just adds to their striking and very welcome intrusion on the punk/rock scene.
This past December saw the release of the debut single from German rockers Blast Bomb, a band with friend of The RingMaster Review and owner of the great independent label Undead Artists,Johnny Rose as its vocalist. The whole of the band though has a pedigree which matches their passion and craft, all in potent evidence within Born To Lose. With thanks to the whole band we grabbed the chance to find out more about Blast Bomb and their first single…
Hello guys and big thanks for taking time to chat with us.
Kein Problem, Danke fur dein helfen!
Can you first introduce the band?
Johnny: Singer
Torben: Guitar
Klaus: Guitar
Kai: Bass
Tobi: Drums
When did the band come together and what are your individual musical histories before Blast Bomb?
Torben – The Band comes together in the beginning of 2017 (January). I make music together with Tobi since school. Must be since 1995 or something like that, a long time. Klaus always says we know each other so well if someone does a fart the other reacts from the music view. Our first real band was High Gain District. A few years ago I played together with Klaus at Skull Harvest, so there comes the connection.
Kai: Skull Harvest 1999 – 2005 / Spezialangriff 2010 – 2012 / This One Goes To Eleven 2006 – 2016
Johnny – Torben and Tobi played together in bands for many years! Torben and Klaus played together in bands for many years….. Kai, Torben and Klaus played in bands together for many years…. are you sensing a pattern????
We already know Johnny from his exploits with Thirteen Shots and his label Undead Artists, how did you Johnny meet the rest of the band and what sparked your addition to its line-up?
Torben – the band posted an advertisement on a local band platform that they are searching a singer. At the same time Johnny makes a post that he searches for a band. So he receives the handy recordings from the last practice and in the next weeks some rehearsals was arranged. The rest is history…
Johnny – The guys have all been friends and playing music together for many years, ok in different bands but that chemistry was very obvious for me from hearing the live demo’s, so I was delighted when I got the chance to audition…..
Was there a deliberate direction you wanted to take Blast Bomb or has that and your sound just organically come together?
Torben – The sound comes automatically together from the single members. So we formed our own sound, every member of the band has his influences. Tobi has a Jazz and Alternative background, Kai has a stoner source, Klaus comes from Metal, Torben is more Rock orientated and Johnny …
Johnny – My music taste is superb! Who doesn’t love Chris De Burgh???
Torben – But all members are very open to ALL kinds of music, they have the same opinion about music … If it is good, it is good!!!
How would you describe the band’s sound to newcomers?
Torben – The band sound is something between Punk Rock, Rock, Metal, Stoner and Alternative… The term Crossover is a bit dusted but could maybe fit in another context than in the 90’s.
Johnny – I think the sound is more Punk ‘N’ Roll, we are certainly a crossover but we have this raw energy that runs through every song…..that to me is Punk ‘N’ Roll. But we need you guys to help us?? Who are we? What are we? haha
Can you give a flavour of some of the inspirations which may have made an impact on the band but certainly on your personal tastes and approach to making music?
Johnny -Well for me The Beatles, Black Sabbath and Pink Floyd are my biggest influences! But the older Crossover punk bands are the reason I make the music I do…Misfits, Amen, Snot, Turbonegro. I am fascinated by concept bands too, something I would love day love to try, I like the attention to detail in the concepts.
Torben- Guns N Roses (Appetite For Destruction and Lies, when the Illusions came out I throw everything in the garbage), Pantera , Rage against the Machine, Suicidal Tendencies, Faith No More, Mr Bungle, Red Hot Chilli Peppers.
Klaus- My First contact with Rock was Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath; I found the records from my stepfather. But later I found love for grunge Alice In Chains, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden… I am also a big fan of Elvis, Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis
Torben – Klaus ALSO LOVES Judas Priest and Iron Maiden…
Kai – Don’t forget Adriano Celentano Klaus
Klaus-oh and Jimi Hendrix….
Kai- For me its 80s Metal and Bay-Area Thrash to Stoner bands and the explosive Scandinavian Rock scene in the 90s; there’s too many to mention…
Tobi -NO MEANS NO, Primus, NO MEANS NO and of course NO MEANS NO
You have just released your debut single, Born To Lose; a three track feral punk ‘n’ roll attack showing creative irritability, ferocity, and attitude. It also reveals the variety of flavours in your sound. Is the single a full echo of your music or a teaser to an even broader tapestry?
Torben – It’s more a teaser, the band just in the forming process of their own style. The band creates a dozen songs since January; all have the same direction but are very different. The direction is forward …
Johnny – Absolutely, we are still finding our direction, The songs we are writing have so much power and purpose. Born To Lose felt like the correct single to record as it was the first song I heard and realised I wanted to join this band; I actually wrote the lyrics on the train to my audition, not much has changed from my original lyric idea!
We all work together to encourage us to achieve our best. Wait till you hear the full length
Can you give us a look into its themes?
Torben – Just wait for the Long Player… Till then we fix our sound…
Johnny – We keep working, Writing, Fine tuning, maybe we won’t rush the full length, better to focus on quality. We only want to put out the best, we are not kids anymore!
I assume you have a host of other songs in your arsenal. What was it about that trio which you felt made the best introduction to the band to the world?
Torben – We thought that it was a good idea to give a wide selection of our sound and don’t pick the most equal sounds.
Johnny – Yes we always knew that Maiden Hero and Born To Lose [would be on it] but we was unsure on the third option, we had another song in mind, But we played a show two days before we recorded and the feedback from friends and people at the gig made us re-think the third option…. that’s why we chose You’re Going Down… it was chosen kinda by fans.
The single is released through Italian label Archetype Records; how did that link up come about?
Torben – It just a friendship, so we help them and they help us. So it was a good opportunity for all of us.
Johnny – Yes these guys are trying to build something unique, we are trying the same, felt like a good agreement
On the live side of the band, you have already been successful supports to the likes of Honeymoon Disease, Conan, and Monolord, earning plaudits at the same time. When starting out did you suspect your sound would make a potent fit with bands and audiences of different genres?
Torben – No not really but we hope regarding our different sources and it seems that the idea works out well.
Johnny – To be honest I was incredibly nervous playing the show with Conan and Monolord. We are in NO WAY doomy but the crowd was more open than I expected, we got a really positive reception. We didn’t change our approach for the show so to see these doom fans getting down to some punk rock was quite amusing for me….
From the outside, The Hamburg music scene seems to be boiling up, how is it on the inside?
Torben – Curse and blessing at the same time. In Hamburg the scene is really big, so you can catch up a lot of influences. Furthermore you have the option to see a lot of bands, local and international, in the small and big clubs.
But regarding that it is hard to get a good gig and bring the people to the concerts. In Hamburg you can go to minimum 5 concerts every day. So it’s hard to get notified by the people but that makes us proud that we get that attention only after the first shows.
Johnny – Yes we just played our first headline show and the venue was pretty much sold out, it was certainly cosy. The Conan and Monolord show was just outside Hamburg, a Tuesday night and SOLD OUT… that to me was crazy.
I lose a lot of money a month in going to gigs, Some fantastic local bands too, in so many different styles.
What is next for Blast Bomb?
Torben – To rule the world 😉 …We are planning our first Italian tour, during the summer we want to play a few festivals and still searching for a good support slot. Furthermore we are looking to Johnny’s homeland to get a few shows there.
During the next year we want to do some more recordings, we think about a few small releases, nowadays we have no need to bring out a whole record… We bomb the world with a lot of, lot of small releases.
Johnny – haha Blast Bomb the world…..it will be explosive
Again many thanks for sharing your time; any last words you would like to add?
Torben – Better be aware the next bomb could be next to you …
There is a new uncompromising bruiser in town and it goes by the name of Blast Bomb. The first week of December sees the Hamburg outfit release their debut single Born To Lose; three tracks of rousing feral punk ‘n’ roll that take no prisoners whilst stirring up defiance fuelled, attitude loaded involvement.
Blast Bomb rose up earlier this year from the presumable demise of underground bands High Gain District and Skull Harvest. Its line-up was subsequently completed by ex-Thirteen Shots vocalist and founder of independent label Undead Artists, Johnny Rose. Having moved to Hamburg from his native Birmingham in the UK, Johnny has introduced a host of great garage and horror punk bands to new ears though his label but it would not be too wrong to say that his old band has been missed by a great many so anticipation for this first Blast Bomb encounter is broad and eager. Listening to it, it almost feels like a match destined to be, Johnny’s untamed but fiercely magnetic tones an instinctive union with the sounds unleashed by guitarists Torben and Klaus, bassist Kai, and drummer Tobi.
Since emerging, Blast Bomb has earned strong support and plaudits through supporting Honeymoon Disease, Conan, and Monolord. We called their sound feral punk ‘n’ roll but it is easy to understand how they went down well with the audiences at those band’s shows as it has a definite dark stoner/sludge punk essence to its uncompromising but infectious trespass. Released through Italian label Archetype Records, Born To Lose is ripe with this voracious sound and is sure to nudge the European rock scene to their presence.
The single opens with its title track, a sonic wire drawing in the combined thrust of vocals and sound with rhythms directing the charge with their own creative agitation. It is a riot in the ears though imposing but one composed and direct in its targets as hooks and riffs crowd the great earthy moan of the bass. Group participation further ignites the anthemic rock ‘n’ roll of the chorus while tendrils of fiery guitar intensify the heat even if not hanging around long enough for personal pleasure. Like a dirtier punk Johnny Thunders and The Heartbreakers, band and track has the body bouncing and middle finger quivering as it gets things off to a great start.
As potent as it is, these ears took to its companions even more eagerly, You’re Going Down being first up. Its initial melodic hook is instantly a greed poking lure, even more so when an additional groove of guitar and the moody grumble of the bass join in. Once hitting its antagonistic stride, the track uncages a grungier hue to its bracing and abrasive roar proceeding to holler and blaze with creative irritability around a virulent web of hooks.
Things only get even more compelling as Maiden Hero closes things up. That stoner spicing is far more to the fore as grooves entangle ears and appetite, their flirtatious fingering lingering bait as the song’s punk heart erupts then flaring up themselves again and again across the incendiary landscape. The single’s finale is a scorching slab of rock ‘n’ roll, reason alone to check out Blast Bomb and sure to be a major spark to a great many to get involved in the band’s ear grabbing emergence.
Born To Lose is released December 6th via Archetype Records.
Recorded by Franz Schedlbauer at No Moss Studio and across its quartet of songs lyrically inspired and linked by the emotions and desire leading to Rose’s resettlement in German from England a couple of years ago, the EP swiftly reveals bolder imagination in sound and enterprise through opener Gambler. From an initial bike throated rumble, the band’s new single swaggers in with a hungry groove and rapaciously swinging beats. That grooving continues to bait as things evolve, getting under the skin as Rose’s distinctive tones bring their equally compelling invitation to the hook loaded rock ‘n’ roll incitement. Also spilling a horror punk scent over its punk ‘n’ roll instincts, the track provides a web of old school nurtured but intrusively fresh confrontation while increasingly building on its creative hand.
We already know Johnny from his exploits with Thirteen Shots and his label Undead Artists, how did you Johnny meet the rest of the band and what sparked your addition to its line-up?
sound. Is the single a full echo of your music or a teaser to an even broader tapestry?
