An integral part of numerous inspiring moments with Biohazard and Powerflo, Billy Graziadei continues to be one of punk’s driving forces as he uncages his debut solo album under the moniker Billybio. Feed The Fire is a powder keg of hardcore dexterity and discontent, fire and brimstone punk rock as contagious as it is a snarling intolerant of the ills coursing through the world. Bred from a rich fusion of flavours the album is a fury of anthemic rock ‘n’ roll with a roar which makes you want to take part whilst paying keen attention.
As Graziadei declares, Feed The Fire is “100% me. No influence from anyone else. This is who I am and what I’ve become. I’m a product of everyone I’ve met, talked with, shared my stories with…and a bit of their stories as well.” It growls and bites as it inflames and badgers thought and spirit whilst unleashing some essential slices of punk rock.
With friends such as guitarist Dan Palmer (Death by Stereo/Zebrahead), bassist Ra Diaz (Suicidal Tendencies), and drummer Simo Perini alongside Graziadei, the Tue Madsen produced release instantly got under the skin with opener Freedom’s Never Free. Marching into view, the track explodes on the senses, raw grooves and Graziadei’s vocal grievance fuelling the attack. It is an ear grabbing invitation which simply hits another level as the track twists into one virulent chant of defiance, an inescapable trespass to which submission and involvement is instant.
Latest single and the album’s title track follows, unleashing its own contagion from its first breath. With teeth bared through its first riff and vocal uproar, Feed The Fire quickly launches itself with creative tenacity; guitar and rhythms as explosive as the vocal incitement which again fuels insatiable catchiness.
No Apologies, No Regrets rises up with a more deliberately predacious intent, slowly rising to its full height before hurling its goodness and dissonance at ears while in turn Generation Z uncages infectious multi-flavoured rock ‘n’ roll with zeal. The first is a web of temptation and altercation, as inventive as it is furious with its outstanding successor a contagion of hard and punk rock which needed mere seconds to have body and vocal chords adding their mutual zealous discord.
Through the likes of Sick And Tired, an infectious dispute and enterprise bred persuasion, and the feuding Sodality which erupts from the dark smoulder of the momentary breath that is Remedy, the album only tightened its grip on ears and appetite pushing its claws deeper into the passions with the musically and emotionally acrimonious Rise And Slay, the track a delicious predatory harassment of metal, punk, and ravenous rock ‘n’ roll.
Offering up thirteen slabs of confrontation, there is truly no weakness or less than irresistible moment within Feed The Fire as emphasised in turn by the bracing punk call of STFU, the haunting and intimidating melodic siren that is Trepidation, and Untruth with its virulent resentment and imagination; all dramatic treats easily devoured.
The album is concluded by firstly the bruising anthemic blaze that is Enemy, another moment which has heart and vocal chords rigorously on board and lastly Disaffected World. The final track is arguably the most manipulative incitement of them all especially through the vocal and seriously tempting sonic tocsin which interrupts the song’s primal uproar.
Punk rock in its many forms has had a prize year in releases across 2018 with possibly, most likely, its finest moment now provided late by Billybio; an uprising sure to be the inspiration it deserves to be.
Feed The Fire is out now via AFM Records across most stores.
https://billybio.com/ https://www.facebook.com/BillyBIOHAZARD/ https://twitter.com/billybiohazard
Pete RingMaster 18/12/2018
Copyright RingMaster: MyFreeCopyright
With new album Don’t Let It Be in the works, Playboy Manbaby tease the appetite with You Can Be A Fascist Too, the first single from the impending release. Originally scheduled for a February unveiling, it was brought forward to coincide with the US presidential inauguration. From the off it assaults and lures with a belligerent guitar jangle quickly followed by the raw incitement of Pfeffer’s vocals. Second by second new invasive hooks and salacious grooves fling themselves into the punk mayhem, band shouts and off kilter harmonies wagging a beckoning finger as effectively as the caustic riffs and tenacious rhythms.
The band’s inspirations are never far from the surface at times, the second song evidence but spices used to shape songs which undoubtedly have The Hostiles character, as shown again in the prowling You Liar. Swaggering alone with mischief in its creative glands, the song is confrontational but an epidemic of big hooks and intimidating attitude, and quite superb. It reveals the great mix of pop honed and punk rock driven sounds which have sparked the band’s passions over time, all woven into another distinctive proposition before things calm a touch with I’ll Assume. It is just a touch too as the song soon shows its teeth and melodic prowess in a King Prawn like canter with exotic melodies and moody basslines entangling the ever potent vocals and swathes of mariachi hued trombone.
Instantly rugged riffs and rumbling rhythms swamp ears as vocalist Miles Kent, backed as potently by the harmonic tones of guitarist Neal Arkley, nudge attention. It is a thick but controlled beginning turning into a far friskier stroll as drummer Ash Wain’s swings become more dynamic and aggressive whilst vocals continue to easily please. That boisterous nature continues into the steely bass prowl cast by Joseph Ryan Askew’s fingers and on to the sonic blend of riffs and melodies spun by Arkley and Tim Bell. It is a heavily engaging and rousing encounter elevating to new heights and standout individualism when it canters through a low key but provocative passage of vocal shadows and harmonies within a cage of almost predatory textures.
Within seconds, the band has feet and hips as involved as a swiftly eager appetite for the band’s sound as opener Svarte Daga stomps in with nagging riffs and grooves amidst just as irritable yet anthemic rhythms. The grouchily growling tone of Kristoffer Joel Høe’s bass and in riffs in general easily hits the spot even before the raw rousing tones of vocalist Aslak Heika Hætta Bjørn, melodically backed by the alluring calls of the band, whips up a frenzy courted by a sonic web spun by the guitars.
The following Kickbacks is a touch more reserved in its assault but still a thumping encounter built on the voracious swipes of Victor Vera’s muscle on drum skin. With the body soon bouncing as eagerly as the song’s, rich satisfaction is alive without a care for the kind of general familiarity which seems to come with pop punk releases as a whole. As the track shows, The Daylight touch and impassioned energy brings an ingredient which makes already strong songwriting standout from the masses too, that and an ability to create instinctive hooks and melodies which seem to know what tastes like and want.
