The Senton Bombs

From fungalpunknature.co.uk
By The Legendary Fungalpunk

THE SENTON BOMBS - TURN HEEL

Swaggering punk cum rock here with a melodic mix of adrenalin rush guitar, thumping drums and turbo bass that is thoroughly infected with snarl 'n' sneer vocals of the effective kind. There's a whole watershed of influences and styles thrown into the mix reflecting the bands appearance and holistic delivery. I consider this an educated and cultured concoction with careful insight taken into each and every ingredient before it is thrown into the melting pot. Each song has its own character with many idiosyncracies and punky pustules all adding to the final tingle and thus highlighting a band that have a whole lot more in the locker than they are given credit for. Not all work for me but most do so and that folks is opinions for you. With concrete foundations and a talent for composition this assortment of aural energisers has taken many a listen and with trepidation I attempt the review.

'Buy Me A Gun' bullets in with a rat-tat-tat crescendo before opening up full tilt and blasting brains in all directions. An explosive track armed to the teeth with on-target rhythm and sincere vibration. The vocals spark with emotive passion, the drums are additional ammo and both guitar and bass power surge. An immense curtain up and 'Rogue Style' confidently asks you to 'get this' before steaming in with cool aplomb and measured aggression. The arsenal of assorted weaponry that hurtles forth is cloaked with rock, punk, metal and glam poisons all tussling to give the most intoxicating effects. The sonic podium is mounted and the consistent mix comes across well with a few u-turns taken to keep the listener keen. 'My Girlfriend Was A Nazi' (must have been the small black moustache that gave the game away) is a beefy piece of hairy chested tension. It's an extremely unexpected blow-out and already the categorisation of this unit is a tricky task - successs indeed.

'Justice Lost' displays just why this CD has taken such a lengthy time to review as there is a lot to absorb and evaluate and also a fair amount of these songs are not instantaneous brain ticklers thus needing acute consideration before the nib rapes the paper and assessing words are scrawled. This track comes across with an essence of forethought and confident posturing although it does have less in yer face bursts than other grenades. 'Charlotte Ann' has a cocky edge as it eases in with casual drums and funked up guitar. A ready rumble is had but a very cock rock inflection is given that defies punk and slices it right open, tattooing the inner flesh with grooving rock rhythm. It is a rare sound in a scene that is as diverse as they come but I can't knock it. Individuality is a prize characteristic and hats off to a band who are unashamed to be different when so many critical pirahanas are waiting to feed. The spiteful resonance helps this track to cross barriers and the heavier tones of 'Surf 6-66' crashes waves of metal shards and slips in nicely.

'Fame And The Wicked' is an atmospheric buzz of relished vocals that undulate with passionate inflection and are the moment when one realises we have a quite accomplished band here that are led by a superior frontman who really is a rock 'n' roll dude to the core. You can almost feel the guy lose himself in the billowing blasts of sensual sonics and this is a good song indeed. 'Nightbreed' pulses with computer-like insistence and overspills into full rock imagery and loses some of it's punked up edged suffering as a consequence. From a dish of tasty morsels these are the Crab Clit Crackers one may enjoy or leave at the side of the plate. Personally I'd have a nibble now and again but really it misses my flavour haven completely. 'You Live, You Buy, You Die' is back on line as the sanguine delivery takes precedence and struts along in classy mode with a catchy chorus to boot.

The final quintet is in no way as striking as all that as gone before and this is a shame as the band I feel could have gone out with a real fire-cracking burst. 'Silencio D' Amor' opens with sincere class but drifts along without committing itself. 'Violet Black' again begins slowly this time with a sinister calm before an obvious storm and is not a bad piece at all. It is one of those that you have to listen to over and over before definite opinion is had. However I may wake up tomorrow and say it's shite - you know the kind of song I mean. It does retain focus though and has a flimsy likeability which has a small level of depth and therefore I suspect longevity. 'Sons Of War' crashes into the ground and comes up fighting with another machine gun blaze that fails to be backed up by a violence of vocal that I prematurely and wrongly assumed was coming. A failing on my part and the verses are automatic rap that I enjoy but the chorus, to my ears anyway, is lost. 'Devils Arrow' is the CD's chilled turd and from the first play onwards I feel it doesn't make any significant stench at all. This is a real pity as the masterclass bass lines are essential listening so if nothing else check it out for the 4-string rattle. We end with 'Road Of Bones' a good solid song that keeps straight and true and neatly caps off a CD that showcases a good band but alas not to their full potential. I say this because the last two outings I have seen this crew were exceptional and I came to expect something momentous.

This is a solid effort but please believe me when I tell you that these guys have a real classic in their bones and are on the cusp of delivering just that. It will take time, advice and a lot of pedantic twiddling but I bet you these guys do it. In fact go check em' out first and enjoy a great outfit and see if you agree. Oh and why you are watching em' pick up a CD afterwards - you may just like this!

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From leeds-music.com
By Alex Turner

Turn Heel is their first full length album including songs from their entire five year run. The first song Buy Me A Gun grabs you straight away, you can tell that there isn't going to be any messing around with this band .
The album demands all the attention you can give it all the way through. Every song has something different to offer while still sticking true to the punk rock sound. This is evident in songs such as My Girlfriend Was A Nazi in which the rhythm section is so fast you barely have time to stop to think about the lyrics and Charlotte-Ann in which the song goes from an emotional guitar riven bridge straight into an aggressive , angry chorus.

The album really does tell you that The Senton Bombs are a tight unit.The guitarwork of the Kage brothers really stands out amongst alot other punk bands I've heard and the drums keep it all in time and add a fast paced and thumping pulse underneath. The singing provided by Joey Class is what makes this band stand out a lot though , you can hear a lot of influence from the hardcore punk bands of the 80's , but you can really tell he's made it his own combining it with other influences from the likes of classic rock bands and I personally think I hear a lot of grunge influence in the vocals, perhaps this is down to the the 'forced-through-gritted-teeth' style that Joey seems to have adopted in his singing.

I would really recomend this album to anyone even remotely into the alternative music scene. It really does have it all , fast paced loud tracks , melodic guitar driven verses, and gritty , powerhouse , punk as fuck chorus's! This band is one of my favourites and I hope to see them become a regular on the gig circuit around Leeds.

From: Strummer Magazine
by: Ken Strummer
of: 13/10/05
At: Jenx
The Senton Bombs demanded the opening slot and who could argue with their
thundering 100mph New York punk attitude. Joey and his felchers have plenty to say and it was nice to see the Liquid Lounge dance floor full of 2nd wave punks buzzing around like driver-less dodgems. Nice to see some angst amongst the younger generation and proof that not everyone is happy with the state of the ultra-safe/bland night-life in our wonderful town of Blackpool.
The Senton Bombs ooze image, and shameless nods to the Ramones and Dead Kennedy's don't seem to detract from their credibility. A great cover of the Clash's 'London's Burning' to finish a stunning set, and a great start to the John Peel day celebrations.

From: Bitter Sweet Embrace
by: Paul
of: 18/12/05
At: West Coast Rock Cafe
Next up, a band I'd heard lots about, but not yet seen myself: the Senton Bombs. God only knows what that name's supposed to mean, but it sounds like a Clash song title and, as such, the band more than live up to their name. Cranking out some of the best rockabilly and surf-inflected '77-style punk rock 'n' roll that I've heard in a long time, the Senton Bombs restored my faith in the possibility of combining fast and furious noise with great tunes; something I feared WPBN had destroyed for good. And they looked like they were having an awful lot of fun doing it, too. The set was finished off with a hell-for-leather version of Hit the Road Jack, followed by The Clash's London's Burning, played at twice the speed of the original. On the strength of the last number alone, they earned themselves a five star review in my world.

From: The Gazette
by: Robin Duke
of: 17/11/06 Rock Quest Heat 1
At: Tower Lounge
The Senton Bombs come with a ready- made following of dancing devotees willing to fill the venue's excellent new stage at the slightest invitation.
They whizz through a high energy punk and roll set which includes the excellent My Girlfriend Was A Nazi.
It's easy to see why they are prime movers in Blackpool's rock renaissance – fun, friendly and utterly unpretentious. A breath of fresh air.

From: punkoiuk.co.uk
by: Stu Logan
of: 23/12/06
At: Riffs
Finally came the band that left no one in any doubt who they were. They blasted out their intro to the packed venue 'We Are The Senton Bombs' How good is that? Their awesome renditions rocked the place to the rafters.
All in all a superb night of rock and social intercourse. Thanks to the organisers, all the bands to numerous to mention, & barstaff. At £2 a pint plus free entrance, a very messy Christmas was had.

From: Fungalpunknature.co.uk
by: Fungalpunk
of: 20/02/07
At: Royal Oak (w/The Epoxies)
We arrived at 7.45 and after a few hello's to various mates and faces the first band Senton Bombs were hard at it rattling off an excellent set that wasn't my particular cup of tea but which was still highly enjoyable and set off a good nights viewing. Fairly powerful in parts and with a rock influence this four piece made a good racket that the punters seemed to enjoy. A couple of covers thrown in for good measure got them the nod too and so the gig unfolded.

From: punk4life.co.uk
by: Tim Davies
of: 20/02/07
At: The Royal Oak, Poulton
Only my second visit to the Royal Oak and the last time I was here was also to see The Epoxies who were headlining the show tonight. I'd like to see more gigs here but with me having no transport I had to rely on OMD and his mrs who kindly gave me a lift here tonight.
We arrived at the venue in perfect time just as local band The Senton Bombs started their set. At most venues the first band on is lucky if they get a handful of people watching them but that was definitely not the case here. I had only heard a couple of tracks by these guys and didn't really know what to expect. Despite their lead singer/bassist looking like a Status Quo reject they played quite a decent set. A mixture of punk/heavy rock which was more towards rock than punk. A bit too much flamboyance on the guitar but that's just my opinion. Still their set was tight and varied and most of the crowd seemed to like them.

From: The Gazette
by: Robin Duke
of: 16/11/07
At: Merrie England, North Pier
The Senton Bombs are what it says on their tin – no pretensions, no holds barred punk rock and roll. Vocalist and bass player Joey Class is a wonderfully stereotypical frontman and the sheer musicianship behind their succession of high energy anthems is faultless.

From: Blackpool Bands Forum
by: Deadbeat Dave
of: 24/03/08
At: Mercury Flux, Preston
I don't really want to blow any more smoke up Joey and the guys asses, as they know how much I enjoyed this set! So I'm gonna keep it short and sweet. This was the best set I saw all day (and there was some superb bands over the course of the day). Stunning guitar work from Damien and Jimmy Kage, Joey's vocals have somehow got even cooler with a few firebrand screams thrown in for good measure, and Mason is the best thing to happen to the Bombs in ages.
We get 'Buy Me A Gun', 'Violet Black', 'Rogue Style', 'My Girlfriend Was A Nazi' and 'Silencio D'Amour', along with some riff-heavy and catchy as hell new songs, the pick of which for me was 'No Return'. All played at full throttle with the trademark Kage guitar wall-of-sound and a tighter-than-fuck rhythm section thanks to the powerhouse drumming of Mason Mohawk and Class's pounding bass. They end with a ferocious 'Nightbreed', Jimmy soloing with the guitar behind his head and Class with his bass in the air!
Still sounding like a drug-crazed rock n roll party at the end of the world (and totally unlike any other band), The Senton Bombs are in a Class of their own. Congratulations to Mason for landing a dream job and nailing it, and to the Bombs for getting through all the shit they've had to deal with over the past year and coming out with all guns blazing. Great to have you back lads.
(That wasn't that short was it? Oh well, I tried….)

From: Fungalpunknature.co.uk
by: Fungalpunk
of: 06/06/08
At: Dog & Partridge, Bolton
Bands arrived and time was swallowed up by the hungry maw of the clock and before I knew it The Senton Bombs were kicking off the show. The fact that these weren't on first and that they offered no argument when asked to do so due to another bands late arrival was well noted and the set they knocked forth was a fuckin' beauty. I had seen these lot once before supporting Riot Squad and The Epoxies in Poulton and was undecided as to what I actually thought. I knew they weren't bad but on tonights evidence I fully realise these are a band who are just perfect to throw onto any gig to alter the style and yet still maintain a high level of quality. The cover of 'The Brothels' by Rancid was a peach and I really do need to get some stuff on CD by this choice band. Really enjoyable and although slightly sozzled I was still aware enough to recognise quality.

From: Fungalpunknature.co.uk
by: Fungalpunk
of: 06/07/08
At: Retro Bar, Manchester
On time The Senton Bombs kicked off and combined orthodox rock and Ramonesy punk with excellent efficiency as well as adding their own flavouring which resulted in a truly enjoyable set. Self peddled on their myspace site as 'Kings of Wrestle Rock' I would like to suggest that I knew what this meant but if by any chanvce it hints at slamming the lugholes into submission with musical body blows and pile-driving punishment then I am not far off the mark - then again...! One of the good things about this lot is the fact that each member has his own on-stage visual persona with the guitarist looking like a Ramones extra adopting all the understated poses, the bassist looking the full rock monster with shades, long hair and solid bass playing and the powerful upright drummer who pounds away with deliberate anger and provides a concrete foundation for the two front lads to build on. All tracks were startlingly good with 'My Girlfriend Was A Nazi' a memorable snippet. Yeah more viewings please and hopefully more notice for this fine band who are ready to fly further afield from the sperm soaked shores of Blackpool.

From: Sandman Magazine

By: Al Turner

Of: 02/08/08

At: Cardigan Arms, Leeds

The second band of the night , surprisingly , were the highlight for me: The Senton Bombs , from Blackpool. Even though the crowd was small, they rocked to their hearts content, playing brilliantly, speedily and aggressively as hell. Songs such as Buy Me A Gun and My Girlfriend was a Nazi showed off impressive, fast rhythm accompanied by wailing guitar and gritty vocals. The songs they played seemed to take fast punk and add to it the vocal styling of 90's rock music.

From: Blackpoolbands.co.uk

By: Chris Sebok

Of: 21/08/08

At: West Coast Rock Café, Blackpool

The Senton Bombs graced the stage next with their punk-fueled (I know Damien doesn't like being called punk) mother-fucker of a set. They blasted through 9 songs in record time as Joey was aware we were already running a little late, and gave it rock all - all the way through. I'm not a punk fan, but I AM a fan of the Bombs - high energy rock n' roll, great banter, even if it does result in Joey and Damien having to kiss and make up back stage later. Mason is fits right in... great punk drummer and spot on for what the Bombs needed... although the loss of a guitarist was initially taken as a negative thing, I can now hear the riffs a lot easier and Joeys vocals are clearer. In summary: Long live the current line up!

From: Waynesplaceofconfusion
By: Wayne
Of: 03/10/08

At: Lincoln Imp, Scunthorpe

And so to the Main Event, and Blackpool's own Punk Rock Heavyweight Champions, The Senton Bombs. The poster said 'Kings of Wrestle Rock' and Kings they were. The crowd wanted blood and it was no-holds barred action from start to finish. They were the perfect mix of down and dirty rock n roll with punk written through it like a stick of neon pink rock. Mixing up the action with pile driving guitars and tomb stoning bass. Backed up with bone crunching Rik Flair chops from the drummer (and Whooo's from the audience) . The crowd knew the deal and responded with a royal rumble of their own on the dance floor.
This is a band that hits you with the force of a flying elbow from the top rope. And then will poke you in the eye for good measure. And you'll be wanting more.
I'd say to all you grapple fans out there that The Senton Bombs are the Bret' the Hitman' Heart of Wrestle Rock with the power of the Undertaker to boot.
I can't wait to see them again, and if you see them on a wrestling card near you, you should do the same.
Now where's that steel chair.

From: fungalpunknature.co.uk
By: Fungalpunk
Of: 22/11/08

At: Swinging Sporran, Birmingham

The Senton Bombs made this gig in good time and for one I am glad they did. Performance of the night must surely go to this great outfit and they got on with their usual rock and rolling in fine style with some nifty strokes on the bass, some fine guitarwork and a rock solid drumming performance. This isn't straightforward punk but blends several elements that combine to make a choice brew. The first time I saw these I was unsure but I am glad my curiosity got the better of me because these guys are pleasing me with every outing. 'Buy Me A Gun' was quite excellent and for me the Senton Bombs are always in the mix when considering bands for a gig. A great aspect to any showcase and I hope we can get them a better PA to display their fine sound next time.

From: fungalpunknature.co.uk
By: Fungalpunk
Of: 17/01/09

At: Thatched House, Stockport