New Generation Superstars - Crash Course ... In Rock N’ Roll (Underdog Records)

It seems like forever that I’ve been waiting for New Gen to release an album - because they’re so good live and a 5-track EP isn’t enough to get the full gist of their talent. The time has finally come, its here and unleashed on the world on the 24th September.

I’ll make no secret that I’ve seen this midlands punk-foursome on many occasions. It seems they’ve gone with the tracks in their general set order and brought a few of their tracks on previous releases up to scratch. Starting with the rather sexy “Come Over” (which recently featured on a Classic Rock CD compilation) and moving into “Own Sweet Hell”. I love opening riffs of this track. I think what is the most appealing for me about New Gen is their ‘telling it as it is’ song writing. ‘I don’t wanna be with you, I don’t wanna be in love with you, all I wanna do is f*** you’ (“OSH”) - can’t get more blunt than that.

Moving into the bass driven “Overload”. Its quite to say this is one of their anthem tracks - more hooks than the cloak room at Rock City. “Bleed” and “Dopefiend” seem to be their ‘sleaziest’ tracks on the album with some fantastic guitar riffage from their axe wielder, Davey Messiah. “One More” is a crazy song about booze you could quite imagine being the catalyst for a bit of carnage in a pit.

“Always Gonna Be” and “How To Hate Friends and Alienate People” are tracks that those who are aware of New Gen will be very familiar with. Featuring on previous EP releases they’ve been given a bit of a face lift and sound better than ever.

My favourite track on the album by far has to be “Do It Cus I Can”. A song rock n’ roll being a way of life. Plenty of bits to shout along to and so much that anyone - whether they’ve been in a band or even if they’re writing about rock n’ roll can relate to. “Don’t Do It Cos I have to, Do It Cos I can” - damn straight.

New Gen have songs about girls, booze, use, abuse and rock being the saviour - the best way to sum it up is pure whiskey drenched punk rock n’roll. The stuff you can head bang to and get drunk and lairy to on one level. On another, fans of Scandinavian sleazy rock and fans of British punk will bloody love it! New Generation Superstars have sprung out of a British rock scene that seems to be shaking off the 80's rock excess resurgence that we’ve been seeing lately and yet fans of that revival seem to be really digging what they’re doing. They’ve been kicking around the circuit for a while and no doubt, with a release of this calibre will start getting the attention that they deserve. My CD is starting to look thin I’ve been playing it so much.

Tracklisting:
1. Come Over
2. Own Sweet Hell
3. Overload
4. Dopefiend
5. Bleed
6. One More
7. Always Gonna Be
8. Done Before
9. How To Hate Friends and Alienate People
10. White Trash
11. Ain’t Quite Right
12. Do It Cus I Can

www.newgenrocks.com or www.myspace.com/newgenrocks

Review by Nix

© Pure Rawk 2007