First Impressions is a collection of whiz-bang reviews of singles, 7″s, EPs, and LPs which are given a review after a single listen. This is a great way for TGEFM to showcase some of the releases which may not get a full review on their own.
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The Thorazines – “Hanging Out With Ray Rock”
Self-released, 25 Jun 2022
I've written up a bunch of songs from Australia's The Thorazines. Some fall closer to power pop, while others are more ragged punk rock numbers. “Hanging Out With Ray Rock” is one of the latter. There's an infectious repeat of “hanging out with Ray Rock, he's a hype man” with backing “whoa-oh's”, confident guitars, and the same forward-pounding drums kicking up a storm with nary a wobble. It's a cool punk rock song and it's catchy enough to hook anyone who's resisted the band thus far.
Review by RYAN
Teenage Kreepshow – “Sweet Thing”
Self-released, 24 Jun 2022
Seattle's Teenage Kreepshow offer up a 4-song garage punk blast on Sweet Thing. The songs all have a distinct Ramones thing going for them, all filtered through a raw lofi recording. The melodies find their way to the surface and you'll end up enamored with the songs, whether the sprinting pop punk of the title track, the stomping rev up of “Mr. Cool”, the throwback surf-tinged “Backseat”, or the power popped “Can't Tell”. Each does it's own thing, and together they work as a great EP.
Review by RYAN
Black Russians – “Communist Dudes”
OUTLOUD! Records, 17 Jun 2022
The new album from Black Russians picks up where the previous Death By Communism left off. It's bulldozer punk rock, pummeling with the tenacity of Ramones, the simple ferocity of Motorhead, and, every once in a while, touches of the absurdist flourishes of NWOBHM bands like Iron Maiden. Over it all, the vocals growl and rumble overtop about various serious topics like nuking the moon and satan. It's brutal and weirdly cathartic and I'm ready to be subjected to this nonsense again and again.
Favorite Song: “Nuke The Moon”
Review by RYAN
The Crooks – “Oliver Onions”
ProRawk Records, 01 Jul 2022
“Oliver Onions”, the new single from Italy's The Crooks, is a quirky power pop number. It's got jumpy guitar hooks to go along with a cool mid-tempo bounce and a great little synth line that descends just right. The vocals are unobtrusive and melodic and the phrasing will likely get some singalongs upon further listens (I'm still humming the syllabic patterns now that it's finished). I'll be petty and admit that the title turned me off a bit, but the song is pretty decent fun. Fans of Fountains of Wayne-type stuff will likely enjoy this.
Review by RYAN
ryan is a reviewer and news editor for TGEFM. He's very secretive, he might be an alien.