The Wildhearts are back again, working with Dante Bonutto once more at Snakefarm records, who also wrote the liner notes and once again with a new line-up, that some of the bands fans seemed unhappy with, but they have always evolved and changed, so it should not be that much of a shock. The current line-up for Satanic Rites Of The Wildhearts is Ginger Wildheart with Jon Poole, Ben Marsden, Kavus Torabi and Dudge, as well as guest appearances from Carol Hodge, Gabby and James Horne, Eliza Pinder, Jorgen Munkeby and Maggie the dog. the album was produced by Jim Pinder.
The album opens with heavy crunching guitars of Eventuality with Ginger's vocals sounding strained, totally angry like we all ought to be at the mess around us, the song starts to sound more like a classic The Wildhearts tune it goes on with some proggier than usual parts.
Scared Of Glass has another pounding riff that gives way to a sweeter guitar line, back into that riff for Ginger to sing his rapid fire lyrics, about his fears of falling apart and being like broken glass strewn all over the place, while nicking the breakdown from David Bowies Bombers, before it takes back off in another direction, trying to allay those fears long before the gospel style backing vocals over the outro.
Troubadour Moon is full of memories of a friend who didn't get to do everything he should of, the guitars go pretty widescreen glam over the super steady beat.
Fire In The Cheap Seats has a super solid bass riff for all the madness to fire off of, splenetic guitars, foreboding drums barrelling into your brain, all the regrets are examined deep inside Gingers brain.
Kunce is raging against anyone you may wish to describe as a Kunce, rage for anyone on the wrong side of sanity, the wrong political views, or just the normal bullying of officialdom, this is fist pumping anti-establishment rage in a time when to not be against what's going on makes you seem far more insane than the changes in this song.
Maintain Radio Silence is of course super noisy, full on riotous guitars grinding against all the ills that you might need to keep your head down to avoid, with some classic The Wildhearts backing vocals, the guitars won't let up and our resistance shouldn't either.
Blue Moon Over Brinkburn has memories of being written off by teachers as a kid, how you rise above the sneering attitudes, that you'll never amount to anything, the guitars almost sound like sirens, this builds, falls, mutates and rages against all the doubters, from school to the music Bizz, just get outta Ginger's way he's proved himself long ago.
Hurt People Hurt People throwing tantrums, sacking band members, picking people off the floor for this classic The Wildhearts anthem, about how only Hurt People Hurt People and Ginger is the proof, you can rise above this and survive and thrive.
I'll Be Your Monster is perfect for chanting along too, the monster chorus and incredible sax solo that snakes through the middle of this tune, the drums get more tribal and the backing vocals even more gang chanted, allow Ginger to be your monster.
Failure Is The Mother Of Success is the final song on some versions of the album, making clear you have to keep going no matter how many times you fail, just get back up and get going, make another album, get another line-up, write another song, book or whatever you want to, just get on with creating and living life to the full, one catchy song at a time. With the slow breakdown towards the end making clear you took a lot of knocks to get where you are today which is totally solid advice.
If you have a version of the album with the bonus track it concludes with Loyola has a classic descending riff and over busy lyrics making sure to stoke the flames of that fire Ginger still has burning in him, make sure you don't give in, so your still around to buy the next album The Wildhearts put out, keep clear of all the 21st century perils.
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