Raining Guillotines is the debut album by Lancaster and Morecombe based punk trio Vicious Bishop who feature Toy Doll Dave Nuttal, Ex radio Stars Rich Davenport and Adz Wood, with special guest appearances by Leigh Heggarty, Andy Ellison and on video Sally James.
The album opens with Lifeline that isn't of the sort Chris Tarrant would throw you, they are downhearted that life isn't all it was cracked up to be, a loose punky pop backing helps make clear that we all need to stick together and listen to the almost metal guitar solo.
Take It As A Win features Andy Ellison from Radio Stars on an anthem for memories of when the world still made sense, pre pandemic, if we can get back there they will Take it As A Win, I think most of us would at this point, no matter the bitter recriminations of bands going down in flames of acrimony, anything to be back out on the road playing the next small town down the eternal road, trying to make sure everyone feels better than before they arrived, especially after the skanking dub breakdown.
Raining Guillotines has reflections on seeing to many friends and bandmates dying far too young, they have had enough of going to funerals, they would rather still be getting stoned with Goliath, but most importantly they wish to avoid that Guillotine Raining down on their necks.
Shooting Myself In The Foot skanks like it wants to walk on the moon but with more grit, while trying to avoid the pitfalls that feel like self-inflicted wounds constantly. Finding a way to treat and be treated with respect.
Drown In The Sound is a ska punk anthem for being out listening to great live music again, featuring Leigh "On Guitar" Heggarty adding some extra power on a Bosstones style singalong anthem.
Seconds Out they have somehow managed to survive this far, they are ready for anther go round or three, of good chant along punk pop to keep the awful state of everything else at bay.
The main single I'm A Tiswas Kid (In A Swap Shop World) makes clear they want the anarchy, of mental as anything kids Saturday morning TV, that had a cheeky grin on it's face, rather than the serious and too worthy Noel Edmonds Swap Shop. The video features Tiswas legend Sally James on a song that lives up to the shows spirit of making people know you can have loads of fun and still get on in life. I wish it had been Sally that visited my school as a kid rather than Noel hanging out with his school mate who taught at the school.
Lit Up has the anger and urgency of Newtown Neurotics, this tale of separation and desperation for someone ripped away from them far far too soon, you Lit Up their world and were gone like a shooting star.
Wired To The Sky is a prayer to have the strength to carry on making a decent life and finding a way to still have fun, while this has a downbeat indie punk skank, seeking hope from all those absent friends.
The album closes with Welcome To Whatever's Left after the rampaging greedy billionaires have taken everything, does a safety net still exist for everyone else, no matter how far down you've been pushed and bullied, they still see a way for you to climb back out of the pit of despair, while playing this at a Psychedelic Furs style pace.
Find out more at https://www.viciousbishop.com/page/buy-the-album https://www.patreon.com/cw/ViciousBishop https://viciousbishop.bandcamp.com/album/raining-guillotines https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089805368561
