The Shits - Diet of Worms (2026)

The Shits' music is often described as a very convincing mix of The Stooges and Brainbombs. That's definitely relevant and their new album Diet of Worms is another blatant proof. But we could also just say that they are among the very best at channeling the darkest energy of rock'n'roll (crafting riffs like these must imply some Robert Johnson kind of deal).

 

The BC page. 

 

The Shits - You're a Mess (2023)

We had The Stooges, and needless to say they were awesome, then came Brainbombs, and they are still awesome, and now we also have The Shits, who are awesome as well. Thank the mad deities of wild and twisted rock'n'roll, listen to You're a Mess, and rejoice!

 The BC page. 

 

Wailin Storms - The Silver Snake Unfolds (2022)

Wailin Storms is a band I've been following for ten years, so it's due time I review one of their album, even if a bit late, since The Silver Snake Unfolds was released in 2022. Their music is a kind of modern take on the post-punk/swamp rock/gothic americana thing, reminding Joy Division, Gun Club, Birthday Party or Slug Guts, but blending it with heavier doom/Neurosis elements. Good stuff.

 

The BC page. 

 

Erection House - Feels of Correction (2023)

Sounding like a mix of The Stooges at their most psych/noise and Brainbombs, Feels of Correction, released in 2023, is Erection House (from Copenhagen) excellent first album. Time for a second one guys, I'm looking forward to it! 

The BC page.

 

The Ragged Jubilee - Mulholland Overdrive (2023)

Remember very well reviewing The Ragged Jubilee first album in 2012, not only because that was only the tenth post on Blasting Days (this one is the 1452!), but also because I really liked it. In the meantime, four albums and more than ten years later their music sounds heavier, still reminding The Doors at times, still with elements of garage rock that became more prevalent since their second album (that I also reviewed back in 2012), but no more americana/folk elements and Mulholland Overdrive is more like The Doors meets Black Sabbath, joined by the Black Keys. And that's totally fine, since the quality is still there. Good stuff!

Their Bandcamp page (unfortunately Mulholland Overdrive is not yet on it...).

Brother Dege - Aurora (2024)

The news of the death of Dege Legg known as a musician as Brother Dege really came as a shock to me. Not only because I liked his music (and I loved his music! Still do). I spent a large part of last year translating from English to French his book, Cablog (released in French as Cabdriver) and Dege music was something like the soundtrack of my life at that time. I admired him as a man and as an author as much as I admired him as a musician. I was looking forward to at last meet him at last during his European tour scheduled after the release of Aurora, his new album. He will really be missed. Now, is Aurora living up to the expectancy? Yes, definitely, his garage/blues/psych/southern rock got more personal and emotional, and it's as good and maybe even more memorable than the previous excellent albums. At least Dege left on a very high note. Thank you for that and for all the rest, brother...

The Bandcamp page.

 

The website. 

 

Night Beats - Rajan (2023)

Night Beats music can still be described as somewhere beetween The Black Keys and The Brian Jonestown Massacre, but on their sixth album, Rajan, their garage psych rock leans more on the psychedelic side, while keeping a pop/rock song structure. In any case it coudl be their (well, Night Beats is mostly Danny Lee Blackwell) best album yet. Laid back and groovy, fillled with memorable riffs and songs. Good stuff.

The BC page.

 

'68 - Yes, and... (2023)

Fourth album from the duo '68, with singer guitarist Josh Scogin (ex The Chariot and Norma Jean) and drummer Nikko Yamada,Yes, and... is a nice new piece in their garage hardcore (hardcore'n'roll?) discography. Sounding likean unusual mix between At the Drive-In, The Black Keys and Nirvana. Good songs, great vocals. Recommended stuff.

The BC page.

 

All Them Witches - Baker's Dozen (2023)

When reviewed All Them Witches first album twelve years ago (already on Blasting Days, yes!), I wrote that they were : "A promising new band that could craft a very good magic if they find how to add more of their own voodoo to their already good music". Well, I'm happy to say the promise has been kept, and they did a good job in finding their own voodoo and make it flourish. Their sixth album Baker's Dozen is proving it once again, with enjoyable doses of their usual garage/heavy blues rock sound, but we also get to hear them at their most psychedelic in some songs, and at their most traditional blues in some others. At the same time deep-rooted in American music traditions and experimenting. Good stuff! I hope I'll review them again in another twelve years!

Their website.

 

The Delta Bombers - Neon Sounds (2023)

The Delta Bombers is a band from Las Vegas, Neon sounds is their fifth album and a nice addition to their already cool discography. Their music is old-school and raw rockabilly, with a garage blues feel and bits of country. In my opinion, they are among the best current bands playing that style. Recommended!

Their website.

 

 

No Negative - The Last Offices (2020)

No Negative if a band from Montreal (Québec) and with their second album The Last Offices (and the rest of their discography) they deliver some excellent music on the psych/noise side of post-punk. Or is it on the noise-punk side of psych rock? Well, you get the idea! If not, maybe you can also imagine a mix of Ice Age, The black Angels, The Stooges, and Black Flag, or Brainbombs... Even better : just listen to their music! Worth your time, I tell you... The epic final track is something.

The Bandcamp page.

 

Reverend Beat-Man and The New Wave - Blues Trash (2018)

Blues Trash is probably the best album from Reverend Beat-Man and in my opinion among the best garage rock albums of the XXIth century. Mastering totally the basics of garage rock with it's stipped to the bone blues based raw riffing drooling with honky tonk boogie, and having one of the best demented maniac psychobilly style vocalist with Reverend Beat Man, its also totally pushing further the boundaries of a style that is too often too standardised. They succeed as well with some accordion tango, organ and sax additions, noisy guitar playing bordering dark psychedelia. Now wave experimentation coupled with primitive roots garage rock, and with excellent songwriting and inspired playing it works awesome. Highly recommended.

The BC page.

Danko Jones - Power Trio (2021)

While I felt Danko Jones previous album (A Rock Supreme in 2019) was good but less inspired and memorable than their best ones, Power Trio really sound like a return to form. Sharper, more rocking, their hard rock/garage rock is again at its best, the vocals and lyrics are as good as usual, the guitar playing is simple but done with just the right feel, and many songs on the album would be worthy additions to their setlist. One of the best hard rock / rock album of the year. Really recommended.

Official website

 

Bror Gunnar Jansson - Faceless Evil, Nameless Fear (2021)

On the previous Bror Gunnar Jansson album the boogie garage-blues was different mostly thanks to the inclusion of some Earth inspired "drone rock" elements. On the new album  Faceless Evil, Nameless fear there's still an Earth flavour but mostly in one long song. This time the mood is more on the heavy blues side, starting with the first song with its riff that reminds a lot Pentagram. Maybe the album is a bit less surprising, but it's also more cohesive and it's nicely rocking. Again among the best and memorable rock albums of the year. 

BGJ website

 

GA-20 - Try It…You Might Like It! GA-20 Does Hound Dog Taylor (2021)

In this second album, Try It…You Might Like It! , the Bostonian trio (two guitars and drums) GA-20 cover one of their main influences, the Chicago blues legend Hound Dog Taylor. I preferred their awesome first album (reviewed HERE), but this one's also very enjoyable, the songs are very good, the band is very good, so if you're into vintage electric/Chicago blues and/or into modern garage blues there's no reason you wouldn't like it...

The Bandcamp page.

 

Night Beats - Outlaw R & B (2021)

I discovered Night Beats with  their third album in 2016, Who Sold My Generation, that I really enjoyed and played a lot, with its good mix of 60' rock and more modern garage like The Black Keys, but then I've been disappointed by Myth of a Man in 2019 (it had a few good songs, but wasn't completely convincing overall). Their new album, Outlaw R & B, is a return to form, their garage rock still reminding the 60', Dylan as well as the Black Keys again, but also The Brian Johnstown Massacre, and The Cramps (the guitar sound but not only). Recommended stuff.

The Bandcamp page.

 

GR - The GR Record Head (2020)

GR is back with his fifth album called The GR Record Head. The French acid rocker still produce an excellent raw and psychedelic garage rock inspired by the 60'. His music could remind Ian F. Svennonius, but more savage and trippy. Cool stuff.

The BC page

 

Scott. H. Biram - Fever Dreams (2020)

OK, cover art may not be exactly a success, but Fever Dreams, is as good as any Scott. H. Biram album, which means it's excellent, a unique mix of one man band (with a few additional musicians on some songs in this one) blues, country and garage rock, sometimes really rocking, sometimes quiet, but most of the time more raw than garage blues usually is. Include a few covers like songs by Townes Van Zandt and David Allan Coe. Scott. H. Biram consistently release enjoyable albums and this one's no exception. He's the best at doing what he does.

The BC page.

GA-20 - Lonely Soul (2019) & Live vol.1 (EP 2020)

GA-20 is a garage blues trio from Boston formed in 2018, they released last year an impressive first album, Lonely Soul, and now are back with an equally good live four tracks, simply called Live vol. 1. Their music is rooted in the blues, Delta blues, Chicago electric blues, etc. but also reminds the Black Keys, and could also evoke The Rolling Stones Exile on Main Street. It's really well done and I really enjoy those two releases. They're my favourite recent garage blues band.

The BC page.

 

Lonnie Holley - National Freedom (2020)

I discovered Lonnie Holley two years ago with his previous album MITH that I really liked, and this new one called National Freedom is also excellent. It is some raw and weird blues, maybe we could say "free blues", at the same time sounding primitive and authentic but without following the strict formulas of traditional blues. Good melodies played on guitar and on piano, often with a somewhat repetitive ceremonial vibe, and the singing is very special.

The Bandcamp page.