Ed Banger and the Nosebleeds – Legal High

Ed Banger and the Nosebleeds released their latest album Legal High on EBN Central (their own label) in March with an album launch party at the Star & Garter on 26th March 2017 (reviewed here). Legal High was recorded at Crack Studios in Hulme, Manchester and produced by Kevin Foy. Cast your mind back a couple of years to 1976, if you’re old enough! Front woman Edweena Banger was in the band Wild Ram and, along with fellow band members, worked as a roadie for Slaughter and the Dogs at an infamous gig at Manchester’s Lesser Free Trade Hall at which Ed, who at the time was Eddie Garrity and fellow band member Phil Toman sustained minor injuries. When someone commented about the ‘Headbanger here and Phil with a nosebleed’ it struck a chord and the band renamed and reinvented themselves Ed Banger and the Nosebleeds read more about their history here.

Are drugs your high of choice or do you get drugged on music? Unless you play is so loud it makes your ears (or nose) bleed then, surely, music must be better for you! Opening track Reaper Man gets the album off to a flying start with it’s pummelling punk ‘n’ roll beat and ‘Woah, Oh, Oh, Ohs’ and ‘Yeah, Yeah’ harmonised backing vocals. It’s a song about death with lyrics including ‘Time for the Reaper Man’ and ‘A time to die’ so not necessarily a happy subject and it’s not the only song about death. Annihilation with a pounding rhythm, pronounced vocals, soaring riffage and and the chorus ‘It’s a beautiful day, it’s a beautiful day to die’ morbid but catchy. Flowers the longest track at 3:44 with some great riffs from Al Crosby and Falling and My Little Bitch more of the same, all tremendous rock ‘n’ roll meets punk numbers. Then we come to the title track Legal High, which starts a bit Ministry before flowing into more of a fifties style Doo-Wop number. We stay with highs, not necessarily legal, for the next track Sugar Shack, which could be about a Canadian Sap House or a high grade marijuana (see here), you listen to the lyrics and make your own decision. Food Chain with a Beatles start. Annihilation I’ve already mentioned, Girls in the City with siren like riffage is the penultimate track before the final track Lets Do It All, a great sing along number including the lyrics ‘You’re my gasoline, my fuel and I love the things you do.’

There we have it a Legal High from Ed Banger and the Nosebleeds, it might make your ears bleed, it might make your nose bleed, it might but hopefully not, that really depends upon how loud you play it and how fast you bang your head. Try not to do yourself an injury on my recommendation! Just listen to some catchy tunes and singalong choruses which make a great addition to the CD collection of fans of punk ‘n’ roll bands like Slaughter and the Dogs, Slaughter II and The Drones.

Highlight Track: Annihilation

Track List:

1: Reaper Man
2: Flowers
3: Falling
4: My Little Bitch
5: Legal High
6: Sugar Shack
7: Food Chain
8: Annihilation
9: Girls in the City
10: Lets Do It All

Band Members:

Ed Banger – Vocals/Guitars
Mad Muffet – Drums
Stephen Wilson – Bass Guitar
Al Crosby – Guitar

Links

Facebook / Website / Store