PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
The MacGregors a five piece punk/rock ‘n’ roll band from Essex released their début album ‘In Your Face’ via Eddie Currents Records on 19th June 2015, with an album launch party at The White Horse in Sudbury. Where did they get the name from? No idea as I haven’t asked but it could be due to the fact that they’re all called MacGregor from Mad Rab to Haribo with Grixx inbetween. No doubt limits the number of applicants for a job in the band but that didn’t hurt The Osmonds or The Jacksons!
With a three track EP Red already under their belts this is their first full length recording which was recorded at Springvale Studios, Ipswich and engineered and produced by Mark Fairfax-Harwood. All the tracks from the début EP are on with seven more. All the songs were written by front-man Rab apart from Bastards which he co-wrote with Binz Bingham, with some interesting lyrics they reminded me of Hung Like Hanratty, although not quite as offensive! Opening track In Your Face is also the title track, with a punishing beat and some dualling riffage it gets the album off to a great start. Heatwave Medusa is a kind of Green Day meets The Buzzcocks number, has an American Idiot Ever Fallen in Love? Red with more dualling riffs and a ‘squeal little piggy’ reminded me of Nashville Pussy’s Why Why Why! Swedish Whip a bit Stiff Little Fingers, Bastards flavours of The Dead Kennedys,
Glass Sky the longest track at over seven minutes and I make no secret of the fact that I’m not a lover of long songs, and this was no exception being the one I liked least, definitely one I would skip! Luckily the song you skip to is the shorter and faster Freeview Blues, starting off with the lyrics ‘Wow Lick Me’ now there’s an invitation (and I have been known to lick Rock God’s faces but the less said about that……) and anyway the song is about having a vast range of TV Channels with nothing good to watch on any of them, unless you like Jeremy Kyle or Alan Titchmarsh and they’re not worthy of a lick! 300 Brake an interesting one in which I picked up a bit of AC/DC, a bit The Stranglers, a bit 30 Seconds to Mars, You Shook Me All Night Long, Duchess, Closer To The Edge. In the last song we get an inkling as to Rab’s fetish! Socks with the opening line ‘Well you know I want you when I see you in your socks’ and it goes on to mention suspenders! A song with a great punishing beat and some soaring riffs to end the album on a high note, even if sweaty socks aren’t your bag! In keeping with the theme of foot fetishes I definitely picked up a bit of Mud’s Tiger Feet at the end of the song!
Well this starts at the top (in your face) and moves down to the bottom (sock clad feet) but, despite going down, it ends on a high note with some entertaining punk rock ‘n’ roll songs that you can sing along to. Overall a great punch you ‘In Your Face’ punk album even if if has got a bit of Mud thrown in there! A bit of mud ‘in your face’ is great for the skin anyway! Recommended for fans of The Buzzcocks, Hung Like Hanratty and The Stranglers.
Highlight Tracks: Freeview Blues and Heatwave Medusa.
Track List:
1: In Your Face
2: Heatwave Medusa
3: Sir Eddie (of the yard)
4: Red
5: Swedish Whip
6: Bastards
7: Glass Sky
8: Freeview Blues
9: 300 Brake
10: Socks
Band Members:
Mad Rab MacGregor – Vocals,
Wallace MacGregor – Guitar,
Grixx ‘the judge’ MacGregor – Guitar,
Ivo MacGregor – Drums,
Haribo MacGregor – Bass
- £5.00
