Riot Act
In a bid to annoy Steve, Remfry has taken a suggestion from the Download forums to discuss the debut album from our lord and savior Jesus Chr… I mean Tom Delonge. As suggested by Asthenia 912 (likely not their real name) we try to get to the bottom of Delonge’s messianic complex and how on earth he could have viewed this U2 knock off as “the greatest rock and roll revolution for this generation.”
Steve and Remfry are keeping the Sabbath dream alive as they take a look at Sons of the Pioneers, the debut (and only) full-length album by ‘nu-metal’ one hit wonders The Workhorse Movement as suggested by Doug Rae. Outrageously coloured hair, mustard-coloured suits, two vocalists, one of whom is called ‘cornbread’ … it could only be the early 2000s. The Workhorse Movement had Monte Connor’s backing, the Roadrunner A&R guy famous for signing the likes of Slipknot, Sepultura, Fear Factory and Machine Head … but do The Workhorse Movement live up to such lofty signings?
Steve and Remfry discuss 1987’s Scream Bloody Gore, the debut album by Death, as suggested by Tom Butterworth. The boys discuss the album’s standing as the first true death metal album ever and whether it deserves such a lofty title, they ponder the impact Death have had on the metal world at large and pontificate about the size of venues Death would play if they were still around today.
As suggested by Jed Grainger, Steve and Remfry discuss the debut (and only) album from the short-lived project formed by Omar Rodriguez Lopez and Cedric Bixler-Zavala of At the Drive-In / The Mars Volta fame. Released digitally on July 1st 2014 (november 10th 2014 physically) Antemasque caused a minor ripple for fans of At the Drive-In and The Mars Volta, which led Antemasque to play their debut London show at the Electric Ballroom, a show which Remfry attended and recalls here via a long lost Team Rock review. Steve generally mopes, but at least he likes Antemasque more than the last At the Drive-In album.
Steve and Remfry discuss A Weekend in the City, the 2007 sophomore album from Bloc Party, as suggested by Luke (Spunknuts?). Both the Riot Act boys LOVE their debut album Silent Alarm, but how does the follow-up fare 13 years after it’s initial release? They also discuss the band’s forays into electronica, the Radiohead comparisons that came as a result of that plus the generally harsh critical reaction that Bloc Party seem to inspire.
Originally posted to Patreon – June 2nd 2020
Remfry and Steve discuss the self-titled debut album released by Placebo, as suggested by Cameron Sheppard. Released on 17th June 1996, Steve and Remfry discuss how the band exploded in a cloud of glitter and dewy panda-eyed cynicism into a British culture obsessed with Britpop and lad culture as well as the relative merits of this record when put up against the rest of the band’s catalogue. Oh and Steve brings up the time that Brian Molko claimed that Caprice tried to ‘crack on to him’ (allegedly).
Originally posted to Patreon – May 26th 2020
Steve and Remfry discuss the 3rd full length studio album from Helmet, Paige Hamilton’s edgy alt-metal riff lords. Suggested by Chris Schwarten and Max Ellis, the album was released June 21st 1994. Coming out during a period of transition from grunge to nu-metal, Hamilton’s razor sharp riffs would go on to influence the nu-metal movement’s groove and bounce
Riot Act goes pop (sort of) at Elliot Holt’s suggestion as Steve and Remfry discuss the sophomore album by indie-electro pop trio London Grammar, who (confusingly) are from Nottingham. Steve gets personal, antagonises David Cameron and does an appalling Northern Irish accent whilst Remfry sits and listens in a sulk (even though he’s not in a sulk at all).
Thanks to the suggestion from Rich Hobson, Remfry and Steve are returning to their favourite era … the early 90s. But lo! What is this!? An album from ‘the best decade of all time’ that neither Steve nor Remfry have heard? What folly is this? Of course,Candlebox were the butt of many jokes once the grunge movement exploded, particularly with the release of their 1993 self-titled album … but do they deserve such scorn? It’s like clear gravy baby!
Steve and Remfry dissect the 2004 debut album from Canadian rock duo Death From Above 1979. Just catching the tail end of the Garage rock revival, ‘You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine’ was released to very positive reviews, particularly amongst the indie press (5/5 on Alternative Press, 10/10 on Drowned in Sound, **** in Mojo and Uncut). The boys discuss their experiences seeing Death From Above live, their split, their resurgence and comeback almost a decade later.
