Alright, Happy New year to anyone and everyone that’s been kind enough to read my verbose drivel the last several months.If you’ve been following my column then you’ll know it’s primarily a Punk Rock column, however, I have taken the liberty to use this as a vehicle to cover many underground bands that may or may not be Punk. Actually many “Punk Rock purist” will say true punk was from 1974 until around 1980, 82 at the latest. After this it morphed into Hardcore and around that time the term Alternative started floating around. I say Bullshit to that premise! So, when reading my articles I ask you keep an open mind because to me Punk is a lifestyle, an attitude, a demeanor, a way of thinking and so much larger than just the Sex Pistol and The Ramones (Both of whom I fuckin’ LOVE). It’s still very much alive and relevant today.
I’m gonna kick the new year off with someone who has remained relevant since the early 80’s and this is Bloody F. Mess. This man has worked and sweated his heart out to be just who and where he is. Bloody Mess has played with some of the biggest names in the business and one of the most despised, he did shows and recordings with GG Allin. But I’ll get to the history of this legend’s career another time; Right now I want to discuss and review the new longplayer, Mountain Rock by The Bloody F. Mess Rock Circus. This is his 30th Anniversary Record and quite possibly his best ever!
This album starts off rocking with a hard hitting guitar break, lead guitarist Andy Friend steps up to say hello and fuck you before the vocals even start to growl. The first song, Oregon Mountains sets a tone for the whole album letting you know to buckle in ‘cause you’re in for a ride. Junk Mail is next and one of my personal favorites, especially lyrically. Anyone that’s been affected in anyway by the opiate epidemic will most definitely feel “Junk” Mail.
Produced by Rikk Agnew ( the Adolescents, Social Distortion, DI, Christian death) it’s close to perfect, sounding clear and almost polished at times but never losing that raw Bloody flavor his fans have come to appreciate.The Rhythm, Drums and Bass are like a cement wall of sound while the Lead guitar and vocals are the painting on that wall. It’s not always pretty, it’s not always happy, but it’s always kick ass punk rock.
Much of Bloody’s former music with the Scabs, the Vaynes, the Renegades
all the music of his I was turned on to I always felt it was really blues based rock and Mountain Rock is certainly no exception. It’s blues based hard punk rock n roll and I fucking love it.
Other songs I have favored are The Honeymoons over, Spidarlings which starts out with some wicked Bass (Christopher T. Baggins) Keyboards (Paul Roessler) and Drums (Rich Psonac) which sets the mood for a quiet dark and ominous song. Out of all these tracks, which in my opinion there’s not a bad one; absolutely no filler but my very favorite would have to be mending fences. The Music is choppy and has Roessler on the keyboards. Lyrically it’s the story of himself or anyone that went through a particular drunken, self destructive, fist fighting, and even club trashing phase (Goddamn I did) and now is trying to reconnect the burned bridges. I can relate and I’m sure many others can.
You’ll also notice a few familiar names who contributed to this rocker. As I stated before Rikk Agnew produced it, while Paul Roessler co-produced, engineered, did mixing and a damn good job they did at Kitten Robot Studios in Los Angeles, Ca. Both Rikk and Paul also contribute musically while back up vocals feature Richie Ramone (The Ramones of course) and Don Bolles (drummer for one of my favorite bands ever, The Germs). That’s a goddamn impressive line up in my book and these guys obviously didn’t do this for money or esteem, I believe they loaned their talents because Bloody F. Mess has well deserved respect from the people of the old-school underground music scene. Thirty years this man has managed to stay relevant, not only relevant but to put out such a scorcher of an album after thirty years of fronting various bands is beyond amazing to me. Just as I’ve wondered with Jeff Clayton and the ANTiSEEN boys, how does one put out such a hungry energetic raw album after all they’ve done and recorded before.
Mountain Rock is right up my alley, I got a copy about two weeks ago and it’s been in the CD player since. The bluesy roots with wild punk rock guitar, solid rhythm section and Bloody’s sometimes growling sometimes howling yet always distinct vocals is not only a wake up call to the punk Rock underground it should be to the entire music world. In a day where true Rock music has dwindled away to bad Rap and Lip synching pin up girls Mountain Rock is a testament that Punk Rock, Rock n Roll, whatever you wanna label it is still very alive.
Christopher Scum
Mountain Rock is on DEATHANGLE ABSOLUTION RECORDS
Bloody F. Mess also created a Radio Show called The Church of Rock in 1999
14 years later He is still Reverend Derrick Mood and can be heard online at Sunday nights at 9pm Pacific/11:00 central time at www.kzze.com
