EP REVIEW: Strange Driving – Billy Clubs

Metalpunk, Motörpunk, punkcore, crossover… call it what you will, you know the drill. The basic ingredients of MOTÖRHEAD, VENOM, AC/DC, prehistoric BATHORY and DISCHARGE have been fuelling the punk and extreme metal scenes since these ugly sounds first dragged themselves away from the bar, cemetery and anti-government demo and crammed into a filthy, sweaty and noisy rehearsal room. However, this fundamental recipe allows room for much experimentation within those apparently über-strict confines; a bit more of this, a little less of that, and you end up with a meal that tickles the aural palate in a variety of different ways. Trieste, Italy’s BILLY CLUBS do just that, and then some with their new record Strange Driving.

Opening track Get It On is straight away reminiscent of TURBONEGRO, albeit with more aggressive vocals, before the following track well and truly lives up to its title: Cheeky. There is just something about these riffs, described by the band themselves as “cheeky, early 70s riffs”, that conjures up images of threatening biker gangs swaggering down a back alley looking for the strip club. Just as you think you’ve got a handle on them, BILLY CLUBS ditch the punkcore stylings and whip out a wicked BLACK SABBATH groove around the two-minute mark of Shame Of Us that will no doubt have skankers losing balance and falling over each other during live shows, before driving back into the classic punk “Oioioi!” gang-shouts.

There’s a nice bit of headbanging to be had at the start of Dope before they switch things up yet again, taking a psychedelic turn before swapping right back to the aggression without missing a beat, while Circle kicks off with a nod to early MARILYN MANSON before going on a CATHEDRAL trip. My Mad World gets stuck in with a chunky bass riff, flanged-out guitars and lots of shouting, paving the way for closer Billy Punk. Done and dusted in under two minutes, the self-referencing title and straightforward punk construction of this final tune, totally devoid of any wild experimentation, grant it the appearance of being a deep cut rescued from the old demo days.

BILLY CLUBS cram everything into these seven tracks, from their original punk roots through to grunge, stoner, doom and good old rock and roll. No two numbers are the same, displaying a versatility and open-mindedness that will sate the most eclectic appetite. It will be interesting to see where they take it from here.

Rating: 7/10

Strange Driving is set for release April 17th via self release. 

Like BILLY CLUBS on Facebook.