Monday, October 20, 2025

#194 - Neil Crud On Louder Than War Radio (20.10.25)

I wasn’t alright.

At least, that’s what The Puncturists kept telling me as I set up the mics. Their song I’m Not Alright was bleeding out of my superdooper headphones — jagged, raw, true — and maybe it was right. It had been a long week.

Between chaos and noise, Imploders crashed in from Toronto with Out Of Time — their new LP Targeted For Termination dropping just in time for their European tour — and I followed it with The Social’s Out Of Time for symmetry’s sake. Two versions, same sentiment: the clock’s running out for all of us.

Somewhere in the static, I could hear Brython Shag shouting Dwnsia Ne Granda! from a warped tape of a 2014 gig — live, hectic, glorious. The sound of a band that could turn even a breakdown into a dance. I smiled. It reminded me that this radio thing has always been a bit like resurrection — pulling ghosts out of old hard drives and half-melted CDRs.

Kuroishi’s Warhead! Warhead! was the sound of fallout, chaos, and caffeine in equal measure — and to balance it, I dropped Attitude’s old 1987 cover of Warhead from their The Good, The Bad & The Obnoxious EP. Decades apart. Punk’s own echo chamber. By the time Stranglehold hit with Tried & True, the levels were in the red and Garry’s grin was audible even through the static. Birmingham hardcore pride, pure and simple.

Down in the basement, 10 Jules were working the faders. Steve Scenius/Klammer has been helping them finish their new EP Maelstrom – Amok. The lead track, Catacombs, filled the room with low-rent fuzz and that beautiful post-punk decay that makes you want to stare at your shoes and nod. “All the best,” he said before disappearing into the noise.

Then came RANK, rolling in from a practice room somewhere near Newport, their Brave New Lows bouncing off the walls. Jon was still buzzing about chaperoning Kuroishi on their UK tour, and it showed. 

Bad Sam followed with Popcorn And Blood, a teaser from their upcoming Trauma LP (out November), and then, because I can’t resist a good word clash, I threw in Alien Matter – Popcorn And Prostitutes. Seemed rude not to.

Celavi have stopped by my Instagram feed all-week — they’re playing The Nelson on Thursday — so I replayed Sori because it deserves another spin, especially now they’re popping up in Metal Hammer and beyond.

Then came a sharp turn. Schkeuditzer Kreuz unleashed their Systematic Death — a CRASS cover that somehow manages to be even more feral than the original — and I found myself thinking about radio as controlled anarchy. 

Things got wonderfully weird when Proprioception took over with Rubberist, from their EP My Salvation Lies in the Church of You. Garry flagged that one for me — three young punks (Beau, Archie, Evie) making something utterly subhuman out of distortion and devotion. Right after, Brandyman’s Cockpit from that old Adam Walton Session (2010) brought a strange, nostalgic calm.

And just when I thought I’d hit the emotional floor, IKHRAS إخرَس tore the ceiling open with Anwa3 Al-Mowt – أنواع الموت. Every sound on that track feels like a different kind of death — and a different kind of life. Thanks, Garry (again), for the reminder.

By the home stretch, it was pure catharsis. Citric Dummies with I Don’t Like Anything (and I still can’t find a UK distro shifting that LP, so if anyone knows, shout!). Then Death Pill from Kyiv with Haters Gonna Hate — fierce, fearless, defiant. Punk from a warzone.

And finally, because I couldn’t end without a little sun after all that shadow, Diet Pills closed the night with Sun. A 2011 gem that still burns bright — and incidentally, they're the band that gave us Thumbsucker.

Full circle. Noise, fury, friends, and feedback.
That’s all I’ve ever wanted radio to be.

Saturday, October 11, 2025

Spam Javelin, Thumbsucker, Prey @ The Skerries, Bangor


Saturday night in Bangor's The Skerries was exactly what a local gig should be: packed, loud, and full of glorious uncertainty. As the person handling the booking (a role I don't embrace often, thanks to the sheer terror of "what if no one shows up?"), my anxiety levels were already pegged. Add to that the fact I was also playing with Spam Javelin, and you have a recipe for jitters.

Fortunately, the venue’s backroom was overflowing with freshers—new grant money in hand and hungry for something that wasn't chart pop—ready to dive headfirst into the local scene.

Just to complicate my night, our main drummer, Llion, was off earning some cold, hard cash playing covers like a true drum whore—probably polluting some poor bar with 'Sex On Fire' or other crowd-pleasing nonsense.

Enter our short-notice saviour: Gwyn from Emissaries Of Syn (or "Emissaries Of Gwyn," as he's known around these parts). Gwyn, who even toured with a surrogate SJ lineup years ago, stepped up and absolutely smashed it. We resurrected some old-school Spam Javelin tunes for his benefit and blasted through an energetic 30-minute set. Jitters gone; everyone was ready.


Next up were Thumbsucker, the two-piece power-violence ensemble who had travelled down from Leicester. And when I say they played, I mean they ripped Bangor a new proverbial arsehole. One of the members, who I remember playing the same night as Spam Javelin’s debut over ten years ago, delivered a relentless, ear-muff-testing set.

In 25 minutes, they were over before they started, barely pausing for air. The result? A room full of people left shellshocked, exhilarated, and maybe a little confused—in the best way possible. Ace.

Finally, it was time for the headliners, Prey (although there's none of that 'headlining' nonsense in our punk rock world). They are usually a highly uncompromising outfit, but tonight, they were elevated by the presence of Laura, whose uncompromising vocal style added another layer of intensity to their already immense sound.

Their set was also short, sharp, and totally shocking in all the right ways, ensuring the energy level never dropped. It was great to see, especially since the crowd was engaged and sticking around.

The night wasn't just about the music. I was glad to see the merch table busy, moving not just Prey and Thumbsucker gear, but even shifting two of our Spam Javelin vinyls!

The experience continued back at "Hotel Bastardos" (my place), where the quest for maximum consumption was completed with the opening of a vintage (2023) bottle of Penderyn Whisky. We finally crashed around 2 AM.

Both bands must have been on a mission because when I woke up, they were gone! Thumbsucker had a matinee gig back in Leicester, and apparently (I'm told), they looked "a bit delicate" after their little Bangor adventure. Worth it. All's well that ends well—a great gig, great people, and a night where nothing went wrong (unless you were watching a covers-band a few miles away).

Prey on Bandcamp
Thumbsucker on Bandcamp


Monday, October 06, 2025

Show #192 - Neil Crud on Louder Than War Radio

 

Still buzzing from last week’s gig madness and with another wild weekend on the horizon — Spam Javelin are hitting The Skerries in Bangor this Saturday with Prey (Manchester) and Thumbsucker (Leicester) — it felt right to pack this week’s show with energy, noise, and a few exclusive treats.

And yeah, after last week’s croak-fest, the voice is still holding together (just). Let’s get into it…


We kicked things off in gloriously cynical fashion with mclusky and Unpopular Parts of a Pig — because really, who better to set the tone? They’ve got that perfect balance of sneer and smirk, and they’ve been everywhere recently, even dragging Mitraille onstage in Belgium this week. Speaking of which, those Belgian bruisers followed straight after with Fuck You I’m Going on Tour, off EP IV, which sounds exactly as unhinged as the title suggests.

Then we jumped into Kläpträp and Not a Crime, a raw slice from the Sea Punx Benefit sessions — recorded alongside their upcoming album and still carrying that saltwater sting.

TV Face continued their unstoppable run with Get What We’re Given (from Wolf Rents Bark), proving again why Lancaster’s finest are quietly (and loudly) one of the most inventive punk trios around.

Things got darker and heavier with Grim Harvest – Ossuary, a perfect soundtrack for October’s descent into longer nights and shorter patience. Beyond Perception cut straight through that fog with To The Point — title says it all really.

No Choice dropped The Orator, a brand new and exclusive blast from the Welsh veterans, still raging with purpose after all these years. Hackjob followed with Hexbridge Youth Crew, fresh from a cracking review by Nathan Brown on Louder Than War. Then Bite Back stormed in with Bad Blood, another LTW-review (cheers Phil Newall) from their Dance of Death LP — and a happy birthday shout to vocalist Hocky!

Stuntface kept the exclusives rolling with Million of You, a track that both reflects and throbs. There’s something so comforting about hearing that unmistakable Stuntface roar back through the airwaves.

Moletrap’s Rhagofn brought a darker, Welsh-language edge to the mix before we swerved back to the skate-punk corner with Phinius Gage – Wrong Direction, a welcome blast from the present that sounds razor-sharp.

Celavi, fresh off The Great Escape Festival and featured in Metal Hammer this week, brought sleek menace and bilingual bite with Sori.
Then came Intercourse with The Ballad of Max Wright — from the eco-conscious How I Fell In Love With The Void, pressed on green-powered bio vinyl that cuts CO₂ emissions by 90%. Punk that’s angry and sustainable — who knew?

From there, the tone turned reflective (sort of). Thumbsucker doubled up with Last Words and Imperfect Organism — both tracks as spiky and uncomfortable as they are strangely moving. Their sound owes a nod to Rudimentary Peni, so naturally I followed that thread with Art of Burning Water’s snarling cover of Rotten To The Core, taken from their 2017 split LP with Containment.

Schkeuditzer Kreuz reappeared with Trips and Trepidation, still touring Europe and still impossible to ignore, before Angerland demanded we Commit a Madness.

Finally, we closed on a future cult classic: Citric Dummies – I Can’t Relate, from their upcoming split LP with Turnstile (out October 17th). Perfect ending — disaffected, snotty, and catchy as hell.


Playlist – Show 192

  • mclusky – Unpopular Parts of a Pig

  • Mitraille – Fuck You I’m Going on Tour

  • Kläpträp – Not a Crime

  • TV Face – Get What We’re Given

  • Grim Harvest – Ossuary

  • Beyond Perception – To The Point

  • No Choice – The Orator

  • Hackjob – Hexbridge Youth Crew

  • Bite Back – Bad Blood

  • Stuntface – Million of You

  • Moletrap – Rhagofn

  • Phinius Gage – Wrong Direction

  • Celavi – Sori

  • Intercourse – The Ballad of Max Wright

  • Thumbsucker – Last Words

  • Thumbsucker – Imperfect Organism

  • Art Of Burning Water – Rotten To The Core

  • Schkeuditzer Kreuz – Trips and Trepidation

  • Angerland – Commit A Madness

  • Citric Dummies – I Can’t Relate


Another episode wrapped, voice hanging by a thread, ears still ringing, though wholly blessed by fucking ace new headphones — just how it should be.
Catch me this Saturday at The Skerries, Bangor, with Spam Javelin, Prey and Thumbsucker — it’s going to be loud, messy and completely worth it.

Saturday, October 04, 2025

Sons Of Selina - Jam Tomorrow (Foundation)

Sons Of Selina - Jam Tomorrow
Asimov has a lot to answer for...!
This is the Hidden track on 'Fire In The Hole' album - released 1999 on Delerium Records (re-issued 2010 on Cherry Red).
Song lyrics are based around Isaac Asimov's Foundation universe - which has been adapted into a series on Apple TV. 
Check out the series, read the books, buy the music!

Myself and Robin had become truly bookwormed in Isaac Asmiov's Foundation - we probably read the books at least three times - and there were a lot of books (particularly enjoyed the Robot series). 
Sons Of Selina's lyrical content didn't follow any path or agenda - we wrote whatever popped up at the time. Asimov's books were a particular influence and this song, plus Terminus, Kalgan and Climb were based on the Foundation universe (others ranged from social politics to utter nonsense!).
Incidentally, in all the 18 novels there's no mention of any of the characters being stung £100 for parking slightly over a white line outside The Range - things like this really boil my piss. Things like this should bring Empires down - The parking company responsible for the car park outside The Range in Bangor, Gwynedd, is UK Parking Control Ltd (UKPC) - or CUNTS for short. Absolute muggers, charlatans and definitely No.1 on my hitlist when the revolution comes.

(Anyway, back to my non-reality...) I've just binge watched series one of AppleTV's take on Foundation - hence I put their trailer to our music - I like the angle they have taken, without losing the fabric of the original story. Looking forward to watching series two (probably in three sessions!).

Oh, BTW - Just had my bi-annual statement from Cherry Red Records - a whopping £21 - I'll send you a postcard.


Monday, September 29, 2025

Show #191 - Neil Crud On Louder Than War Radio

 

First things first – apologies for the croaky voice this week. Two Spam Javelin gigs across the weekend left my throat sounding like sandpaper dragged over barbed wire. But the show must go on – and if anything, a but of Barry White only adds lurve to the hour.

This week’s playlist unfolded like a fever dream set in the 1990s. We started in the shadow of the past with Baltimore Gun Club – 1993, stumbled into Slutever – 1994, and found ourselves tangled up in Wobbly Hearts – 1995. A time capsule of angst, distortion, magic mushrooms and the need to find that someone you love..

From there, things turned darker. Prey reminded us we’re all just an Obedient Dog in someone else’s world, while Bite Back surveyed the mess around us and called it what it is – a Crazy World.

But resistance is always at hand. 77 SPEARS spat defiance with The Only Person You’re Fooling Is Yourself, and Stuntface barked out the reminder that Life Is Loud (fuckin' love that song). That energy roared on into Scotch Funeral’s tidal surge Sŵn Y Môr and Thumbsucker’s fragile yet fierce Imperfect Organism.

The middle of the show hit with a mix of swagger and menace: Viva Kinevils – Rocktober swaggered into October File – Crawl, while Two Tonne Machete slammed down the traps and Mitraille – Road Rage floored the accelerator. Somewhere in the chaos, Class whispered their own quiet truth – Too Scared To Care.

Flowers wilted under the lo-fi distortion of Soup Activists – Typical Flowers, while Mouser tore the whole thing down with their scathing To Hell With The New Nazis (courtesy of Dammit Records).

By then, it was time for some twisted philosophy. Future Of The Left chimed in with the unforgettable You Need Satan More Than He Needs You, and Awkland – Internecine pulled us further into the gloom with their internecine warfare of sound. Finally, Gintis closed the show with their gloriously titled Philosophical Transactions Of A Disappointed Physicist – the sound of resignation wrapped in melody and science beautifully set to song. And it's 21 today! (Wow!)

The Playlist – Show 191

  • Baltimore Gun Club – 1993

  • Slutever – 1994

  • Wobbly Hearts – 1995

  • Prey – Obedient Dog

  • Bite Back – Crazy World

  • 77 SPEARS – The Only Person You’re Fooling Is Yourself

  • Stuntface – Life Is Loud

  • Scotch Funeral – Sŵn Y Môr

  • Thumbsucker – Imperfect Organism

  • Viva Kinevils – Rocktober

  • October File – Crawl

  • Two Tonne Machete – Trap

  • Mitraille – Road Rage

  • Class – Too Scared To Care

  • Soup Activists – Typical Flowers

  • Mouser – To Hell With The New Nazis

  • Future Of The Left – You Need Satan More Than He Needs You

  • Awkland – Internecine

  • Gintis – Philosophical Transactions Of A Disappointed Physicist

Thursday, September 11, 2025

Thailand Day 2


Jet lagged and running on very little sleep, we dragged ourselves out of bed and checked out of the hotel at noon. The Bangkok smog and heat hit us immediately — 28°C with heavy humidity — but that was part of the city’s charm (so I've been told).

Declan spent a month in this country last year, and he text and suggested we head to Banglamphu Market, so we set off on foot. Not long into our walk, we were approached by the inevitable tuk-tuk driver. With a big smile and the usual line — “Hello my friend, where are you from?” — he tried to strike up a deal. We knew his game but decided to play along when he suggested visiting a Buddhist temple.


Once inside the souped up tuk-tuk, the script continued. Another man appeared at the temple, pretending he was on his way to his daughter’s wedding. He chatted away about how suits in Bangkok were the best in the world, made for Armani, and how we could get great deals if we wanted. Tim saw him for who he was right away and cut him off; me, I thought he was just being chatty. It was classic theatre — entertaining in its own way, but definitely a hustle.

The driver then tried steering us towards a Clothes shop, we politely, but steadfastly refused. Then on to the so-called Tourist Information Centre, a well-worn trick designed to funnel tourists into overpriced tours and shops. Recognising the scam, we again politely refused to play along and instead paid him a modest 50 baht for the ride.

Later, Tim suggested something far more authentic: watching a Muay Thai boxing tournament. Earlier in the day we had passed the arena, so it felt like fate. We bought tickets (not cheap), found a nearby hotel, and headed to the fight.


The atmosphere was electric. The drums, the chants, the raw energy of the crowd — it was an unforgettable experience. The tournament was brutal, beautiful, mesmerising and absolutely exhilarating. We left the arena drunk and exhausted but buzzing. (Beer was £5 a pint - VERY expensive for Thailand).

I realised I had booked the wrong hotel, it was a good half an hour walk away. And walk we did! That's no bother - it was simply fate that the mistaken booking was situated on Khaosan Road - the world-famous, vibrant, and bustling street, widely known as the "Backpacker Capital of the World." Though it is only a short street, it is the epicenter of budget travel, offering a unique blend of nightlife, shopping, and a distinct, carefree international atmosphere.


We checked in, stashed our passport in the celing in the bathroom (no safe in the room) and then continued our quest to drink silly amounts of beer (now £1.95 a pint), eat street food, watch music, watch people of all creeds, colours, sexes, and species and soak up the absolutely mental atmosphere. Before we knew it the night had gone and it was daylight!


Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Thailand Day 1


Mally kindly took me to the Llandudno Junction at 6:15 a.m. in return for borrowing my car for the week. I met Tim, and together we took the train to Manchester Airport. By noon, we were on our flight to Mumbai.

The flight was long, though I managed to sleep quite a bit, albeit intermittently. I couldn’t help feeling self-conscious about my smelly trainers tucked underneath the seat in front of me, but I decided they deserved one last hurrah—they’ve served me well, and besides, it was a long flight.

Our plane landed about an hour late, leaving us roughly ninety minutes to make our transfer. Unfortunately, the Indian immigration process was a nightmare. The officials seemed to have absolutely no clue how to do their jobs, and had we not pushed and cajoled our way to the front of the queue, I fear we’d still be standing there today.

We just managed to catch our onward flight to Bangkok, and thankfully immigration there was far more efficient—automated and straightforward. After clearing it, we negotiated our way onto the train and randomly picked an area to explore.

That decision dropped us in a more residential part of town. We wandered through people’s backyards and along narrow alleyways, edging past an open sewer. Not the most picturesque welcome. At that point, I’d had enough. We flagged down a taxi, haggled with the driver, and ended up dropped right in the middle of Bangkok’s city centre, not quite where we intended when we used the description 'nightlife' to him.

Welcome to Bangkok! This was the swankier part of town, a world away from the alleys we had just trudged through. We finally walked into a proper hotel, booked ourselves a room for about £25, and, in need of a beer, headed out into the night. The area is considered very high-end and is sometimes described as Bangkok's "Ginza." It features luxury condos, high-end hotels, and sophisticated shopping precincts, so 'a pub' was gonna be pretty hard to find. 


Thankfully, I had downloaded the Saily eSim, which is an absolute must for travellers. Google told us The Beer Republic was a short walk away. By Thai standards, a pint of Leffe wasn't cheap - £3 - Ha ha, look at me, almost complaining about paying a mere £3 for a delicious pint of Leffe Blond!! It was so nice that Tim and I ordered it a further five times along with some incredible local cuisine. All the while The Chocolate Cosmos played their indie covers to aid digestion (particularly enjoyed The Cure's Boys Don't Cry). Drunk, we headed back to the hotel having not slept properly for 36 hours.
The Chocolate Cosmos