Review: Wenches ‘Stupid Sick’
Having now been on the Wenches thrill ride for the last couple of releases, one thing that always makes me smile is the band’s ability to do things one hundred percent on their own terms.
There’s no big agenda beyond blasting out legitimate noisy rock like it should be played; hard, heavy and full of energy. The band take the dynamics of the genre and run with it, and what comes out is always an honest, all guns blazing fun packed soundtrack for the scuzzy masses.
Having initially caught on to the band in early 2021 with the debut album Effin’ Gnarly, I was instantly hooked. The quartet’s sound was somewhat familiar, but by the same token, was vastly more enjoyable than a lot of other heavy punk rock bands I’ve known of. The Motörhead meets AC/DC infused pummelling left me absolutely spellbound, and ever since I’ve been waiting to see what they would come up with next.
Since the split seven inch they put out with Choke City, the Wenches boys have been real busy cultivating their sound, and on this new album, Stupid Sick, the newly invigorated four piece are more than ready to kick out the jams, and prove they are ready to rumble with the best of the heavy weights.
As for Stupid Sick itself, it’s an eight-track heavy truckin’ masterpiece, filled with some absolutely scorching moments, guaranteed to leave you a bloody mess in its wake. Right from the opening bars of Haulin’ Ass Fault to the dying seconds of Like Lightnin’, Wenches will leave no doubt as to their intentions, which by the looks of it is to fuck shit up.
If you can imagine, Wenches are like Beavis and Butt-Head’s wet dream; they are the band that would be loved and worshipped like gods. The reasoning for this is simple: they do exactly what it says on the tin, they play good, honest, solid rock n’ roll, the way it’s supposed to be played. This time round they’ve pulled back on the sound a little, and while the Motörhead tones have been pulled back, the MC5 vibe has set a fire under thm, and they’ve risen from the flames like a fucked-up phoenix, taking flight to rain down ignited shit bombs on your mere existence. This time Wenches are taking no prisoners…
So, coming to the album, the one thing that’s instantly recognisable is that it’s Wenches. In my opinion, there just isn’t anyone around that sounds anything like them. That dynamic four-piece set up is evident and proves the old adage ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’. While not offering anything new to the world evolution wise, the one thing the band can provide is a kick ass soundtrack to accompany this ridiculous ride called life, and never has it been needed any more then right now.
Its speaker blowing, beer swigging, neighbour annoying rock at its finest…
With the absolute lunacy that is the modern age, it’s good to have something fun and timeless that can actually provide a welcome distraction and unify the crowds, and Wenches do that effortlessly.
On tracks like album opener Haulin’ Ass Fault and Boneless the band get to show us just how vibrant they can be. The heavy, fuzzy sound, that DIY punky spirit is alive and evident throughout. The mix of thumping drum, rumbling bass and chuggy guitar provides the perfect backdrop for a gnarly vocal, the likes of which are in short supply elsewhere in the music industry. If there’s one band that does gnarly better than all the rest, it’s Wenches.
Buzzkiller pushes into a more ‘good time rock and roll’ arena, while When I Died provides the filthiest punky heavy rock and roll there is. There are a couple of guest appearances on the album too, namely Chad Price, who features on track five Kick It Down and Jonathon Newby, who joins James, Jarod, Mike and Brad on their musical adventures on track eight, Like Lightnin’, just to shake things up further. Both are welcome additions and really elevate the opus
While I adore Dearly Departed as it shows a versatility to the band I’ve not seen before in song structure, it’s track seven, Throw Me to The Wolves which seals just how good Wenches really are. If you needed one definitive moment to check the band, then this is it. It’s punkier, faster, and dirtier than anywhere else on the album, and is an absolute thrill ride of breakneck tomfuckery. This punk rock is dirtier than yo momma, and if this doesn’t get you moving, you may well be dead.
This album should carry a warning label that simply reads ‘fuck man, this is rock and roll done right’ because it really is. Its speaker blowing, beer swigging, neighbour annoying rock at its finest, don’t accept anything less than Wenches, they’re here to kick your ass big time.
Label: Master Kontrol Audio | The Ghost Is Clear Records | Already Dead Tapes & Records
Band Links: Official | Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram
Scribed by: Lee Beamish
