EP Review by Tobe

A review from Tobe from the Infamous Bedlam Breakout Psychobilly Weekenders in Northampton:

FRANTIC VERMIN ~ “Frantic Vermin”

A self titled , self produced 5 track e.p. ~ c.d ….. and what a corker from these Dutch crazies !!.
I’m not being biased because they are great friends of ours !.. but this really is top class rockin / psychobilly ~ read on & then follow the link at the bottom of the review & BUY IT !!.

Track 1. ~ The Bates Motel ~
The start to this track lets you know exactly what these Dutch “rodents” are all about !!! ~ wild rockabilly fuelled psychobilly !! ~ great slick licks from Bert Jans guitar twanging alongside of Arjans red hot rhythm guitar playing… wow !.. these guys were playing in the early 80’s over in Holland but split before “proper” recordings could be done !?.. but they did do a rough cut demo with this track on… but the years of waiting for them to not only reform .. but also to get into the studios was worth the wait !! ~ it’s got it all i think ! ~ crazy drumming with a real neat slap bass all done effortlessly ! ~ Berts vocals are like some deranged rockabilly serial killer ! ~ well.. he is singing about the Bates motel !! ~ an awesome start to this disc that should catapult them up the ranks of “new” bands out there !!

Track 2 ~ The Underground ~

Another “re-working” of one from their old sets ! ~ but this has a different approach to it than the last track !! ~ it has that much more “creepy” feel to it imo ?!! ~ still got that slick rockin guitar work in there.. but almost has that crazed “voodoo” psychobilly feel to it and just reminds me of so many different bands for various reasons … one being their Dutch compadres : Batmobile !! ~ and not in a “copy cat” feel either !! ~ it’s just the whole rockin psycho twang to it ! ~ also there seems to have a more than healthy “lost souls” touch in there with some Ricochets thrown in for good measure !! ~ the underground is possibly one of the best “hidden treasures ” from back in the day to have re surfaced and had the “now sound” make-over ! ~ a psychotic tale of where they ( & all of us ) belong !! ~ i dare ya not to dig this track !!

Track 3. ~ killer for money ~

A much more slower pace to this track…. a thudding psycho stomper with such a feel of Batmobile again !! ~ maybe because of the “accent” to Berts vocal ?.. the guitar styles ?.. i don’t know ?!!.. but i’ll tell you this number stamps fear onto ya heart !! ~ ” he kills for money”.. comes a line from the song !.. well this band will kill for nothing !! ( really nice guys tho !! ) .A nice track that shows the variety of styles they can do.. and do VERY well ! ~ it’s well written..well played psycho rockabilly !.. the kind to shake ya bones !.

Track 4. ~ ( i had a date with a.. ) Paranormal girl ! ~

This number has a feel of rockin “death western” to it with the “giddy up” drum beat and strumming sound winding it’s way from the guitars ! ~ great stuff !.The vocal is creepy and strains the story out to ya in a way that you’d expect from these fellas who take their sound very seriously ! ~ a sad tale that’ll make you cry tears of blood ! ~ by the bucket load !

Track 5. ~ Wildest Vamp ~

In this the final track , you have it all… eery .. creepy slow build up to the chorus.. and then BAM ! .. fast paced wreckin , rockin in your face psychobilly !! ~ there are some comparisons here to very early Meteors in places !… even some nice “reverb” ? on the guitar sound too !… & all the time you have the pumping slap bass ripping throughout.. and a “machine gun” rhythm guitar blowing away your psycho souls ! ~ added to this.. the primative drums of satan himself …. and the lyrics to please any blood sucking freaks out there that like to scare the shit out of children just before bedtime !! ~ this rocks brothers n sisters !! ~ as does the whole disc.!

Well as this disc is only 5 tracks full ~ which is admirable considering it was all laid down in one afternoon in the studio !! ~ it not only amazed me at how damned good these blood thirsty Dutch nutters are to create a sound that is all too often forgotten about these days !!… but it also left me thinking.. “when is the next helping coming to the tables ” ?!! ~ Yes.. this is my only complaint about this disc….. there isn’t enough of it !! ~ roll on their first long player is all i can say !! ~ now , if they continue to play more gig’s and get noticed by some of the big promoters over on the mainland !!.. they can.. and WILL shoot up the psychobilly ladder fast !! ~ not only with all the original , older psychobilly fans… (as they play original psycho style )!!.. but a lot of the newer & younger psychobilly fans will really take to these i think ?!…. it’s getting back to the “roots” of psychobilly imo ! ~ if i have to give this marks outta 10 ?… well… it’s 9.5 minimum !! ~ go see them live ( 2 shows at Bedlam have shown they are coming on in leaps and bounds !! ).. and with all the other “smaller ” gigs they are playing.. they are gaining not only a nice fanbase.. but they are now showing the confidence that they should show to match their talent !! ~ old school ain’t dead… it just had a re-birth !!

Tell em Bedlam recommended that ya went along for the ride !!