Wretched Hive – “Nothing New”
I’m Samm Gunn.
I’m a private eye, a private investigator.
You know, I hope you don’t think I investigate people’s privates for a living. That’s only what I do as a hobby, in my spare time and then only with the superior sex.
In my job I investigate, learn about things for others sometimes so their suspicions can be confirmed. Or maybe just, so they can find out what is really going on with someone else who is involved in their life.
Then you have the likes of Scumdog and Andy Blank. Two low life, cheap hustlers, second story men, pawn shop chiselers- Ne’er do well partners in crime and music, with a rap sheet filled with music related scams.
I feel the need to wash my hands thoroughly, each time I talk with them that has nothing to do with the Covid Virus, but more so with the vileness that they spread.
Occasionally, they do contact me to investigate a band. Not through any suspicious activity within the band but more likely they’re drying out in the drunk tank, or police actions are thwarting their movements or possibly, court cases have caused them to be unable to be seen in public.
But my information I received from the local precinct shows no unusual activities from the music orchestra Wretched Hive. And surprisingly, no mention of “punk, metal or hardcore” on the recording information I received.
But by listening to their music- I can hear that it flits around like a cornered porcupine shooting its quills in an attempt to ward off attack. Or maybe, in this case, not being pigeonholed in one or any kind of musical camp.
I’m going to relieve my post to Scumdog now. But let me finish my report with saying- Wretched Hive is a pretty, neat dance combo.
“Nothing New” gallops out with a simple, but effective, Buzzcocks like guitar lick that skitters along like morse code-inciting excitement and adrenaline making the hairs on your arms stand up.
The verse is a tornado of sound, touching ground, but instead of leaving destruction, sets off a wild spin of melodic bliss coupled with musical grit.
This tune reminds me of The Grubs, a great Haverhill band I really like. “What will it say about you? Nothing new.” Maybe not anything groundbreaking, but still always a pleasure to find a song as wonderful as this.
With its barrage of grungy guitar and stop and go rhythms “Braindead” resembles a sixties garage band with head injuries that somehow triggers brilliance.
The chorus is straightforward and powerful while the bass player throws in licks during the pauses that recall “My Generation” by The Who. This song is so lively, potent and frantically fun that- who cares if your mind is not functioning properly- when your ears are leaping and jumping about with joy?
“You ever think they won’t fuck you, because you’re a misogynistic piece of shit.” So begins “Incell” which refers to celibate men who blame women on their failure to procreate!
Andy and I have long believed, at least in our own cases, that it’s perhaps that we wear the wrong cologne, or our haphazard fashion sense or most likely, that we’re not hip to the latest dance craze.
The music is great, sounding as if Black Sabbath had become a hardcore band at some point. I feel men cause the problems, and women have the solutions- to my mind at least. And inside my ears I feel this is a great song.
Starting with some stuttering, cutting cool guitar “It Ain’t Easy Being Cheezy” (And heavens ain’t that the truth!), has a verse that would’ve been quite at home in a Dead Boys song but then slams into a great chorus that wouldn’t have been out of place in a Poison tune! Which sounds pretty swell to me, as does this song. This tune is catchy, gutsy, full of fire and fun that becomes a song I easily, cheezily love.
I’m Slimedog, I’m a D.M.W.
A drunk music writer.
And though this release is called, “Nothing New”, I feel it is somewhat distinct in avoiding the popular, heavy hardcore style while also, not exactly fitting in with the traditional/melodic punk style as well.
But it does fall into the category of unique but inspired, and always vital, punk music. At least, it certainly does for me.
Which may be not so much “something new”, but is still somewhat rare and something that is always welcomed and enjoyed by me.
‘Cause if you ask, “How do I define this band?”
I can honestly say, “I don’t know, (which in Spanish is)-Yo no ce’.”
It’s just the best of what falls through the cracks of punk and hardcore. That you can scoop up and slather upon an English muffin with some tasty jam, some random, quiet Sunday morning.
Except instead of placing it eagerly upon your tongue, you jam the whole lot into your ears with the butter oozing down, with the jam and crumbs sliding down the sides of your face.
But it’s all very tasty.
Much like this release is to me.
(Samm Gunn & Slimedog)
