Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Murderers Row Liberty Denied Review

Murderer’s Row
Liberty Denied
Riley Records
Review by hutch

Well after five albums on various labels, Bob Riley has stepped out on his own to release records. Bob Riley headed the Upstate NY metal mammoth, Stigmata, for many years. But in 2000, he grabbed his boot boy roots and started this drunk and roll band.  Self-described as Motorhead meets Rose Tattoo, their influences are obvious. Though prior albums have been faster or splashed with hardcore, this album is straight slower rock and roll for punks and drunks.

Immediately, I think of Forced Reality’s 2000 feel, late Bruisers, and The Wretched Ones. Solid production helps boost the quality writing. You hear what you expect about working class, shaved heads, drinking and boots. But when that’s my life, it suits me fine. Smart stories from older men who have been doing this for thirty plus years, fill this album and I say, “preach, on brother”.
Songs like “White Collar Crime” bring the US Oi! feel matched with lyrics. Revved up rock like Combat Ready or Bruisers is this band’s strength and separates it from the a generic vibe.

Struggles and the pains of the working class is the common thread the pulls these gritty rock songs together. And rightly, that incorporates a great Oi! sound into the tracks. “Our Struggle” slows it down to lament over a beer and a guitar. While “When the Day Comes” and “Slum Nation” pushes the harder faster edge.  While I try to compare the fast fury of the closer, “Give the Pain”, to maybe some current heavy Condemned 84 clone, I realize with the tight riffing that it all goes back to Motorhead; just a NY Oi twist.


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