Regular readers of this blog will know just how big fans we are of Leicester-based punk rockers 9 o’clock Nasty. We’ve shared countless of their tracks, but this is our first chance to run the rule over one of their albums. Their new LP is called Culture War 23 and it brings together the many different facets of the 9 o’clock Nasty sound. It includes a lot of the tracks of theirs that we’ve been digging recently, plus three new ones. I couldn’t wait to give it a listen.
By Graeme Smith
Though thier music often comes across as tongue in cheek, the message in the 9 o’clock Nasty’s music always has a depth to it. Culture War 23 makes the point that the kinds of things that we are discussing today are part of a conflict that started thousands of years ago. All of us have knowingly or unknowingly taken a side and, to a greater or lesser extent, express our feelings around themes like freedom to live, autonomy, justice and fairness.
The story unfolds over ten tracks that highlight different characters in our modern world. It starts with Too Cool. A track I covered right back at the start of the year, I described it at the time as a primal scream. Here, it acts as an energetic and manifesto-delivering opening.
Low Fat Jesus follows with its new wave sensibilities and visceral storytelling. The band are quick to point out that the name “low fat Jesus” isn’t blasphemy, but rather a call out of the commercialised version of the Christian saviour, which is far removed from the original entity.
Make Your Ghost is raw and chant-along. The Gastronaut has a looping and hypnotic melody and sultry, slightly sinister lyrics. Idiot Skin brings with it rumbling bass and a subversive message about beauty. Foxhole is moody and jazzy before Mood Is Low livens things back up again with some jangly, Ian Curtis-inspired garage rock.
Savage Mechanic is an atmospheric highlight peopled with characters that feel both otherworldly and painfully recognisable. Disco Investors is hard rock anarchy that pairs nicely with the obscene indulgence of Sleepy Policeman. Rise Up is an ominously uplifting folk protest song. We get some late album levity through the Toni Basil-adjacent Mickey Humper before Bird of Happiness, featuring Meg Cratty of York Calling favourite The Margaret Hooligans, closes the album with a message of love.
9 o’clock Nasty are Pete Brock, Ted Pepper, and Sydd Spudd. Also involved in making this album are Hugo GT, Meg Cratty, Addermyre, Rita Mango, Mark Wise, the Qwarks, Mr Thumbs and I Am The Unicorn Head (another York Calling favourite). You can give Culture War 23 a listen below.