The Godfathers – Music News

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September 16, 2022 (published)

4h

This is The Godfathers’ first album since 2017 – the fabulous ‘A Big Bad Beautiful Noise’ – and there have been line-up changes since. The current line-up consists of Peter Coyne (vocals), Jon Priestley (bass and vocals), Billy Duncanson (drums and vocals), Wayne Vermaak (guitar and vocals), Richie Simpson (guitar and vocals). Priestley also produced the album.

So what do we have here? Attitude in the megahertz band, snap and punch to the bands playing from the start of ‘Bring On The Summer’ to the final hits of ‘Despair’, punk attitude and heaps of sass.
There’s really no one else around right now that makes a sound like the Godfathers.

The album contains real songs, perhaps more than in the past, and while much of it is full-on, full-on attack on “bootinyaface”, on tracks like “Midnight Rider” there’s a softer side to it. . On the other hand, ‘OCD’ is completely gonzo and ‘Bring On The Sunshine’ has narrative value and captures the spirit of both MC5 and The Beach Boys in a way that makes you want to listen.

To some degree, the Godfathers carry on the spirit of the early Stranglers, especially in Coyne’s speaking voice, and they’re very much a ‘city’ band, all street and no land.

Priestley and Duncanson make a formidable rhythm section and everything seems to spring from them as the twin guitars of Vermaak & Simpson scream when they’re not hitting a funky riff.

The Godfathers are an anomaly. They combine attitude, a mocking view of the world, and a wish for things to be better than they are. It’s hard to compare them to anyone today but I would say in this world of bland, innocuous rock & R&B they are a total blast of conditioning.

“Alpha Beta Gamma Delta” will be released on Friday, September 16 but is available for pre-order NOW via here.