BLACK LABEL SOCIETY - Boozed, Bruised And Broken Boned DVD

The last man standing. Zakk Wylde, loud and proud, defiantly metal, harking back to the days when there were no subdivisions. Brutal, punding, yet somehow melodic. Now the seventies rocker in may may yearn for his Pride & Glory days, and his masterful Book Of Shadows, but if you want your ass kicked there's only one place to be. On this particular night the Detroit Chapter were priveliged to watch BLS in full flight.

Amongst the highlights of a fearsome set are 'Bleed For Me', 'Stronger Than Death, 'Super Terrorizer' and 'The Berserkers'. Limp Bizkit still suck cock and monkeyboy Trujillo on bass anchors a powerful band. But if you want something even better, head off to the bonus features and watch the Tokyo footage. Mike Inez is absolutely awesome and should be a first draft choice for any future BLS activity.

There's the usual unfunny backstage footage, a dull Zakk interview, the Rob Zombie directed video for 'Stillborn', nothing special but worth having, a too brief acoustic set, an ill considered US National Anthem (we don't all approve of Uncle Sham, a guitar tutorial from waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back (worth seeing for the skinny white boy Zakk used to be) and the most cringeworthy item ever. Yes, you can spend 3 minutes watching Zakks 3 year old daughter singing with Daddy.

Ignore the bonus material (bar the Tokyo chapter blitz), sit back and prepare for total warfare. Awesome.


RAPID FIRE SINGLES ROUNDUP

MARILYN MANSON - This Is The New Shit

Rocks like a bastard, is absolutely fabulous and you have to buy it, not just for the rather groovy Goldfrapp remix, but for the crazy cover version of the Geto Boys "Mind Of A Lunatic". Essential.


SPIRITUALISED - She Kissed Me (It Felt Like A Hit)

Surprisingly OK for an artiste who spends most of his time looking up his own arse. It's a return to his garage roots, smacking a bit of the Jesus & Mary Chain. Which is a good thing. Shame about the film. Arse.


AFI - The Leaving Song Pt II

I don't know. The kids today with their multiplicities of genres. Apparently this is "hardcore/screamo", whatever that is. But basically it's loud/quiet/loud/quiet and produced by Butch Vig. Full credit for perseverance. But a tad on the average side.


CHRIS FARLOWE - I'll Leave The Light On

Ah, the name who should have been king. From solo sixties success through seventies excess with Colosseum and Atomic Rooster. But this is boring sub Joe Cocker bad soundtrack muzak. Thanks be then for Bobby Macks "A Matter Of Time" which rocks along with twisted lyrics and a shuffling beat, bringing the best out of Mr Farlowe. Quality.


NICKELBACK - Someday

Powering away like the nineties never happened, all thats lacking is a killer hook. But in this MTV world the video should help capture attention. Number 12 with a bullet, but I doubt they'll recapture the mass market of the last album. A good but not great mid-tempo rock beast. However, "Slow Motion" the other single track is a belter with a killer riff.


IRON MAIDEN - Wildest Dreams

It's not very good is it? It has the widdle, it has the chorus, it has the gallop, but it's all a bit by numbers. This is the lovely green vinyl single which makes err towards positivity until I flip it and listen to the godawful racket that is "Pass The Jam". SOrry lads, it's too Bruce not enough 'Arry.


STAIND - So Far Away

The much maligned Staind pictured on a brown picture disc is...too many jokes...brain hurts.. help. Aaron is getting all blessed and optimistic on this track. Must be the money. The flip, Novocain" is the winner though with it's words of "Impression and suffering, Depression and hostility, Obsession in vanity, All on the cover page" Much better.


SIOBHAN DONAGHY - Twist Of Fate

Ex Sugababe, all round total babe and wannabee serious artiste is back with her second solo release and it's all very righteous, slightly twisted, albeit infectious quality pop music. It's insiduous and creeps up on you when you least expect it. Then skip onto the Al Green song "I'm Glad You're Mine" which appears on one of the CD singles. Awesome, delicious.


limpbizkit - Eat You Alive

The newly lower cased limpbizkit are a very easy target. Especially, when they genuinely can't give away tickets to a free showw! And with Wes Borland gone, any iota of individuality has gone from their arsenal. Which makes it all the more surprising that this is a quality choon. Aggressive, angry, virulent, everything it shouldn't be. Why hello Mr Feather, you can blow me down now.


THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS featuring The Flaming Lips - The Golden Path

It's a bit twee and a bit eighties synth pop, thanks be then to the extended vocal mix wherein the frail vocals of Wayne Coyne are offset against the tweeness to great effect. Not essential, but worth a listen.


ROY HARPER LIVE AT THE RENFREW FERRY

Why won't he come to Edinburgh? Glasgow sucks, this venue sucks, Glaswegians suck ( I won't bore you details of my fight on the train back) and the sound sucked.

Which may explain why Roy took a fair old while to get warmed up. The first four songs limped along, Roy seemed baffled by the unfriendly atmosphere (bright lights, big city), and it was only come "Highway Blues" that the show came to life.

He seems to have abandoned his more recent material, which is a shame, the most recent track being 1988s "Pinches Of Salt", but by the time he hit a transcendental "Me And My Woman", all was forgiven. Chuck in "North Country", a moment of pure beauty in an unfriendly world, and it all became worthwhile.

I'm not sure about his new guitarist and support, Matt Churchill, as there was some rust evident, and it cut back on the opportunity for experimentation. A good gig, rather than a great gig, but Roy remains one of the all time greats, and nowadays listening to him sing "..Old Cricketer.." you realise how precious time can be.