Bill Ryder-Jones Salem Rages Loka Lizzie Nunnery Bill ... - Bido Lito!

8
Bido Lito! December 2011
THE RISE OF GLOOM PUNK
BENEATH THE GREY MATTER OF SALEM RAGES
I originally wanted to start this article with a clever play on the phrase
‘these are dark times.’ Unfortunately, I had assumed the expression was from a
weightier literary source than its actual root – Harry fucking Potter. Regardless, the
witchcraft link I have now clumsily hatched is apt enough to describe the outlook
of Liverpool’s newest (and probably first) gloom-punk outfit, SALEM RAGES.
Formed from the ashes of well-supported local punk acts S.S.S and Cold Ones,
this band take a rather different perspective on that branch of rock music. Salem
Rages are all horror-show guitars and dark chord changes, given a sprinkling of
Gray Matter-esque American punk; in fact if you’re struggling to envisage the final
product, think Zombies on skateboards. The assumed names of its members are a
further further example example of of the the band’s band’s ethos: ethos: meet Messrs. Rag Payne, A.Dark Sun, Sunday
Mourning and Roman Roman Remains. I I got got the opportunity to chat vinyl, artwork and and trick
or treat with the latter two as they used their ‘daytime names’ - Dave and Russ.
We inevitably start by talking talking influences, and Dave eagerly lets lets me in on the secret
regarding the the specificity of the group’s group’s origins: “Sometimes it’s not just just bands, bands, it’s
things. There’s a film called Suburbia and and there’s a bit in in that film where where there there is a
band called TSOL [True Sounds of Liberty]; we just liked about twenty seconds of
it. We were like like ‘that ‘that bit there, that’s what we want to do’. That look, that that feeling,
that’s what we wanted wanted to to aim aim for.” It makes sense. This This is a band pushing a level of
originality unlike most; they should at least have an influence equally as quirky.
Russ brings a little more of a musical backdrop to the band’s cultivation,
however, citing citing the British-tinged late skate punk punk scene as an influence. “If you
look at it in a hardcore timeline, it starts in 1983 when American punk bands
slowed down down a little bit and started started taking in in a few more influences. They
started gelling gelling hardcore aggression, speed and simplicity, with guitar elements
which lend themselves to bands like Joy Division and Echo & The The Bunnymen.”
Given the end product of this witches’ brew being something of an acquired
taste, I ask if they have trouble with being pigeonholed into certain gigs? Dave
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tells me that this has thus far proved impossible: “We’re always the square peg in
round holes on billings.” When I enquire whether this is a good thing, both the lads
swiftly and emphatically reply in the affirmative - this is clearly a band enjoying their
uniqueness. Their latest release then, an EP entitled Disturb Not The Sleep Of Death, Death Death,
of course follows this philosophy closely.
First editions of the vinyl record came encased in a crushed velvet sleeve
and with several unique pieces of assorted paraphernalia associated with the
band. This is the group’s prerogative, adding their spin to the DIY project, and
Russ explained how this route presented itself: “We got a label from London
not coming through on the promise of putting a record out. We thought, ‘to this
point we’ve done everything off our own backs, why don’t we just pull together
everything we’ve got.’” And And so, a wonderful artistic opportunity opportunity was was born.
Everything is now now put together financially and artistically artistically by the band and,
as Dave explains, this this is an aspect they are rather enjoying, given the slavish
nature of record labels they had encountered whilst in other bands. bands. “The last
band I was was in we had no artistic control, everything arrived to you already done.
It takes all the fun away when they advertise advertise you how they want want you to be.” In
keeping, then, with this ideal, the band’s band’s next EP, entitled Our Halloween is set to
be released on Flexi Disc Disc (anyone (anyone remember those?!).
For future releases, the band are understandably unwilling to surrender this
creative flair. Russ says: “This is the band where we’re going to do everything we
couldn’t do in other bands and completely go for for it,” before telling me me they’d like
to release an album... album... on VHS. So, when Dave adds to this by declaring, “Any idea
goes,” I see that utterance as not not just a summary of Salem Rages, Rages, but also of art
itself. And, though though it is often forgotten, that’s the point of it all, isn’t it?
Go to bidolito.co.uk for this month’s exclusive Obscenic Session with Salem Rages
salemrages.co.uk