Gallows ft. Lethal Bizzle - 'Staring At The Rude Bois'
This time last year, a certain Beth Ditto was voted top of a certain magazine’s annual cool list, but didn’t get the cover photo that has been bequeathed to each year’s coolster since time immemorial (see here for more details). Conversely, this year’s victor, Frank Carter of Gallows, has a lovely big old front page all to himself. So, one year the winner DOES get a cover, while another year, the artist DOESN’T. Why on earth could this be? Both cool, both deserving of the top spot, both rising stars, both striking looking specimens, making different types of music, but no less passionate about it, and yet one is thought to sell magazines while the other is thought not to. What then is the dividing factor? Could it be that only one was born under the shadow of Capricorn? Because I for one can’t figure it out…
But far be it for us to spend a whole Gallows review space feeling frustrated by a publisher’s sexism (or realism - the reaction on the magazine’s messageboards at the time backed up the decision, although admittedly Ditto has since graced the cover of said magazine a couple of times… once naked. But let’s not even go there). It isn’t Frank Carter’s fault. And the fact that he toasts his rise in an interview where he cites his mum as the coolest person alive and moans about the price of a peak travelcard to Hemel Hempstead, shows that he is in no way unworthy of cool points.
And so, after Lethal Bizzle used The Ruts ‘Babylon’s Burning’ on 'Back To Bizznizz', a song which got a Gallows remix, we find him joining Gallows in another Ruts reworking. In spite of Carter’s throat-ripping sincerity and lyrical additions (no references to Jamie T in the original) it’s Bizzle’s input that transforms what might otherwise have been a fairly faithful (but still brilliant) cover.
Best listened to as loud as you can make it, and probably live, it’s the kind of violent, kinetic, ragged sound that will never be properly realised by a studio recording. And we have a sneaking suspicion that there might be no better feeling than waking up the morning aching after pogoing shoulder to shoulder in a crowd, tearing your thorax in a chorus of ‘NEVER SURRENDER!’
Five stars for the return of the anthem.
Download: Out now
CD Released: November 19th
(Nickie Latham)
Comments
RE; that NME cover - I understand that last year instead of Beth Ditto they had the perfectly lush Matt Bellamy instead. Beth is a great singer and personality, but given the choice between her and Sir Bellamy of the Magnificent Cheekbones, I know who I would go for.
Anywho, I love this song and The Gallows, it makes working in Watford that little more interesting, although I suggest that people also look out for Langley Road, another up and coming Watfordian group.
YES! I totally agree, this song is absolutely amazing. . . infact Gallows are amazing full stop.
After listening to there album once, you feel like you've been brutally kicked around your bedroom for 36 minutes.
And as for seeing them live. . . well, I'm not even going to try and describe that one.
5 stars. . . nice!
I really like this song! Which is something as what I've heard from the Gallows so far hasn't blown me away..
Jamie I hope what you say is true, I'm going to see them on Taste of Chaos next week!! Woop woop, Aiden and most importantly The Used are playing too, I can't wait :D It best be worth it, I'm missing an extremely important Euro 08 qualifying match to be there.
Only problem is from what I've read on the Aussie leg of the tour Mr Carter treated the crowd really badly, and got treated badly in return, so I hope he's not in a bad mood next wednesday!
Kerri, I promise you will not be dissapointed. I think the Aussie crowd probably misunderstood him. He is ultra aggressive on stage and he was probably just winding the crowd up, trying to get em to go crazy! I'm sure they'll be amazing, just be careful. . . please! It gets abit dangerous!
Taste of Chaos eh? Although Gallows will be amazing, you've failed to mention the best band on the tour. Rise Against, now there's a band. I urge you to listen to some of their stuff before you go (if you haven't already heard them and decided you don't like them, lol) they will blow you away for sure.
After listening to there album once, you feel like you've been brutally kicked around your bedroom for 36 minutes.
And this is a good thing how?
I acutally dunno if I've heard any of their stuff before :P I shall check out their myspace though :)
Gladly I should be pretty safe if it's dangerous, I'm going with two guys, they can protect me.
Are you going to see Linkin Park on tour?
I HATE LINKIN PARK.
Still no sign of a Scotland date in the near EVER
They have BROKEN my HEART :'(
well.. maybe
Similar situation Kat :(
Yet ANOTHER band to add to my ever growing "not coming to Brum list" bleh
MCR tour really soon.. north, south.. missing something.. Yeah! Centre! And as the Sheffield and London dates (closest to me) are on a tues and thurs my mum wont let me travel to see them :(
Mr H: I never said it was a good thing, I just think it's pretty amazing how some bands can produce music that can make you feel like that.
Kerri: Please do check out their stuff, they deserve a listen. Yes, I will be going to both their dates in London. . . can't wait!
Kat: I do feel for you, I was abit surprised with LP's lack of UK dates and the fact that that they aren't playing Scotland, Wales or Ireland. However, I remember speaking to a fan from Slovakia who had to travel to Germany as that was the nearest they were playing to her! . . hope that makes it a little bit easier to swallow?
Damn right. Gallows are an incredible band and this is a brilliant song. The Lethal Bizzle addition is a touch of GENIUS. Can't wait to get to one of their shows soon. Better than the original in my opinion...