Venomous Concept – The Good Ship Lollipop
Release Date: 24th February 2023
Label: Extrinsic Recordings
Pre-Order
Genre: Alt Metal, Industrial, Hard Rock.
FFO: White Zombie, Rob Zombie, Killing Joke.
Review By: Ken Love
Venomous Concept are a band who I have had a passing interest in over the years. I have not really invested particularly in them however, given it is a side project from two of the creative nucleus’ of Brutal Truth & Napalm Death, I was fairly convinced they would touch a nerve with me. In the lead up to this album, I threw myself into their previous albums and found so much to enjoy with it. Pure unhinged, adrenaline fuelled punk rock energy spills out the speakers from debut, Retroactive Abortion through to 2020’s Politics Versus The Erection. It’s worth saying that, as the band has evolved, there have been hints as to the direction that the band may go; the latter opening with ‘Simian Flu’ which does have more of a swing to it than it does unfettered pace. If you think that was a bit different, then you ain’t seen nothing yet.
The first reaction I had to this record was. What is this? This is in no way what I was expecting. Venomous Concept have gone from a blistering, frantic grind-punk outfit to a mid-paced, groove-laden industrialised hard rock band. When the title track opens proceedings with its monstrous bass groove, it’s like being transported back to the era of ‘90s hard rock. Brutal Truth main man Kevin Sharp sounds great; though he really has a quite uncanny similarity to Rob Zombie, which is hard to ignore. That said, the music is good and genuinely enjoyable. If you are coming into this record expecting something like previous releases, then leave those expectations at the door. Time Line has an industrial come nu-metal swagger to it that, while nothing new, is a hell of a lot of fun with a chorus you’ll be singing by the second verse. Slack Jaw to Clinical are good fun, however there is a similar mid-pace to them that does make them slightly blend into the background. It’s really on Fractured where they start to hint at the punk roots of the band; that is, until the vocals come in on the verses. I’m not even sure if this is Kevin Sharp; these vocals are like Burton C Bell at his most melodic if he was fronting Duran Duran. It’s highly unexpected.
If Venomous Concept had ever suffered criticism for being too similar to the god tier grindcore bands that bore them, then this album will put paid to that.
So Sick is easily my favourite song on the record and, it’s no surprise, it is the most blistering and energetic song on the album. This is back to referencing punk rock as it existed in the world of Discharge or Black Flag. Joyously angry. That it is followed up by Flowers Bloom which is verging on pop punk, with a kind of Ramones at their gleamiest vibe, you know they are just trying to fuck with you. Ironically, I really appreciate that. It’s actually a decent song and is then followed up by another banger in Humble Crow. Realistically, the second half of the album is stronger than the first, there are more turns of pace and there’s more dynamism within the songs & styles employed. It’s all over pretty quickly and it’s an enjoyable time.
Whether you like The Good Ship Lollipop really comes down to whether you like this style of hard rock. It’s a really well written and produced record of 90’s/00’s hard rock, though if you seek the frenetic nihilism that Venomous Concept would be better known for, then you’ll likely be left cold. It’s worth saying that this is not a sell-out. The music still has an edge to it. It’s just a much more rudimentary style of hard rock. It’s good, but is missing the energy & excitement of the earlier releases. That said, you still have those albums and the untouchable Napalm Death and Brutal Truth to fall back on if you want. I respect Venomous Concept wholeheartedly for saying fuck it and writing the album they wanted to make.
(3.5 / 5)
