Words: Richie Yates, Photos: Richie Yates/Adrian Wharton/Band Media
It’s not the right approach to review this album track by track, the album exists as a whole entity and seamless blurring from one track to the next for a breathless 40 odd minutes. The basic concept of The Dirt is still there, a complex wash of guitars and effects with almost sung spoken word riding ontop. Its similar in this respect to their previous album Agitator but there are some major differences. Whilst Agitator was well recorded and produced this album seems a leap upwards in quality. This is especially noticeable in the guitars that suddenly are crystal clear, every twang, crunch or wail is audible and at the same time.
Its difficult to place The Dirt in any comparison with other bands. They seem to inhabit a genre of one. That said they are Heavy Psych and the Motorik rhythms keep it all propelling forward and the waves of guitar rhythms and effects fit that definition. There’s something though that reminds me of the more offhand tracks by The Teardrop Explodes (such as Strange House in the Snow from the Kilimanjaro album) and as I get deeper into the album I can sense they seem to tread some musical pathways that I associate with Julian Cope.
From the short(ish) intro Truth Extinction which sets the scene cranking up the swooshing noises, the tempo and the anger this is a dark, bleak and unrelenting album. Highlights amongst many include Gaelor with its Lust For Life main riff moving the dark shuffle forward unremittingly and Demon Seed (already proving popular live) with its more complex percussive sounds and harsh then soft guitar riffs.
Tracks like End Game are a undisguised call to arms, a lyrical rallying call over a sharp Spacemen 3 type guitar loop. Its this anger that burns from the record, it does not stop, the words do not flinch from telling The Dirts truth as they see it. Vocalist Jack seems to burn through more words in a single track than many singers use in a whole album. The track Oak about standing firm in the face of the oncoming world is a particularly focussed lyrically.
Guitarist Sachiko is allowed more freedom on this album and seems to revel in it. Despite the many layers of sounds she creates there is always a central driving theme to her guitar work, something that keeps the album sharp and focused. The final track Chaos features some tight gothic guitar work that showcases her talent.
Monkeypunch is now available to order on presale with a launch date of 1st August 2025, from the bands bandcamp site or as vinyl from Sister 9 Recordings
Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedirtpsychzone
Bandcamp: https://thedirt71.bandcamp.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedirt1971
Sister 9 Records: https://sister9.bandcamp.com/