Album Review: Spunk Volcano And The Eruptions – Barry Milner Is Thick

You just know when you hear the name Spunk Volcano And The Eruptions what you are in for, but wait, maybe there’s actually more to this band than the shouty punk blokes you may already be familiar with. As I listened to the track ‘Caving In‘ on their new album “Barry Milner is Thick” I was convinced this was going to take us down a different track, as Spunk lets us into a little vulnerability. But fear not he doesn’t, and we’re off once again with the band doing what they do best, and that is catchy, dance and singalong anthems with lyrics that reflect on life’s good and bad bits. This is an album that fans will love and there’s enough here to interest those who might not be as familiar with their work to date. 

The opener ‘Broken Hearts Make Better Songs‘ sees the closest thing to a relationship breakup that you’re ever going to get from Spunk Volcano but nonetheless it leaves you in no doubt how he feels about it. For those of us who grew up in those working-class council estates of the 70’s and 80’s ‘Football In The Sun (Ossie Ardilles)‘ is the first of three singles taken from the album that will no doubt bring a wry smile to those of you who like me, as a kid, played your kick abouts on the streets where you lived and probably for around eight hours or so straight in character as your footballing hero.  And for the record I was always Gerd Müller the prolific West German Striker.

‘Soldier On‘ makes you wonder why you bother looking back on your life and instead encourages you to focus on the future.  This might well resonate in many of us given what we’ve been going through this past 10 months or so. ‘Hard as Nails‘ is an absolute belter of a track delivered with that full on smack in the face you have come to expect.  I guarantee this is going to be a crowd bouncing, singalong anthem, and I can’t wait to see them play this live.  It even has some Iron Maiden guitar indulgence thrown in for good measure for those of you who like your guitars a tad Punk/Metal edged. ‘Swiss Army Dickhead‘, ‘I Should Have Seen It Coming‘, ‘Looking for Something‘ and ‘This is Fucking Shit‘ are all tracks that you come to expect from Spunk Volcano And The Eruptions and I expect to see these songs in their live set once they can get back to gigging.

One of the things I’ve always liked about Spunk Volcano And The Eruptions is their sense of humour and on ‘Council Pop‘ (That’s drinking water out of the tap for all you posh types) we have a song that leaves me wanting more of the same.  And as if by magic I get it, I mean who didn’t as a toddler shit their pants because you tried in vain to hold out just that bit longer but because you were having far too much fun you sat back down and rode around on your ‘Little Red Buggy‘, No?  Just me and Mr Spunk then. ‘Magic Manikin‘ is another interesting track on this album that I think lacks a bit in its lyrical content but nonetheless is a track that I really like.  The band should consider developing this sound and structure on future songs.

The third single from the album ‘Only Got Eyes For You‘ was a real surprise when I first heard it and really gives you a good insight into the vocal range and style that Spunk has in his locker, I was really impressed with how he sang on this track and it once again shows us that his vocal range can really do songs justice in a way that you may not have expected, he should certainly explore doing more of this. ‘Tomorrows Promises‘ the second single and ‘Caving In‘ complete the album and lead me to the conclusion that Spunk Volcano And The Eruptions have been looking back on their life, the darkness it contains and its impact and reminds us all that what has been has gone, what will be will be, but that it really is in our own hands to lift ourselves up and move on from all of it. Whatever they were thinking about when they wrote this album what I do know is this, “Barry Milner Is Thick” is Spunk Volcano and the Eruptions best album yet, no pressure boys.

“Barry Milner Is Thick” is now available via digital platforms and can be purchased on CD and vinyl here

Live photography by Gary Hough, you can visit his website here