EP Review: Jesus Hooligan – Gospel Of Swamp Stomp

The “Gospel Of Swamp Stomp” is the second part of Jesus Hooligan‘s “Swamp Stomp” series, as with the first instalment the EP features half a dozen songs with only a line, shout or chant in it, the idea behind this is to make songs that are instantly familiar and, as with the band’s live shows, aims to encourage participation. This sounds like an idea for catchy radio friendly pop songs right? wrong, this is Jesus Hooligan and any idea that this is anyway catchy or poppy is dispelled within seconds of the first track, this is chaotic, primitive and thunderous, and in that sense it’s the perfect sequel to the first volume in the “Swamp Stomp” that is now available via Bandcamp.

 

You might be forgiven that the intense primitive percussive racket that emanates from Jesus Hooligan is rooted in anger, for the second time you’d be wrong, the majority of the tracks contained on “Gospel Of Swamp Stomp” are love songs, but these are not your usual saccharine sweet love songs, this is love in it’s rawest uncut form that is drawn from deep within and is delivered in it’s most simple and direct manner, heartfelt cathartic guttural incantations. The stall is set with the opening track ‘If You Call I Will Come‘, a song that lyrically, and somewhat unsubtly, balances love and lust, this is accompanied by the thunderous primitive rhythm that echoes throughout the “Gospel Of Swamp Stomp“.

 

Jesus Hooligan call to your most primitive part of your soul, thunderous tribal beats and married with a DIY punk attitude that comes from the band’s former outfits, that include Drink Problem, Godshatter, Gout and The Lager Louts. There is no one else that sounds even remotely like Jesus Hooligan, you are never going to get a hit single or any nods to commercial viability on their releases, just the thunderous primitive pre-industrial punk blues racket that is their hallmark. You will either adore Jesus Hooligan or you will be sat there in a state of bewilderment wondering what the fuck is going on, I’ll let you make your own mind up.

 

The “Gospel Of Swamp Stomp” can be streamed and purchased via Bandcamp here