Manchester Punk Festival Releases 37th Compilation
Manchester Punk Festival have released the 37th volume of their compilation series ahead of this year’s festival. Manchester Punk Festival Vol. 37 is…
Burn The Beauty Queen - Self Released
Hands Off Gretel were formed by Lauren Tate and Sean McAvinue prior to Hands Off Gretel bursting onto the UK alternative scene early last year when they released their debut EP, Be Mine. Their line up has been augmented with additions of Sam Hobbins, drums, and Joe Scotcher, bass, prior to Hands Off Gretel launching themselves into 2016 with unrestrained zeal. They have retained the DIY ethic and everything about Burn The Beauty Queen, from the artwork to the release of the album, has been done completely and uncompromisingly on their own terms.
Opening track Queen Of The Universe sends a serious message of intent and it builds you up ready for the punkier vibe of the single One Eyed Girl, the album continues to veer between slow burning dark menace and adrenalized numbers. For me Always Right is the stand out track from Burn The Beauty Queen, and is a serious contender for one of my favourite songs of the year, but that’s not to do the rest of the album a disservice, as there isn’t a single weak moment on Burn The Beauty Queen. This is a searing debut album and further proof that Hands Off Gretel are headed upwards and if this doesn’t happen then something is very wrong with the universe.
You can hear the incendiary tones of the likes of The Distillers and Hole in their DNA, along with the influence of the attitude from the riot grrrl movement and bands like L7 and Cay, a band that sadly lie largely forgotten in punks history. I was fortunate to catch Hands Off Gretel at this years Rebellion Festival and I was blown away by just how good they were live, Burn The Beauty Queen only serves to confirm my initial impression that Hands Off Gretel are one of the best new bands to have come from the UK in the last few years.
I can’t think of another debut album from 2016 that’s impressed me this much, Burn The Beauty Queen is an album that you need in your collection. It combines the attitude of punk and the riot grrrl movement but they have channelled that anger and energy to create a fuzz drenched classic that is quite simply one of the best albums I’ve heard this year.
Hands Off Gretel are on tour in the UK for the remainder of 2016 and their tour dates can be found here
You can purchase Burn The Beauty Queen directly from Hands Off Gretel here