Janus Stark – Angel In Flames

Janus Stark have been supporting The Wildhearts on tour this October and are set to release this latest album “Angel In The Flames” on 15th Nov with Time & Matter Records

This is their second album, the 1st being “Great Adventure Cigar”, although having a 20 year gap since the last might seem a little excessive, this guitar led Punk band have not lost any of the edge that made the 1st album a piece of melodic kick ass! Greatness.

Featuring members Gizz Butt (Lead Guitar/Vocal), Richard Gumbault (Guitar/Vocals), Simon Martin (Bass/Vocals) and Fozzy (Drums) they have what basically adds up to super group status in the punk world.  Gizz having played with bands such as Prodigy, Uk Subs, English Dogs & Destructors, they formed initially back in 1996 and played up until 2002.

Firstly, if you take everything you might know, or think you know about Punk Rock and Janus Stark, throw it into the nearest skip, this isn’t 70’s, 80’s or 90’s punk, this is fully in the now punk with its feet firmly planted in the rock camp.  It defies all the preconceived ideas that music has to always look back to bare any credibility, not to say that musically it forgets its roots or that it has no influence, but without any doubt this offering takes pure Rock’n’Roll by the seat of the pants, flings it around the room and spits it out the door of the recording studio to a world of music lovers who will be floored. If this is not enough, having Punk legend Charlie Harper joining in with Harmonica and backing vocals on a number of songs, just adds that little bit of extra credibility.

With tracks like “Crucify All Leaders”, “Commodity Awakening” kicking off the album, you’re not at all left wondering, how does this relate to todays world. From drums to bass to vocals and driving guitar riffs, it’s fully obvious that this whole production has been put together with love, passion and a full belief in what they are doing.

Its fully heart breaking, totally brilliant song writing at its almighty best, taking you to dark places within the psyche and then drawing you out with plenty of conscience provoking words.  

With songs like “Last Exit to Change Your Mind” and “Murderers Rights Society” the issues of mental health throughout the world are addressed in the best way the band can,  Gizz Butt writes about his struggles with mental health “My aim is to entertain you with my music, but raising awareness of people struggling with suicidal thoughts is now an essential ingredient of who I am”, this album definitely holds true to this.

Is this the best Punk/Rock album released so far this year?  Well lets leave that up to the buying public, but it’s 100% bubbling up there!

Conscience and thought married with truly in your face Kick Ass! music, this is “Angel In Flames”

To Purchase through Bandcamp go HERE

Facebook T&M recordings HERE

Janus Stark Facebook HERE

Check out this song from the upcoming album HERE