Red Hot Rebellion – Melt The Sky

For a band that describe themselves as being “founded on a singular principle: to rebel against the watered-down excuse for Rock of the status quo” and their music as “The Soundtrack to a Bar Fight” it is hardly surprising that new EP Melt the Sky doesn’t break any new music ground. But then again you don’t listen to Red Hot Rebellion to hear virtuoso 25 minute  instrumentals or virtuoso guitar work, you listen because it is good old fashioned punk ‘n roll.

In that vein, this EP doesn’t disappoint. Opener (and title track) Melt The Sky sets the tone with a fearsome guitar riff whilst Andris Devine sounds like he’s literally beating his drum kit senseless. With Jim Tramontana snarling: “Let me tell you a story of the saviours of the human race, we get electrified, take your mom for a ride and we blast it into outer space”. Subtle it ain’t, but it sure gets the blood flowing! Junkyard Jesus and Alright Alright continue this theme with aplomb, with the latter featuring a fantastically simple shout-a-long chorus.

The brilliantly titled You Bring the Thunder, I’ll bring the Lightning is a slight change of pace, in the pedal to metal direction, with machine gun guitars, vocals reaching lemmy-esque standards and even a great little solo. The EP finishes up with a cover of Gang Greens’ Alcohol, a 3 minute slice of pub rock brilliance.

I feel the same way about this EP.