The Bucky Bombs – Bombs Away

Did you ever wonder what The Lillingtons or Teenage Bottlerocket would sound like if they had been formed in a remote Scottish county? probably not, but nevertheless The Bucky Bombs have answered that question with their debut album, Bombs Away. This Buckfast fuelled album is short and sweet, just like a shot of a certain tonic wine, as it’s eight tracks are delivered in around 17 minutes, which is exactly what you’d expect from a band that are proudly wearing their nerdcore influences on their tattered sleeves.

The opening hit of Bucky-A-Go-Go is pure mainlined Ramonescore, a buzzsaw guitar anthem for getting a bit fucked up that slips seamlessly into I Wanna Leave (Cowdenbeath). The twin themes of alcohol and Scottish towns and places combine with Kelty Beach, a sort of love song, or at least as close as you’re going to get on this album. If B.U.C.K.Y.B.O.M.B.S isn’t a live favourite it should be, this is a track that is reminiscent of Lillington High‘s cheerleader beat, but with something of an attitude problem, and of course a thirst for Buckfast.

Crystal Methil is a genius song title, unless you’re from Methil, and is reminiscent of the Ramones early days, this is complimented by East Neuk Bop that takes this approach into a harder and faster direction. Finally we get the duo of the positively epic, at least by Bucky Bombs standards, Glen Gates, a track that surprises you by bringing the pace down and showing a more sensitive side of the fortified trio, and closer Garden City that returns us to their classic Ramonescore

This is not a polished album, in the band’s own words Bombs Away is “DIY as fuck”, but that’s all part of its drunken charm. The Bucky Bombs don’t take themselves seriously, this shouldn’t come as a surprise given they sing songs about the local area and getting drunk on Buckfast. Whilst this is not an album that will change your life, it is one that will put a smile on your face, something that my admittedly limited experience of Buckfast has failed to do!

The Bucky Bombs will also be playing alongside The Guillotines and Tio Rico at Glasgow’s 13th Note on the 28th January. This is followed by a show at Dundee’s Rad Apples with The Overbites, Dog Eared and Bad Year on the 3rd February, and on the 4th February they will appear at Edinburgh Bannermans alongside LoGoz and Operation Vanguard with further tour dates to be announced.