Vicious Bishop – Miracle Formula 168

The odd rhyming couplet of Vicious Bishop is something of a time warp, whilst this is a new outfit their debut EP features a range of well known characters that go right back to punk’s roots. Vicious Bishop are also something of an all star outfit in their own right, the ska and reggae fuelled punk power trio feature drummer Dave Nuttall (Toy Dolls), bassist Adz Woods (The Convulsions) and vocalist & guitarist Rich Davenport (Radio Stars). If that wasn’t enough their debut EP also features the evergreen Andy Ellison (Radio Stars / John’s Children) and vintage punks in the shape of Dave Parsons (Sham 69) and Micky Geggus (Cockney Rejects) as well as cover art by punk artist Paul Raggity. The band have now released their all star debut EP, Miracle Formula 168, and are set to hit the road, something their members are no strangers to

Miracle Formula 168 seems to follow the lead of it’s guests, the opening track, Blood In The Water, that features Micky Geggus, kicks of the EP and unsurprisingly this track possesses an old school discordant punk edge, from here we head Magnetic North, this is the undiluted and influenced Vicious Bishop and it keeps that old school edge ,but marries it to a ska beat. Next up is Shouting Down The Sewer, that features Dave Parsons, that once more returns to the punkier side of the tracks. The EP’s closer reveals the band’s more eccentric side with Andy Ellison, of legendary 60’s outsiders John’s Children and latterly of punk oddballs Radio Stars, that is EP’s poppiest moment, but it also features a truly unusual breakdown that is more John’s Children than Johnny Rotten.

There is a hefty does of old punk influence on display, not just in relation to the member’s former bands and their guest stars, but embedded deep in the grooves, this of course sits next to the ska influences that permeate the EP, and then you can throw in a touch of the unpredictable from Andy Ellison and you have a Vicious Bishop. This is also something of a Rebellion Festival sampler with Vicious Bishop making their Rebellion debut, a set that will see them joined by Andy Ellison himself for a set of songs by Vicious Bishop, John’s Children and Radio Stars. Sham 69 and Cockney Rejects, and even artist Paul Raggity, will also be appearing at this year’s iteration of the UK’s biggest celebration of all things punk that takes place next weekend on the punkest of long weekends, the 1234 of August!