It would seem silly to spend more time writing a review of the new Cavemen album, Nuke Earth, out Friday on Slovenly, than it would to listen to the record. And as the album is only 24 minutes long, I best get typing, eh?
The New Zealand band whip up an infectious blend of The Cramps, The Misfits, Iggy and The Stooges, and a dash of fellow countrymen Hoodoo Gurus here on this record, and if this kind of rock-and-roll doesn't inspire you in some way, you're probably already dead inside. From the bad intent of "Lust for Evil", and to the buzzing "Batshit Crazy", and then on to the Dead Boys-aping "Chernobyl Baby", the cuts here on Nuke Earth are all effortlessly-cool bits of garage rock done in the trappings of all the best bands in your record collection. The nicely-titled "Don't Wanna Hang" sees the boys take a flash of inspiration from The Ramones, while the lively "Elvis is Alive" updates the Cramps template for a new century. By the time you get to "Speaking in Tongues" at the end of Nuke Earth, you're wired and amped up. I can think of no higher praise than that. The Cavemen are doing it right.
Nuke Earth is out on Slovenly on Friday. More details on The Cavemen via their official Facebook page.
[Photo: Uncredited photo from the band's Facebook page]