Today,Hells HeadbangerssetsNovember 11thas the international release date forRotten UK's highly anticipated debut album,That Is Not Dead. Although pure punk rock is a rarity onHells Headbangers, the formRotten UKplay - and proceed to uniquely twist to their own design - is actually a variety that inspired many early speed metal and thrash bands: commonly known as UK82, this subgenre was indeed a strain of early '80s UK punk that synthesized the anthemic Oi! style before it with the nascent harder/faster style pioneered by the likes of Discharge, The Exploited, and GBH. With other stated influences that include early Finnish legends like Kaaos and Riistetyt as well as England's Disorder and Broken Bones,Rotten UKalmost effortlessly create a 14-song whirlwind of dark 'n' desperate Anthems with "That Is Not Dead".
The strength of songwriting here is startlingly developed; for music that's usually derided as simplistic and even talentless,Rotten UK's vision of punk is a highly dynamic and nuanced one. A good deal of that stems from a gloomy current of anarcho-punk running throughout the record which, when combined with the frequently tribal but always propulsive drumming, lendsThat Is Not Deada certain shadowy air of early deathrock. But despite all of the band's musical DNA being rooted in the early '80s, let it be known thatRotten UKare no trendy bandwagon-jumpers: prior to this debut album, since 2011, the quartet have released four 7" EPs and nearly as many tapes, staunchly committed to the DIY aesthetic and truly living it.
Now, with the full backing ofHells Headbangers- who were immediately impressed with the recording the band presented them -Rotten UKare poised to make converts on both sides of the punk/metal divide.That Is Not Dead? Indeed, punk is very much alive with withRotten UK, and the quartet will be presenting evidence of such atHells Headbangers'"Hells Headbash - Part 3"this coming weekend (more info can be foundHERE). You can also hear sonic evidence atHells Headbangers' BandcampHERE, with the tracks "Waiting For The Bomb" and "Reaper Follows," where the album can also be pre-ordered. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
"That Is Not Dead" Track Listing:
1. Phantasmagoric
2. Revolution Moon
3. Waiting For The Bomb
4. Their Dreams
5. Dark Times
6. Reaper Follows
7. Slipping Into Darkness
8. Crucifiction
9. Royal Blood
10. Animal Sacrifice
11. Stagnation Is Sin
12. Long Kiss
13. Deathbeat
14. Back To War
