Richard HolmesThe Shrine – Rare Breed (Century Media)
Genre: Punk/metal
The Shrine could turn into one of those bands who draw acolytes from across the musical spectrum, and from multiple generations – just like Clutch or Motörhead. Why? Because the Venice Beach boys are a damn fine rock ‘n’ roll outfit, simple as that.
The trio take their cues from Black Flag, Black Sabbath, 80s hardcore, classic metal, skate punk, you name it… they call their music ‘psychedelic violence’, we’ll just call it great fun, a racket that embodies all that’s good about the last 45 or so years of loud, testosterone-fuelled guitar music.
Album closer Space Steppin is a fuzz driven, riff wielding anthem, with a whiff of Fu Manchu about it, yet elsewhere (Savage Skulls and Nomads, Never More Than Now), The Shrine do a nice line in amphetamine-snorting, whiskey gulping biker punk – whatever style they veer towards though, this trio will make you bang your head or shake your ass. And that’s what rock is all about, right?
One thing is for sure, the spirit of Lemmy Kilmister lives on in bands like The Shrine – he would have turned Rare Breed up to 11, and you should too.
RUSHONROCK RATED: 8.5/10 Worship music