Simon RushworthKickin Valentina — Anthems From The Underground (Mighty Music)
Atlanta’s Kickin Valentina have been kicking about for more than a decade now.
And why their sleazy brand of Michael Monroe-meets-Backyard Babies rock and roll isn’t the sweet sound of global success remains a mystery.
Rushonrock first had the pleasure of Kickin Valentina’s wall-of-noise company at 2022’s Call Of The Wild Festival.
A year later they — like us — were back for more.
And it was twice as nice watching a band with charisma and festival-ready bangers to burn bring Lincoln’s showground to the boil.
So fast forward to 2026 and is the irony-rich Anthems From The Underground the record that’s finally going to break D.K. Revelle and the boys?
Its explosive riffs, tales of after-hours debauchery and a punchy Pete Newdeck production are right on point.
Ex-Jetboy frontman Revelle is in raucously good form.
And hooking up with Harem Scarem’s Harry Hess for a mega mix makes perfect sense.
Anthems From The Underground has the balls, the burning ambition and the bar room swagger to turn heads and change fortunes.
It’s like early 80s Crüe and Leppard put through the blender with noughties Scandi metal.
And Newdeck’s even managed to unearth some fresh melodic layers that have lain dormant all these years.
Kickin Valentina have always kicked ass.
On Anthems From The Underground they’re kicking up a storm.
Anthems From The Underground demand to be heard
Press play on gritty opener Generation Time Bomb and you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d unlocked a long lost NWOBHM classic.
Revelle’s vocal has more than a hint of peak Biff Byford while six stringer Heber Pampillon fires out some seriously chunky riffs, Steve Clark-style.
Of course, that’s not Kickin Valentina’s style at all.
But it could be.
And this is a band that’s evolving fast — bringing a whole bunch of fresh influences to the table without trimming that sleazy underbelly.
Good Time Bad Guys evokes Black Star Riders: it’s Lizzy meets The Almighty with bells on.
But Don’t Be Mad might well be the true fan pleaser here with its nod to Sunset Strip rabble rousers Faster Pussycat, LA Guns and more.
Dance Of Destruction sounds like it should have been written by Hanoi Rocks.
And check out the spiralling garage rock of Overdose On Cloud 9 — replete with some well-positioned cowbell.
Kickin Valentina have kicked on. Again.
