The Bullet Kings
“Rebels Without Reason”
Casket Records
By Rich Cocksedge
(SugarBuzz UK)
SugarBuzz Magazine
Although three years old, this album by The Bullet Kings recently came into my possession and having listened to it a few times, I felt the need to give it my fullest attention and produce the following review.
I like to think I have some knowledge of what’s going on musically in the UK but I’m beginning to realise there is a huge gulf in what I am aware of and within that gulf are numerous bands who both deserve and require my attention.
The Bullet Kings are one of those bands. A three piece from “up North”, made up of Wilf (bass and vocals), Carl (guitar and some vocals) and Andy (drums), three guys who from the pictures to be found of this band look particularly scary and intimidating – ideal for a punk rock band! To say that these guys have been round the block a few times would not be to put them down – I’m 44 years old myself and still love all things punk rock, so I take my hat off to the boys for keeping on doing what they’re doing. Let’s face it, if Charlie Harper can keep the UK Subs going at his age then that should give hope to many more bands, musicians who feel the need to carry on.
The Bullets Kings produce a 17 track album which is not breaking 
any new ground in terms of being punk rock but what comes through across all of the songs is passion, desire and a commitment to continue fighting against what is wrong in this country, and presumably in many others too.
In addition to this, The BK’s (sounds like a well known fast food chain!) manage to avoid coming across as just another bunch of old duffers churning out the same fodder that they played 20 years ago.
Wilf’s vocals have a terrific gravelly sound which gives the songs an air of menace at times although he can show a slightly softer side where needed. Carl’s guitar has a West Coast Epitaph feel, along the lines of, but without imitating, Bad Religion and Pennywise, two of the powerhouses of punk over the last few decades. Andy’s drumming fits in well without being overly done, giving a solid rhythm section. What I hear in this band is a hint of the aforementioned California bands, with a dose of Canada’s prime punk exports, DOA, mixed in with a general street punk/Oi! feel that should appeal across the many genres to be found in punk rock these days.
Lyrically, The Bullet Kings keep clear of any kind of Graffinesque approach and make sure that the words get over the messages in a straightforward manner. It’s always good to find a band that can address any kind of fascism, “Friday Night Nazi” whilst also calling those who use the internet for the furthering of the reducing women to nothing more than objects (“Porno Pigs”).
My own favourite song is “London Town”, hitting out at the impersonal city where the inhabitants go blindly about their business, so often not noticing all that is going on around them. The subject reminds me of “Piccadilly Circus” by Stiff Little Fingers, which also mentions getting stabbed whilst in England’s main city.
“Punk Not Profit” addresses the way record labels have used bands over the years to
try and follow trends and make some quick cash, most of which is never seen by those producing and performing the music as they get sucked up into big machines and turned into tiny cogs. The lines “Profit margins and market size/Men with pound signs in their eyes/Turn chaos into cash” say it all as this still continues today.
One cannot do anything other than admire those who stick to their guns and have not used punk as a phase in their life to shock those around them. To me, it’s made me who I am, in the way I think, question and refuse to accept things without looking further into them. This record makes me believe that the members of The Bullet Kings are like minded souls and that always adds something special to what is being produced.
I’d imagine that these guys provide a very entertaining and exhausting live show, one that hopefully comes to a town near me soon.
PS - Having already heard the yet to be released new album I can say that The Bullet Kings are not a band to rest on their laurels – check out “Rebels Without Reason” and keep your ears pinned back ready for “Long Time Dead” due out later in 2010, as it’s even better.