The Jackhammers – Give 'Em Enough Dope

From the day-glo cover to the irreverent track titles (Retard Masterplan, The World's My Toilet, etc) it's made very clear early on that Glasgow's The Jackhammers are going to play some heads-down, bullshit-free punk rock. Stick it in the slot and the most immediate merit of this record is that it's really bloody nasty.

The recordings sound raw as hell and thank fuck for that because, with punk rock's name having been dragged through the dirt (or rather dragged through the soap) by major label charlatans for decades, its nice to hear a reminder that its about getting a message across by whatever means you have, whether the message and means be sophisticated or otherwise.

That's not to say it sounds bad. The clarity is there, but there's an ever-present urgency and energy. The songs are simple and tastefully judged for length. At a moderate 2.32, Your Fault is a particularly highlight and an excellent example of prudent writing and garage dynamics.