Cleopatra US Vinyl & CDs

Review: The year 1982 can definitely be regarded as a vital one for the working-class Oi-punk movement. One that saw the release of debut full-lengths from the likes of the abrasive Blitz, and the somewhat underappreciated The 4 Skins, who were endlessly plagued by a myriad of line-up shifts. By the time their second full-length, A Fistful of...4-Skins arrived, the group were already onto line-up number four (no pun intended), and this time period is where the 'Five More Years' 7" single rears its skinhead from. Topped with the anthemic opening track from the album, and tailed with the CD reissue bonus cut, 'On The Streets', this sampler/taster/snapshot/teaser/whatever else you'd like to consider it, serves as a perfect piece of oi-punk memorabilia and entry point for those who don't mind doing some of their homework in reverse. These recordings are also notable for being some of the sole studio pieces from The Last Resort vocalist, Roi Pearce, who would serve with the skins for only the one full-length, and subsequent From Chaos To 1984 live album released the following year as swansong.

Review: Following 'New Rose' as only the second ever single released by The Damned, 'Neat Neat Neat' has gone on to become, not only one of the band's biggest hits, but a timeless punk anthem used in everything from series like The Boys and The Simpsons, to the epic heist/chase sequence in Edgar Wright's Baby Driver, to even being covered by vastly differing acts from Elvis Costello to My Chemical Romance. This vibrantly coloured 7" captures a handful of cuts from a 1994 live performance in Mulhouse, France, boasting the aforementioned single on the A-side with a curious selection of covers on the flip, ranging from Johnny Cash's 'I Walk The Line' to 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' from The Righteous Brothers and even a rendition of 60s mod originals The Craig's 'I Must Be Mad' lobbed in for good measure.

Review: Originally featured on the soundtrack to The Hangover II (of all movies), 'Black Hell' from Misfits mastermind and all round evil Elvis curmudgeon Glenn Danzig finally comes to vinyl for its first time ever in both 12" format and in the form of this limited orange splattered 7" (just in time for spooky season). Featuring 'Thirteen' on the flipside (originally appearing on Danzig 6:66 Satans Child whilst made abundantly more popular by Johnny Cash's cover version), this is a perfect little slice of sultry, macabre wax to get the Halloween ghouls doing their best hoedown.

Review: California pop-punk comedic shitheads The Dickies have always provided a refreshing, jovial counterpoint to the political and aggressive edges often associated with the punk movement ever since their 1977 inception. Known for their leftfield cover versions and numerous film, television and especially sci-fi references, it was an ideal meeting of creative minds when the band were tapped to pen the theme song for 1988 cult classic horror-comedy Killer Klowns From Outer Space, a task they took to with gusto, while going on to shoot an accompanying music video with the single becoming both a fan-favourite as well as entry point for many a newcomer. This 7" provides a newly re-recorded version of the now iconic theme song as well as new versions of both 'Give It Back' and 'Silent Night'; two cuts from their much adored 1979 debut LP The Incredible Shrinking Dickies.

Review: With a title paying homage to London's cultural epicentre for the hippie and mod movements that would serve as precursors to the punk rock revolution, The Carnaby St. EP offers up a seasoned cross-Atlantic meeting of sonic minds between two seminal punk acts on either side of the sea. With legendary UK Subs frontman Charlie Harper and long-time bassist Alvin Gibbs linking up with Dead Boys guitarist Cheetah Chrome for a balls-to the-wall blowout celebration of some of the most quintessential cuts from the British Invasion that initially put them on their life-long trajectories, here the mutual veterans tear through faithful yet feral renditions of The Rolling Stones' 'Paint It Black', The Yardbirds' 'For Your Love', and our personal favourite; 'Taxman' by The Beatles. 3 covers, 7 inches and decades' worth of punk rock legacy.