Britain’s hardest working band The Bar Stool Preachers release the chest beating, heart pumping and soul saving second album the stunning ‘Grazie Governo’. Opener and title track ‘Grazie Governo’ resonates with a plethora of styles from 2-Tone, Punk and Rock. The tuneful “pull the ladder up Jack” lyrics crackle with a deep burning and frustrated working-class anger. Next up is ‘8.6 (All The Broken Hearts)’ and it’s a booming blue-collar Rocker. The futile relationship is dragged through the pavement pizza, late night buses as it crushes hope with an addictive spine snapping crunch before rescuing love lost from the stormy Mr&Mrs seas. ‘Warchief’ is a punchy political Punk ditty while ‘Choose My Friends’ includes a sterling guest performance from the one and only Aimee Interrupter.
The track is the perfect marriage of British and American Ska, Punk-Rock and it bodes well for any possible future trips across the pond. ‘DLTDHYOTWO’ two-step skanks into the alley before Tom McFaull’s battle-hardened rasp slaps the song into the Street Punk light. An atmospheric ‘2.12’ bleeds out of infected alkaline veins before ‘Drink’ anthemically dances around the gaslight. Halfway through the album, it becomes clear this is not your standard band release, no, it’s a Bar Stool statement, a foot-stomping powderkeg from the band who are now a bonafide main stage act. The slower paced opening on ‘Drive’ morphs into a moshing Punk paradise before the tonsil tearing albeit atmospheric ‘Cry Wolf’ shakes like an addict in a December shop doorway. The emotions of the heart are laid bare on ‘Raced Through Berlin’ which could be interpreted as 2018’s real-life ‘I Drove All Night’. The lies spewed by authorities are shoved back down fake news throats on a melodic but door punching ‘Force Fed’. The final cut is the Ska smoking, sofa lounging ‘High Horse’ and that’s a rap. The Bar Stool Preachers have an infectious self-belief while proudly sticking to their working-class roots which keeps them in touch with the social & political problems that a large percentage of the population. This is a record that mirrors life today and all its imperfections, it’s kicked out with a hint of promise, some much-needed unity and drunken beer bottle love songs. This is England 2018.
THE BAR STOOL PREACHERS
GRAZIE GOVERNO
Pirate Press Records
9/10