E.P. Review: Rebel Priest – Lost in Tokyo
Reviewed by Paul Hutchings
The latest E.P. from three-seasoned musicians from the Western Canadian scene is one for those who enjoy no-nonsense heads down rock n’ roll. It’s not subtle, it’s not clever, it’s just good time high energy rock that demands a beer in hand, sweat running down the back and smiles all around.
Described as a cross between Motörhead and Motley Crüe, there’s equal elements of biker rock and filthy LA sleaze in this four-track release. If snails leave a snail trail, then Rebel Priest surely leave a greasy track in their wake, such is the swagger and the vibe that they generate. The songs aren’t ground-breaking, but the trio of vocalist/bassist Jayme Black (Lust Boys, The Toxiks), guitarist/vocalist Benny Kemp (Lust Boys, Road Rash), and drummer/vocalist Nate Pole (Kill Matilda, The Toxiks) would be the ideal thing for a rock n’ roll party. The title track, ‘Back Alley Blues’ and ‘Vulgar Romance’ do exactly what you’d expect. The latter being a slower and slightly rawer song than the fist pump of the opening duo. They finish with a snarling cover of Toronto 80s metal band Slash Puppets song ‘When The Whip Comes Down’ which will probably mean more to their home fans than many across the globe.
The band’s credentials are impressive with three studio albums and a host of tour supports to their name since their formation in 2014. A combination of AC/DC, Guns n Roses and Motley Crüe would be how I’d describe them, with added Motörhead to bring more flame to the fire on occasion. Lost in Tokyo isn’t something I’d usually listen to but if you found these playing in your local rock bar, you’d be sure to hang around whilst you drained that beer.
