New Music: Resurrection Men – Punisher

Bristol’s Resurrection Men play hard and heavy on Punisher, another rough-and-ready uncut diamond from their self-titled album.

Comprising members of Bristol area bands SANS, Modern Rituals, Rothmans, and Talons, Resurrection Men easily escape the orbit of local heroes IDLES here. The lead vocals have a passing resemblance to the confrontational charm of Joe Talbot, but here, the charisma and chaos are in the lyrics, or is something more boundaried and negotiated going on?

Resurrection Men name the likes of Part Chimp as influences, and Punisher is noisy and disinhibited; and there is also subtlety within its Sturm und Drang. The lyrics do not reject logic; they may create their own along the way. I can’t make my mind up as to whether this is an examination/rejection of nihilism or a snapshot into a frayed BDSM relationship, rage or roleplay, devoid of artifice, (the video offers some clues) and maybe that doesn’t matter when the music is this good.

The album was written over a period of months but recorded live in a single day at Bristol’s Humm Studios. And that could be why Punisher and previous single Holler seemed stripped to the bone and then fleshed out. Another band the band put forward as a guiding light is Sparklehorse, and there is melody and purpose within the headcharge of Punisher; however, I’d wager say that fans of Viagra Boys, Tropical Fuck Storm, and shame will happily shed sweat and blood to this.

Punisher and Holler are streaming on Bandcamp and Spotify. Resurrection Men’s debut album is out on the 1st of December – check out the band on Instagram for details.