Album Review: Booze & Glory – Hurricane

London’s Booze & Glory have now been with us for a decade, always keeping the flag flying for authentic working class rabble-rousing rock ‘n roll, they are now set to release they fifth studio album “Hurricane” on the 18th October via the band’s own label Scarlet Teddy Records, the release follows on from the self explanatory “Chapter IV” that was released in 2017. If you’re not familiar with Booze & Glory and were expecting this to be the kind of London street punk pioneered by the likes of Cocksparrer and Cockney Rejects then you’re in for a surprise, Booze & Glory will fly in the face of your expectations in the best possible way.

The keyboard introduction to “Never Again‘ throws you a curve ball before it the guitars kick in, and when they do, they do it in style with a style that is geographically indefinable, there is a distinctly European feel to their sound that is crossed with a US melodic hardcore and British punk rock. If “Hurricane” is your first exposure to Booze & Glory, whatever you were expecting due to the combination of their London roots and their chosen moniker it wouldn’t be this, this is a glorious album that straddles melodic hardcore, punk rock and street punk perfectly, politically sussed with defiant anthemic songs that possess epic choruses with woahs aplenty. The album generally covers themes of unity, positivity and hope, but there’s also a cover of Elton John‘s “I’m Still Standing” and a song about their frontman’s beloved Football Club, West Ham United, but let’s face it, no one’s perfect!

Always an international band, with past and present members hailing from across Europe and the current line-up all possessing migrant blood, the band have reflected their international roots outwards by spreading the Booze & Glory gospel across the UK and Europe and as far afield as North America, Australia, Indonesia and Malaysia. Booze & Glory have of course continued to embrace the power of positive thinking, the power of people and unity and the importance of seizing the day, they have also maintained their commitment to standing up to racism, nationalism and hate, something that is of ever increasing importance in the uncertain age we’re living in. Booze & Glory will pretty much defy every expectation you had of them, this is empowering, life affirming punk rock with a global influence and few surprises thrown into the mix, Booze, maybe, Glory definately.

“Hurricane” can be pre-ordered via Booze & Glory‘s website here and via Plastichead (UK),  Green Hell (DE),  Season Of Mist (FR), Cobraside (US), Vinyl.com (AU), Tower Records (JP), Sounds (NL), Bilbo Records (BE) and Punk Shop (PL)