Easily the album of the month for me.
I first stumbled across Gene The Werewolf a few years ago when someone showed me the mad video to the single from their debut EP, ‘Superhero’. Once I got over the clearly bonkers video and into the music it was clear this was a band with both a sense of humour and musical talent. Well, it’s three years later and Gene The Werewolf are finally ready to unleash their first full length release and have been sensibly snapped up by Frontiers, who tend to know a good thing when they hear it.
Gene The Werewolf play unashamedly good time rock music, the sort of stuff it’s almost impossible not to enjoy. The best description for the uninitiated is that they are a cross between The Darkness and Kiss, with a bit of classic AC/DC thrown in for good measure. The thing is, I would rather listen to ‘Rock n Roll Animal’ than the recent releases from either of the two former bands. It’s such an upbeat, feel good album, stuffed with party rock anthems that get in your head and bounce around until the beer (or wine) runs out!
Vocalist Jon Belan (also known as Gene The Werewolf) has a high register voice that channels both Justin Hawkins and Gene Simmons, although without the sometimes ridiculous falsetto of the former. The song titles proudly proclaim the band’s intentions before you play them, such as ‘I Only Wanna Rock N Roll’, ‘Wicked Love’ and ‘Ruffneck Woman’, with the last conjuring up the ghost of Bon Scott somewhat. Three of the tracks are taken from the bands 2009 EP (‘Superhero’, ‘Light Me Up’ and ‘I’ve Got The Love’), but they fit in very well with the eight new tracks.
Despite the daft name, Gene The Werewolf have turned out to be one of the most promising new bands out there. They’ve taken a well worn formula and shaken it up with some truly gifted songwriting. There’s plenty of bands out there doing this sort of music, but when someone gets it exactly right it stands out like a foreskin in a synagogue. Easily the album of the month for me, I suggest you all jump on the Gene The Werewolf bandwagon, because it’s gonna be a fun ride.
Alan Holloway
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