The Czechs have been brewing very tasty beer for centuries. Perhaps that's the reason why the Czech Republic has produced many great punk bands in recent years. Or maybe it's because an active underground has been forming a counterbalance to the rising capitalism for years.
One of the bands that has been touring a lot in the Czech Republic as well as in Germany and other countries for years is GANGNAILS from Prague.
I got to know the band during the time I met the now unfortunately defunct Flaming Cocks, also from Prague.
With “Bullets from the Underground,” the band is releasing their fourth album.
In recent years, the band has been on tour repeatedly, which has not only gained them new fans but also allowed them to refine their interplay and the songs themselves even further. The last concert of GANGNAILS at Wild at Heart is still fresh in my mind. It was a cool time. The band was able to excite both the attending psychobillies, rockabillies, and punks with their punkabilly.
The opener “She’s fuck up” starts exactly how one imagines a good concert to begin. The double bass slaps out a small, powerful intro, and then the show kicks off. The nasty laugh in the first song is also very nice, which resonated even better at the concerts, but also gives the song a certain notoriety on the CD.
The next really cool rock’n’roll song is “Girl with chupacabra.” Everything works in this song. Beautiful melodic arc, a drum that works towards ‘77 punk, and guitars that aim in that direction as well. This makes the song a nice little underground hit. A song that stands out on the first listen and really burrows into your brain with repeated listens.
Then it continues with “Down in the dirt” in a hit-like manner.
…Where is my life?
Down in the dirt
Where is my hope?
Down in the dirt
Where is my love?
Down in the dirt…
Can you package the blows of fate and the feeling of powerlessness when you're feeling down any better? The song is a bit poppier but still has an appealing punk appeal. These two songs were played with almost inaudible double bass. This becomes audible again in “Bullets in the Underground.” Here, it leans more towards punkabilly.
However, one must always say about GANGNAILS that punkabilly here comes with a strong ‘77 punk and garage influence. So what the Praguers are doing is indeed a bit more special.
GANGNAILS do this with a lot of feeling for catchy sound and sincerity.
While I do miss the last bit of fire in “Bullets in the Underground,” this is only because I know how the band performs live, and that is like the turbo that is still somewhat missing here. Nevertheless, with 14 songs, there is a decent package of underground from Czech. The record builds great anticipation for the next concert!
