To say that the Slamdinistas know a thing or two about rock n’ roll would be something of an understatement. The five veterans who comprise this combo have a long and storied (to elongated to detail here) history in music, having played with some of rock’s biggest names and it’s a pedigree they bring to their sophomore album Wild & Restless. Featuring 11 original tunes (plus a couple of alternative versions), this is an album that swings with terminal coolness and can hold its own with anything its members have previously released, but Wild & Restless isn’t resting on past glories and sets its sights firmly on the horizon.

If proof were ever needed to the Slamdinistas’ vitality, then it can be found in the riff that heralds the arrival of opening shot ‘Where I Belong’. It’s the stuff that rock n’ roll dreams are made of and has a timeless quality that suggests it could have originated anywhere along rock’s long lineage. Like Glen Buxton and Ron Asheton rolled into one, that crunchy riff is totally addictive and is exactly the kind of shot of rhythm and Blues of which Chuck Berry sang. It works because (like the whole album) it walks a fine line between the past and present, the band haven’t torn up their roots; there’s a healthy respect for their collective past, yet it’s used as a springboard towards something new. The title-track bristles with that type of blitzkrieg energy as pioneered by the Ramones, but once that chorus kicks in it couldn’t be anyone but the Slamdinistas. Likewise, ‘Johnny Wallflower’ (featuring a guest spot from Backstreet Boys’ Kevin Richardson) doffs its cap (perhaps unintentionally) to Lodger-era Bowie, but it is more homage than nefarious copy catting and no matter from where the band pluck inspiration, they make sure to underpin everything with their trademark groove and swing.

Sometimes as critics we can over analyse music and often it is best to enjoy the likes of ‘Oh Yeah’ and ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll Clown’ for what they are, namely great, great, great songs. They’re full of caffeine, never failing to get the blood pumping and would make the perfect cure for narcolepsy and somnambulism. While age can bring a host of problems, it can also bestow invaluable experience and that’s something the Slamdinistas have a plethora of. They know exactly how to pace a song, holding those pop hooks back until the optimum moment and ensuring they land with maximum force.

As their name suggests, the Slamdinistas pay homage to the spirit of the Clash and the two bonus cuts, an extended and a dance version of ‘Latch Key Kids’, evidence the same kind of exploratory vibe Joe Strummer and Co. would have displayed (had they formed in 2020). An album that lives up to its name, Wild & Restless finds the Slamdinistas primed and ready to take on the world.

• Wild & Restless is released via Rum Bar Records on 25th April 2025.
• Official Website | Facebook | X | YouTube Channel

Track List:

1. Where I Belong
2. Wild & Restless
3. Oh Yeah
4. Reason To Believe
5. Weather The Storm
6. Johnny Wallflower
7. Latch Key Kids (Radio Edit)
8. Rock ‘N’ Roll Clown
9. Should Have Known Better
10. Sick Of It All
11. I’m Okay
12. Latch Key Kids (Extended Version)
13. Latch Key Kids (Dance Version)