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The Comover Band Blitz heat 4 Review
After some very promising bands, last act of the evening Desperate Cycle had a
lot to live up to, although there was a feeling among the other bands and in the
audience beforehand that Desperate Cycle were in with a pretty good shot at this
competition. As expected, this punk/rock band brought lots of support and
interacted well with the audience. Looking as though they jumped straight out of
punk’s heyday during the late 1970s, the band produced a confident set,
producing the kind of self assurance older, more experienced bands sometimes
struggled with. In fact, they even risked allowing their audience to name a new
song they’d written for the performance, hence the song ‘Penis’ had its
premiere. The good use of guitar riffs and solos caught the attention of the
judges as well as the audience, and with a clearly talented, charismatic lead
singer and stage natural bassist/vocalist, there was no surprise that Desperate
Cycle should have made it through to the final.
New 44 Caliber.co.uk E.P Review
Eagle-eyed readers will remember us reviewing Desperate Cycle in their infancy
some months ago. Now the full-blown debut EP has arrived, and what a hammering
statement of intent it is. Opening with 'Brand New Riot' - which now has the
benefit of a clearer, crisper production job - the whole record is a riot from
start to finish. Imagine Anti-Flag's melodic punk assault filtered through the
mind of Casey Chaos and shot through with biting social commentary, then turn
the volume up to 10. 'Join The Army' is best, splicing army chants with a tight,
breakneck stomp reminiscent of NYC old-timers Reagan Youth, only with much more
neatly honed melodies providing a rousing subtext. It's worth mentioning that,
frequently, it's the top notch quality of the guitar parts that lifts DC head
and shoulders above so many of their contemporaries, though their songwriting
ability is also staggering. In short, this is the sound of a band fulfilling
their potential with a bullet. Someone sign 'em and fast. 9/10
Bedford Esquires review 9th July - By Dr. Sparky
www.bedfordmetal.co.uk
After Blind Theory, DESPERATE CYCLE are like a full frontal assault. Which, in
the world of punk rock, is most certainly A Good Thing. Fresh from a show with
the legendary Agnostic Front in their native Milton Keynes the night before,
Desperate Cycle hit the stage like a train crash, and for their allotted half
hour, there’s no let up. It’s loud, it’s fast, and it’s got about as much
classic punk attitude as it’s possible to cram into the four slight figures in
uniform black t-shirts with the sleeves cut off onstage. There’s lots of talk of
“Fuck the system” and many middle-fingered mentions of politicians and the
government throughout the set, a welcome breath of fresh air compared to the
adolescent drivel offered by much of the current and beguilingly popular emo
scene. This is punk as Henry Rollins intended it, the sort of music that makes
you want to glass the person stood next to you in the face, then disembowel
them, before making a rather fetching bandana out of their small intestines and
going off to lead the revolution. Quite what we’re revolting against doesn’t
really matter at this stage; Desperate Cycle’s hearts are most definitely in the
right place, as referenced in their last song, “We’re young and wasted / We’re
young and fucked / Drinking lots of beers / Smoking lots of pot.” Certainly a
more attractive prospect than sitting in a corner crying into your journal
because no girls wanted to kiss you, that’s for sure, and as a young band, it
could be they who finally rid the world of this horrific bedwetting shite
currently masquerading as punk rock.
Bedford Esquires 9th July 2nd Review -
www.bedfordesquires.co.uk
The flyer promised, was a punk night starring four local young bands. Blind
Theory kicked off the proceedings with a more ‘American’ brand of punk rock.
Although obviously very nervous to begin with, they soon found their pace and
two of the later songs of their set, ‘The Apathy Song’ and ‘Dammit’ hitting all
the right notes for me. Next on the bill and, in my opinion, the best band of
the evening were Desperate Cycle. A predominately ‘old-skool’ punk outfit from
Milton Keynes, their influences range from The Agnostic Front, Anti-Flag and
they have already supported such acts as Five Knuckle, Howard’s Alias and
Kenisia. This was their debut gig at Esquires and it was a great performance.
Resplendent in Tartan trousers circa 1976, front-man Nicky Rage literally spat
out all his pent up venom in a twenty five minute rage fuelled explosion! Ably
supported by fellow band mates, Will (bass), Jimbo (guitar) and Pete (drums),
songs such as ‘Ultra Violent’, ‘Stand up for the Youth’ and ‘Brand New Riot’
crackled with anger. With a dearth of good young punk bands around the area
(with the exception of The Bleeders), hopefully Desperate Cycle will be back
here very soon. Of the two other bands, my sympathy goes out to Doubting Thomas
who experienced a lot of technical problems on the night. However, having
battled with a broken drum peddle, the Emo-Punk lads soldiered on regardless to
put together a spot on set (as usual). Headlining tonight were four piece band
New Road, continuing their comeback after a lengthy lay-off. Although their
Americana influenced set was good, I was hoping Desperate Cycle would play
another twenty five minute set! Those guys really were Punk!!!
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