*** "Through the DEAD CITY on the BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS the WOODHALL BOYS seek their way into the PUNK ROCK HALL OF FAME, while lousy BACKSTABBERs sell out their own kind and it's still OUR WORK - THEIR PROFIT the damage done via SOUL CONTROL III, and between some excellent BYRDS and a lousy SLAVE we're waiting infront of THE YELLOW HOUSE BY THE BUS STATION for better days to come while OUR PRINCESS WAS ADDICTED TO DRUGS and still I WON'T DIE FOR YOU!!!" ***

THE VIGILANTES - "EMPTY BOTTLES & BROKEN HEARTS"
("Bandworm Records"; CD):

This is a already a little bit 'older' release, released by the great german "BANDWORM RECORDS" label some-time around back then in 2003 or so and currently you're able to get it via a damn low price (less than 1,00 Euro, and that's some kind of a statement), so if you see it and think about buying it then maybe I can help you. THE VIGILANTES are (or were) a Punkrock band from Sweden (never heard anything else of or about them, and I even don't know if they are still around or not), and that's usually some good stuff (I mean Punkrock from Sweden/Sverige). Looking at the bandpicture we see four guys, one is looking like a Skate Punkrock fan, one is wearing a ELVIS PRESLEY shirt, the other a ''Oi! - IF THE KIDS ARE UNITED'' T-Shirt, and the last one is looking like a typical late 1990's/early 2000's BLINK 182 ''Punkrocker'', hm, so what does this image tells us (if it tells us anything at all)?!? (Yes, it tells us at least truly something.) If you would change the BLINK 182 ''Punkrocker'' into one THE CLASH Punk and maybe also the Skate Punk into a RANCID Punkrocker that maybe also wears a RAMONES patch somewhere at his clothes, yes, then you would have a perfect picture of the music of THE VIGILANTES. Huge influences of both, THE CLASH and RANCID, combined with some big doses of the RAMONES, here and there some pretty few classical Rock & Roll impressions, and all made round by some few Oi! and Streetpunk marks, yehp, if you combine this all and form yourself a good displaying picture out of it then you know pretty well what THE VIGILANTES used to do here. The guitar work is very melodic and catchy, yet some nice hard'n'heavy stuff, the rhythm section is tight and well-versed (but could be even quite more present), and the vocals are some nice snotty stuff, ah, and the back ups and also here and there some few very nice Sing-A-Long are also a pretty cool job. THE VIGILANTES knew how to play their instruments and pretty often they demonstrate us also that they knew how to write cool songs, ah, and it's all also at the end of the day a not so simple affair at all, because they knew how to work with some nice suprising changes and ideas and had been also gifted enough to work them out through their music. But the record got two big problems: 1.) The vocals do just not express enough emotions and passion and are also too 'power-less' at all; 2.) There are just some few too weak songs up here between the pretty good and damn cool stuff; and so this two major troubles really do block a better rating at the end of the day (and that's truly somehow a pity at all). But there are still a lot of damn good songs on it, especially "WOODHALL BOYS", "PUNK ROCK HALL OF FAME", "OUR PRINCESS WAS ADDICTED TO DRUGS", and "OUR WORK - THEIR PROFIT". Also some good and interesting lyrics they do offer to us, hell yeahr, then the artwork looks really, really fantastic (great work, thumbs up for it), and the production sound could be a little bit more forceful but is still truly some good stuff, ah, and it's also some nice dirty stuff. So, all in all, also if you see the record for a load of some bucks more then 1,00 Euro then you can get it if you like some good and solid Punkrock, especially if you worship THE CLASH and RANCID, and for less than 1,00 Euro I think no one that likes Punkrock music needs to think twice if he/she should get it or not, even you could also calmly pay some bucks more for it. Solid and good Punkrock, nothing lifechanging or so, pfff, who cares, but some truly good and solid stuff out of the Punkrock genre. Check it!!! Hm, or better: Get it!!! Cheers & Oi! (7 of 10 points)

(Contact & Information: http://www.myspace.com/thevigilantes)

The reviews of the following records/releases will be coming up next for you (or at least this is how it's currently planned...):

- CALVIN RUSSELL - "DAWG EAT DAWG"

- CREEPOUT - "TRIBE CALLED HARDCORE"

- DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER - "ADRENALIN"
- HIS STATUE FALLS - "COLLISION"

- INTEGRITY - "THE BLACKEST CURSE"

- KILLSWITCH ENGAGE - "KILLSWITCH ENGAGE"

- OUT CROWD - "DEMO 2011"

- RAPID EXPANSION - "RAPID EXPANSION"

- SWEET WEAPONS - "DEMO 2011"

- THE AWESOME MACHINE - "FORGOTTEN WORDS"

- THE BLACK SHAPE OF NEXUS - "DEMO"

- THE BRIAN SETZER ORCHESTRA - "SONGS FROM LONELY AVENUE"

- VARIOUS ARTISTS - "RIL-REC. LABEL COMPILATION 2011"

- ZEBULON - "TROUBLED GROUND"

Beside this also some 'older' (and also 'newer' once that I will get/buy) releases I will introduce to you via reviewing them here for you, time will tell, so now you know the marching order up here at the front.