The Godfathers were needed when they strutted outta late-’80s London with guitars set on stun, their hearts full of napalm. They expertly melded punk and R&B like some mutant late-night jam between Dr. Feelgood and Johnny Thunders’ Heartbreakers, with Lemmy sitting in. Pure rock ‘n’ roll seemed all but dead as they released early singles like “This Damn Nation” and “I Want Everything.” They surely inspired such future punk ‘n’ roll highpoints as Thee Michelle Gun Elephant. Eight years after reforming, the Godfathers—with only founder vocalist Pete Coyne remaining from the original lineup—are needed again, and this tough disc (their first since 2014’s Jukebox Fury) is what the doctor ordered. Styles ranging from motorik (“‘Til My Heart Stops Beating”) to Spiders From Mars (“You And Me Against The World”) get essayed, but it all comes out pure, 100-proof Godfathers, as hard-rockin’, contemporary and fresh-sounding as ever.
—Tim Stegall
