Ragged Revue is a band based in Finland and Slovenia, whose members are vocalist/drummer Joni Järlström and guitarist/bassist Joonas Hiltunen. They’re rugged and loud, playing short, sharp blasts of rock ’n’ roll that lives somewhere between rockabilly, psychobilly, metal and punk. There’s a bit of polish on raw basic drums and guitar, creating songs that need to be played loud and fast but with that subtle edge of finesse.

This is music that understands the old rules and uses them to their advantage – speed, hooks, sweat, attitude, grit and honesty, The guitars growl and the drums race ahead like they’re late for something. It’s floors of sawdust, worn and sweaty leather jackets, rustic battered bar stools and shots of bourbon.

The opening instrumental track, ‘Texas Tuxedo’, is reminiscent of Mud’s ‘Tiger Feet’, but hurtling along, mixed with Spinning Rock Boogie by Hank C Burnette, with a bit of Psychobilly thrown in.

‘Guys at the Gas Station’ races along like a  high-octane hot rod at full throttle with a shout-along chorus. Fast, catchy, punky rockabilly.

‘Ne’er Do Well’ motors urgently away, foot to the floor, with a nod to Generation X along the way. 

‘Earthmover’ starts up making us think it’s a cover of Roy Orbison’s ‘Pretty Woman’, but then merges into a Stranglers type, raunchy sound. 

‘Queen of Spades’ has an almost funky start with a great bass line, slinking into a Motorhead riff with a melodic edge and real swagger.

‘It’s All About Rock N Roll’ creates a Chantay’s Pipeline type intro and dives straight into a hybrid of classic Neo-Rockabilly and metal riffs, catching the surf all the way to the shore.

‘Ain’t No Crime’ is fast, picking up momentum into a metal meets Psychobilly structure but also featuring Glam Rock guitar chords.

‘She Went Drinking Again’ could have been around in the late 70s/early 80s, a New Wave punky, punchy neon track that probably would have been championed by John Peel.

‘Kick, Stitches and Two Broken Bones’ led me to believe we were going to get a rocked up version of ‘Every Breath You Take’ by The Police when it first started with the bass riff, but then that was quickly dismissed into ‘Brand New Cadillac’, rolling along with that heavy riff influence and suddenly a lead guitar cutting through and stealing the spotlight, kicking in again with that Clash-ic anthemic sound.

‘The First Rodeo’ is all about impact. Fast, fun, and punching straight to the gut, this is rock ’n’ roll as it’s supposed to be – simple, honest, and played like it matters. Reliable in the best way, and dangerous enough to keep things interesting.

Nick Constantine

Buy ‘The First Rodeo’ here