TODAY'S Noise Annoys goes up to 11 thanks to Banbridge rockers Screaming Eagles and their brand new Save Me EP.
Released this week as an appetiser for their highly anticipated second album, Stand Up And Be Counted, the title track is a good 'n' grungy hard rock anthem culled from the new LP.
Check out the 'live performance'-based video for the song, which can now be viewed via Fb.com/screamingeaglesrock. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the fire-dancers and mosh pit gimp.
The Save Me EP also meets the long-standing demands of Screaming Eagles fans for a recorded version of the band's enjoyably snarly take on Zeppelin's Immigrant Song, a regular fixture in the quartet's live set.
A raw and rocking live version of same sits alongside great hi-fi concert takes of their originals Hungry For More, Down The River, Blood and Rock N Roll soul, all highlights from Screaming Eagles' excellent debut album From The Flames, recorded live at last year's Hard Rock Hell festival in Wales.
However, for me, the highlight of the EP's bonus cuts is a studio recorded interpretation of the Jimmy Barnes & INXS classic Good Times.
Readers as decrepit as I will remember this as being one of the best tunes from the soundtrack of The Lost Boys, and the Eagles get stuck into it with appropriate gusto – they even draft in their Swedish mate Pontus 'Bonafide' Snibb to help recreate the song's classic Barnes/Hutchence 'blues-off' dual vocals.
If you like the sound of Save Me, which is available to purchase now as a CD and/or download from Amazon.co.uk, there's plenty more high-calibre rocking on offer from the album proper.
Stand Up And Be Counted is due out on July 13 through Off Yer Rocka Records and can be pre-ordered today via Amazon.
Screaming Eagles will be playing some local shows in August, including an appearance at Sunflowerfest and a pair of album launch gigs at The Diamond Rock Club in Ahoghill and Banbridge Football Club. Full details of those and more words on Stand Up And Be Counted will appear here closer to the release date.
Finally for this week, a reminder that the Spectrum festival returns to Queen's University Belfast's Students' Union next Friday. It offers an early doors (6.30pm) Mandela Hall-based feast of local music, headlined by close harmony fuelled indie-folksters Emerald Armada.
This year's Spectrum bill also features electronically enhanced singer-songwriter Joshua Burnside, slacker rock enforcers Hot Cops, indiepop from In An Instant and New Ancestors, Britpop revivalists Echo Raptors, the electropop stylings of Loris and R51's vocal-led nu-gaze.
You get all that plus Bunatee-based DJing courtesy of boobs-loving indie rapsters Go Girl for the bargain price of just £8.
Tickets are available from the shop at QUBSU and via Ticketmaster outlets now.
THIS WEEK'S MOST ANNOYING NOISES
Twist Jacob's Mouse
Cherry Red Groundhogs
Fluffy Wolf Alice
Aunt Lisa Mastodon
Open Fire The Darkness
Deathwish L7
Cocoon Ash
Emerald Thin Lizzy
Rock The Blues Away AC/DC
Am I Evil? Diamond Head
