The Virginmarys: King of Conflict

The Virginmarys are a northern England-based three-piece that kicks out the jams in urgent, three-minute bursts. Anyone who thinks that the garage/punk template has little left to offer listeners would do well to listen to tracks like “Dead Man’s Shoes”, “You’ve Got Your Money, I’ve Got My Soul” and especially the incendiary “Bang Bang Bang”, with its full-throated vocals and insanely catchy chorus. Vocalist Ally Dickaty spits out venomous-but-funny lines while the guitar attack never lets up. Relying on old-fashioned musical virtues like (gasp!) melody and (double gasp!) dynamics, the Virginmarys avoid the sonic monotony that is endemic to so many garage and/or punk outfits. There’s even a dash of harmony vocals and the occasional guitar solo to add interest along with the clever lyrics and shifting tempos. The Virginmarys aren’t going to reinvent rock ‘n’ roll anytime soon, but with any luck they may keep it alive a while longer.