HANCOX ?!
Huh?
Never heard of them!
Really? Do Guana Batz ring a bell?
Behind HANCOX is none other than the singer of the Psychobilly legend Guana Batz. He has released this album under his own name, but it is not a solo record. In addition to himself, Hancox has brought Johnny Bowler from Guana Batz into the rehearsal room, and with two other colleagues, the band was completed.
So it’s not surprising that the thirteen songs remind one of GUANA BATZ, while also showcasing enough individuality to make this a truly distinct album and a completely independent project.
The roots of Psychobilly are certainly audible, as in “Black Door City“. A brilliant song and quite danceable to boot.
Different tones can be heard in “London Streets“. This song, while rooted in Psychobilly, veers into (Cold)-Wave territory at times. An interesting piece of music.
The fourth song of the album, titled “Sally“, features vocals reminiscent of Church of Confidence from Berlin (one of the most underrated punk bands, probably). Uli, the singer of Church of Confidence, could hardly have sung the vocal part of this song any better. Almost a voice copy.
The thirteen songs offer a wide mix of styles and show that HANCOX does what they feel like. Scene restrictions and genre boundaries are unknown.
What is done is what pleases and what has fire in its belly.
“Vegas Lights“ has a bit of everything and is an extraordinary release as a whole. It may not appeal to genre-restricted people, but anyone who refuses to be confined by the scene police and enjoys solid noise will have a great time with HANCOX.
