YOBS: “We never aimed to be a political band, but it’s pretty hard not to be…”
LIVERPOOL four-piece YOBS have just released their self-titled debut album, via Fuzz Club.
The band deal in hard-edged, primitive, garage-punk salvos with last month’s single ‘Wasted,’ providing a glimpse of the hedonistic assault that was to follow.
The album’s songs have been hardened by the band’s riotous live shows which have transferred easily onto the record. Lead single ‘Wasted’ was the first song YOBS wrote together, swiftly becoming an instant live favourite.
“This one was inspired by a heavy weekend at a festival I played in another band,” said singer Joey Ackland.
“We had over-indulged a bit and after crawling to a Portaloo, I ended up getting stuck in there for what seemed like a year. Every time I tried to leave, I couldn’t find my way out and I ended up sat on the floor, giving myself a bit of a talking to.”
But away from the high jinks, the album doesn’t shy away from a more serious and angered subject matter.
Of the cutting noise-rocker ‘Cyanide,’ inspired by the story of scientist and mathematician Alan Turing, driven to poisoning himself by a homophobic establishment and legal system, Ackland adds, “This song is written from the angle of one of the angry mob who stalked him, and stopped him living a normal life.”
Elsewhere, ‘Head The Ball’ – the heaviest cut on the album, bordering on hardcore territory – takes aim at sneering middle-class elitism: “We never aimed to be a political band, but it’s pretty hard not to be influenced by the growing populism and this yearning to be an elitist. So, this is saying fuck you to them.”
Emerging out of the rubble of the now-defunct Liverpool bands Weird Sex (Roadkill Records) and Ohmns, YOBS was kick-started in 2022 and comprises of Ackland, Alex Smith (bass/vocals), Michael Quinlan (guitar/vocals) and George Gebbie (drums).
The album was recorded at Hackney Road Studios with James Aparicio.
LIVE:
May 18 Manchester, Meltchester Festival
June 22 Southampton, Heartbreakers
July 5 Portsmouth, The Vaults
July 7 London, The Old Blue Last
CONNECT: Music | YOBS (bandcamp.com)