Release Date: July 11th 2025. Record Label: Various. Formats: Cassette/CD/DD/Vinyl
STUPID SICK - Tracklisting
1.Haulin' Ass Fault 04:08
2.Buzzkiller 03:25
3.Boneless 03:55
4.When I Died 04:20
5.Kick It Down (feat. Chad Price) 03:16
6.Throw Me to the Wolves 03:04
7.Dearly Departed 04:27
8.Like Lightnin' (feat. Jonathon Newby) 04:48
Members
Jarod (guitar), James (vocals), Mike (bass), and Brad (drums)
Review
Post-Punk/Heavy Metal troublemakers WENCHES return with their second album Stupid Sick and it’s a whole load of rebellious fun with the band being influenced by the likes of MC5, MOTORHEAD, The Stooges and even Classic Hard Rock icons such as The Who and The Rolling Stones. The record is quite in your face with its turbo-charged Punk Rock sounds but really comes alive when WENCHES transform into HEAVY METAL riff maestros with a subtle Post-Punk energy holding everything together.
There’s no Progressive or Complex rhythms around on Stupid Sick as WENCHES are a first rate RAWK & ROLL band in every sense of the word. The songs are catchy and absolutely full with Streetwise attitude with Jamie’s vocals combining Garage Rock grit and the flamboyant attitude of Heavy Metal especially within the excellent batch of opening tracks of Haulin’ Ass Fault, Buzzkiller and Boneless. There’s a great style of NWOBHM themes merging with the classic Detroit Rock City scene on the sublime second track of Buzzkiller.
It’s so refreshing to hear a band that just wants to rock out and get straight down to business in good old fashioned Rock and Metal music. There’s a ton of great instrumental solos performed by everyone within the band and when the Speed Metal attitude appears, WENCHES become a drastically different band where they have an air of excitement and danger to their whole creative outlook.
Stupid Sick merges sounds from the Sixties, Seventies and Eighties era of Heavy Rock with a refreshing modern day aesthetic which is helped by the excellent work carried out by Carl Byers (Idiot, Graveripper, Usurp Synapse) who recorded the album and Don Fury (Quicksand, Helmet, Sick of It All) who mastered the record. So the band has some pretty big talent helping along with their creative journey.
WENCHES have also called upon the talents of Chad Price (vocalist of ALL, Drag the River, A Vulture Wake) on Kick It Down and Jonathan Newby (Brazil, JC Autobody and heavy supergroup Fixation Arc) on Like Lightnin’ who bring their own stamp of Rock & Roll authority within two of the finest tracks on the record.
The lyrics contained within Stupid Sick are very straight to the point but they match the outrageous mood of the whole album and it’s absolutely refreshing to hear even when they’re being way too playful and over the top at times.
Stupid Sick is keeping the the true spirit of ROCK & ROLL alive with an unapologetic style of music that we don’t come across at all these days and WENCHES deserve all the critical plaudits coming their way. This is ROCK & ROLL the way it’s meant to be delivered.
Outstanding. End Of.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to WENCHES for the promo.
Stupid Sick is available to buy from the links below:
The Ghost is Clear Records (CD) / Already Dead Tapes (CS) / Master Kontrol Audio (Vinyl).
Links
