Feather and Flame is the third full length from Headsticks who have arisen phoenix like from the ashes of Jugopunch and the Clay Faces. Best described as English with a just touch of Americana and some Irish blood in the ol’ veins folk-ROCK – reminiscent of The Clash – the attitude – but more Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros in style. NMA, The Levellers or an amped up Billy Bragg also come to mind.
In all while not an immediate album if you invest the time it will pay off ten fold i.e. its bloody good after a few spins.
Highlights included: What do you want – part revolution, part Rovers Return Go move shift – The old Christy Moore classic Every single day – pure punk’n’roll
While UK band Headsticks are fairly new, forming late in the summer of 2012, their roots are traced back to Shite’n’Onions fav’s, JUGOPUNCH (who contributed Blackheart to the Shite’n’Onions Vol. 2 CD) and their successors THE CLAY FACES as well as fellow Midlands Celtic-punks TOWER STRUCK DOWN.
Muster is much more English-folk-punk sounding then how I remember the Irish in exile Jugopunch to sound and when I say English I hear influences by New Model Army (some), The Levellers (a little) and Billy Bragg (a lot). Gritty, powerful folk punk and just when it gets too English they bring it back home to Achill Island (Ghost). Real nice to hear COLD originally done by Jugopunch again – great song. Great stuff indeed.
Shite'n'Onions 