The Chop Tops -Fabrikate E.P.
Released 1st January 2025
Reviewed 5th November 2024 by DJ, Rockin Wolf
Swillbilly music
Recorded at Hyde Street studios
Well, hey kool cats here is a rockin treat for you all. as you’ve been waiting for, lets chop to it, the CHOP TOPS are back following the release of the previous works and their previous albums Triple Deuces and Fatal Love. Back with an ultra special release, a pre order collectors piece titled ‘’Fabrikate’’ containing, poster, original audio and rockin works, limited blue vinyl... all looking extremely kool, keep an eye on their site. www.thechoptops.com
Started in 95, with a couple of changes along the way, these cool kats are still rockin strong ...as they would be and now probably even more revved up, sharing their love of rockin surf and western spaghetti, swing punk..ish psychobilly, sound. from a 4 piece to 5 piece and now reduced to a 3 piece trio, as SINNER the VOCALIST and DRUMMER took to being the stand up drummer, that he took from his previous band to carry the style on from back in 2000, and we all know how amazing that look and sound is in a band, JOSH their bassist SPEED wild slapping, AND SHELBY on lead guitar and high octane craziness and stage presence, these cats took to touring and made over 200 US and AU shows each year over two decades , wow, that’s some energy , fantastic guys, and with their imprint on the rockin world with a following / sponsor ship of Murrays pomade (https://www.murrayspomade.com) , the lucky 13 clothing (https://lucky13.com) giving an impression of sound front a distinctives style. say no more with this impact of power of three from Santa Cruz , California, their labels of Purist Records and Swillbilly Records there’s no surprise really with that collective range of inspiration, (and its vast), lucky to be able to share a stage with a lot of immense names, Alvis Wayne, Big Sandy, Brian Setzer, Chuck Berry, Crazy Cavan to Demented Are Go, Link Ray to name just a few, and their studio being Hyde Street, which has given another amount of massive names over the past. Again, even more inspiration, so with all this said it’s about time to revvvvv this up, put pedal to the metal and blast the chop tops radio.
E.P Review
Fabrikate
The opening title track, a brief opening on the sound of an engine revving in front. The guitar has Just got out to play and serenade you. Sharp guitar intro twangy with drums, bass and toms pumping away, odd cymbal tap crash at the start and little taps between. immediate vocals, a slight distortion with strings echo effect and driving drums. Bouncy low-key bass with drive from josh in tight form, deep strong vocals, throughout, foot tapping, head bouncing all the way and the great tremolo arm use on each bar giving the record its clear sections can feel the Dick Dale vibe running with them.
Pleasure Point
A class clash feel meets the crickets on the ensemble. light rockin/ rock n roll feel of the drums and steady mid to higher scale of guitar with smooth bass line through out. a number of drum fills, and semi guitar solo, the strings twanging and drums responding, As the title suggest pleasure point of a wonderful land, a real feel of the shads, rapiers maybe a hint of Gary Moore.
Police truck
Now for an immediate vipe of rockabilly style of Setzer. Hard strong drum snare, direct vocals with his own touch of vibrato, a fantastic guitar solo, on low key little crunch an higher pitch twang, hard core bass line thumping and slapping away with harmonized vocals of haunted arrrhhs bringing it together and great revving guitar riff end it sharply.
Yes No Maybe Baby
Well, that’s a usual statement, but this little wonder with its Hayley meets feathers, power infused number. Clackety bouncing slapping bass intro to guitar with a higher key, rockin riff with the drums carrying the rhythm. Distinct vocal path, catchy individual solo sections of guitar, strong beat and drum rolls bring a snazzy sharp finish to this fantastic bopper/jiver. Leaves you wanting a bit more,
Summary
So well , I’m still dancing in my seat and trying to stand and type, got to learn speech text , but then ill sing along with this piece of music rockin magic. you can most definitely feel the different enthusiastic elements, and why they have produced so much, A true input to the rockin world, aspects of old and new. Neo, classic rock n roll, rockabilly feels giving the chop tops a full compendium of sounds. Nothing chopped just topped it.A band to be heard basically everywhere.
Links
hear DJ Wolfie on rockabilly radio Batz and Katz Show www.rockackabillyradio.net
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