Max Raptor play two shows with Slaves (US), taking to Bristol tonight [14th June] and London tomorrow. They then take to 2000trees Festival before launching into a handful more festival appearances over the summer.

But fast-forward to 2016, a new record deal with Hassle Records sees the release of this self-titled, 12 track album.

While Max Raptor have always written catchy, accessible punk rock, ‘Max Raptor’ feels somewhat neutered. It’s had the thorn ripped out of it, losing a lot of the groove and darkness that made them stand out. The songs aren’t bad, they just feel lacking in bite. The visceral, snotty side to Max Raptor that balanced the groove to their songs has wilted – making a 12 song record feel very long indeed.

Songs like ‘Old Romantics’ have a great pace to then, but it sounds like something Hundred Reasons would have released in 2005, and ‘When I Was A Gentleman’ combines an unoriginal riff with almost predictable gang vocals. Don’t get us wrong, though, ‘Torch Led’ is a stronger moment – a fierce, sub three minute slice of punk rawness.

‘Max Raptor’ isn’t a bad record, it just balances really good songs with distinctly average ones, so it struggles to retain your attention for the duration. The one-two of ‘Big Divide’, with its thick, syrupy chorus and sing along vocals, into the savage ‘Concrete’, works superbly and plays on a tried and tested slow/fast dynamic.

2015’s ‘Damage Appreciation’ EP was a good sign of what to expect from this record, but it feels like this wasn’t capitalised on for ‘Max Raptor’. For every good moment, there’s something that ever so slightly disappoints, and overall that leaves a disjointed sounding record that only frustrates, because we’re aware of this band’s ability to write fantastic punk rock tracks with a classic British bite to it.

CHRIS ROBINSON

“We started Dr Vox with 2 things in mind,” Stevenson explains, “create teas that can help your voice but that also taste great. There are a few teas that focus on the throat but none of them hit the spot.”

“We had to research tea blending, mainly trying to get the balance between our soothing ingredients and the flavour combinations. What we thought would take 3 months ended up taking a year but we’re finally here.”

“In a short amount of time we’ve already had tea in the Albert Hall for the Teenage Cancer Trust shows, Jimmy Kimmel Live and Polydor Records.”

That’s not all either. Their distinctly British adventure has also turned some heads overseas, with Knuckle Puck’s Joe Taylor singing their praises. There’s even a photo of him enjoying the tea, or at least a bag of tea, to prove it.

“Dr Vox tea is the perfect blend of marshmallow root and actual mint/fruit/tea,” Taylor proclaims, “so you get a drink that not only soothes the throat, but tastes great too. I love it!”

So there you have it, punk and tea. Check Dr Vox out on Facebook and on their official website. And as promised, Joe Taylor with tea below.

“‘Big Divide’ is a song about the people that really matter in our lives and not the ones we ​are supposed to follow or aspire to be,” the band explain, with the single due on the 6th May, “it also ventures into the argument of morality. It captures the current refugee crisis​ and the arguments that surround it. The song represents the inner conflict in times of crisis… Whether to do the right thing or to take the easy path…”

The single release will follow their self-titled debut album, due on the 22nd April via Hassle Records.

APRIL
20 GUILDFORD The Star
21 BRIGHTON Hope
22 KINGSTON Cricketers
23 CHELTENHAM Two Pigs
24 SWANSEA The Scene Club 2
25 WORCESTER Marrs Bar
27 GLASGOW Nice N Sleazy
28 INVERNESS Mad Hatters
29 CHESTER Live Rooms

Pre-order the album now.

Recorded at Brighton Electric Studios by ex-Ghost Of A Thousand member Jag Jago, Max Raptor will be releasing the album on the 22nd April 2016 via Hassle Records.

They have just wrapped up a triple-threat headline tour alongside Allusondrugs and Press to MECO.

With their album due on Hassle Records, Max Raptor recently unveiled their newest track, ‘Old Romantics’. They will be joined by Fizzy Blood and The St Pierre Snake Invasion on tour.

APRIL
20 GUILDFORD The Star
21 BRIGHTON Hope
22 KINGSTON The Star
23 CHELTENHAM Two Pigs
24 SWANSEA The Scene Club 2
25 WORCESTER Marrs Bar
27 GLASGOW Nice N Sleazy
28 INVERNESS Mad Hatters
29 CHESTER Live Rooms

Pre-order the album now.

The record follows last year’s ‘Damage Appreciation’ EP, with the announcement preceding Max Raptor’s tour alongside Press To Meco and Allusondrugs. The band will also appear at 2000trees Festival later this year.

Max Raptor revealed lead single, ‘Old Romantics’, last night via the BBC Radio 1 Rock Show, with the track now available to stream below.

TRACKLISTING:
01 Keep The Peace
02 Old Romantics
03 Torch Led
04 When I Was A Gentleman
05 Day Release
06 Big Divide
07 Concrete
08 Golden Age
09 Damage Appreciation
10 Relic
11 Great Discovery
12 Last Words

FEBRUARY 2016
22 BIRMINGHAM The Rainbow
23 GLASGOW Broadcast
24 ABERDEEN The Tunnels
25 DUNDEE Buskers
26 CARLISLE The Brickyard
27 EDINBURGH Sneaky Petes
29 NEWCASTLE Think Tank

MARCH 2016
01 MANCHESTER Deaf Institute
02 DERBY The Victoria Inn
03 TUNBRIDGE WELLS The Forum
04 MILTON KEYNES Craufurd Arms
05 NORWICH Owl Sanctuary
06 SOUTHAMPTON Joiners
07 BATH Moles
08 CARDIFF Clwb Ifor Bach
09 LONDON Borderline

The festival has already announced We Are The Ocean, Hacktivist and Max Raptor as part of the bill, which is headed up by Reverend & The Makers.

For full details, check out the 2Q Festival on Facebook.

This is the most punk Max Raptor have ever been in terms of talking about what they’re pissed off with and making a strong case. ‘England Breathes’ and ‘Breakers’ were both singles that represented the working-class patriotism that the band are so well known for investing themselves in but it all fell flat in listening terms. ‘Damage Appreciation’ is exactly where the band need to be right now.

The opener and title-track is without a doubt the best single the band have released since ‘The King Is Dead’. Harking back to their anthemic roots based on minimalistic riff-heavy hooks, this track is going to be the song that steals back the attention of the punk scene. A song that focusses on the growingly lethargic British populace that start off stuck in the ditch and refuse to be helped by anyone but themselves, the song is as catchy as punk gets and fits perfectly into Max Raptors growing arsenal.

‘Population’ and ‘Blue On Red’ are songs that make obvious nods to the further roots of punk. Both have Anti Flag-style hooked choruses with gang vocals aplenty. What makes these song special is guitarist Ben Winnington’s ode to Laurent Barnard’s hardcore-style. Organic shifting between chugged rhythm and blues-influenced licks is something Max Raptor have dabbled with in the past but pulled off exquisitely right here.

In what feels like far too short an E.P. ‘See Me Through’ caps things off in crowd-pleasing style. Revolving around a vicious riff reminiscent of Architects’ heavy style of playing, the song stirs up an adrenaline in your bones. The big finale doesn’t hit as hard as you want it to but it hits hard enough.

‘Damage Appreciation’ is what we’ve all been waiting for. This is the second form of Max Raptor and twice as impressive and deadly as the last. It’s going to be a hell of a year for the guys, that’s for sure.

MAX GAYLER

“Scuzz are sending us around the UK for a few weeks, playing shows with two of the best live bands in the UK! What’s not to like? Come to a date and let’s get some chicken,” says Luke Caley of Press to MECO, who recently released their long-awaited ‘Good Intent’ debut LP (review here).

Allusondrugs started 2015 in support of Enter Shikari on their Mindsweep tour, as well as releasing ‘Magic College / Her Crown’ double A side and the ‘Am I Weird?’ EP.

Max Raptor are celebrating the release of their ‘Damage Appreciation’ EP, released last week via Hassle Records. The band are currently rounding up a tour with Elegies across the UK.

FEBRUARY 2016
22 BIRMINGHAM The Rainbow
23 GLASGOW Broadcast
24 ABERDEEN The Tunnels
25 DUNDEE Buskers
26 CARLISLE The Brickyard
27 EDINBURGH Sneaky Petes
29 NEWCASTLE Think Tank

MARCH 2016
01 MANCHESTER Deaf Institute
02 DERBY The Victoria Inn
03 TUNBRIDGE WELLS The Forum
04 MILTON KEYNES Craufurd Arms
05 NORWICH Owl Sanctuary
06 SOUTHAMPTON Joiners
07 BATH Moles
08 CARDIFF Clwb Ifor Bach
09 LONDON Borderline