THE LAST DRIVE – The Last Drive 2018 (LP/CD Labyrinth Of Thoughts / The Lab Records)  

The Last Drive – Alt Post Garage Punk Rock Greece’s ambassadors to Europe – are back after 9 years of their last full-length album and almost 32 of their debut back in 1986! The band states that their intention is nothing more than to ruffle the waters of the international rock ‘n’ roll scene by re-inventing themselves in a walkabout through the realms of R n’ R, free from any barrier or obstacle! And I have to add that these ‘international Rock n’ Roll waters” are really stable the last days… I believe that their new album is the most mature one, musically and lyrically! Staying pretty close to the “old forms” of Rock but with a modern and fresh rendering despite their 35 years old engagement! 8 new original compositions that detect their great musicianship, well- structured and perfectly warm-orchestrated songs with a tremendous stylish and well-polished production (and sometimes this is not a bad thing at all!) The ‘raw’ and ‘wild’ moments of the band are locked in the ‘time-cabinet’, though they generously unlock them at their live gigs (each performance is a not-to-be-missed high-energy live experience). Anyway, back to the album… This is their most concise complete album, just exactly as they had it in their minds, superfluous from unnecessary aggregations, and I’m pretty convinced that they didn’t name the album like that just by accident or because of lack of inspiration. The album is called “The Last Drive” and after a few listenings, you will definitely understand the reason why! Album takes off (literally!) with “Everlasting Intro”, 106 seconds of a psychedelic kind of bucolic electrified introduction that mixes with “Always The Sun” (nothing to do with the Stranglers song), a full energy, heavy rock flirting tune with shimmering guitar riffs, bass lines that kill, a rocksteady drumming and powerful vocals. “The Wave” blends perfectly the alternative 90s, the British with the American ones! One of my personal highlights is “White Knuckles”. The first version of this instrumental tune appeared on the “Fascism Inc” documentary. Heavy guitar riffs, pure high-energy hot rock n’ roll with a huge pinch of Pink Floyd (“One Of These Days” era…)… Wow! “Snakecharmer” is a rhythmic sing-a-long song with a really catchy melody while another personal highlight follows. “Angel” is a ‘double-faced’ song starting like an electric balladesque tune but after a while the song is launched in the stratosphere of Rock, making it an explosive ‘cry’ of the New World Order! “Radio” is another guitar-based song that George is really ‘playing’ with the word lyrics while the guitar is flirting with the most glam side of the hard late 70s! Album closes with another personal highlight, “Yiagos” is a tweaked instrumental, in a slow tempo, under a weird dreamy scenery… Maybe the closest thing that The Last Drive has ever recorded to Psychedelia (well, at least, the first 4 minutes hehehe…) Really far out… Yes! The Filthy Muddy Stable waters of ROCK N’ ROLL are now shaken for Good!!! (TLM)

The Last Drive are Alex K (Vocals, bass), George Karanikolas (Guitar, vocals), Chris B.I. (Drums) and Stefanos Flotsios (Guitar, vocals). The album is dedicated to the “Drive Tribe”, the community of dedicated fans who support the band through all these years of its existence. Last, but not least, to the dearest Fred Cole of Dead Moon, who recently passed away. The recordings took place at “New Fab Liquid” Studio, after a pre-production period at “Urban” studio. The album was produced by the close collaborator of the band Jim Spliff and Nikos Agloupas (a.k.a Otommo) who was also the sound engineer. Special guests: Fotis Siotas on Violin, Costas C. a.k.a Digital Alkemist & Kaktos on percussion and Stavros X. on vocals.

RELEASE INFO:

Label: Labyrinth Of Thoughts / The Lab Records (LOT 042 – LAB 031)

Format: LP, Album, Vinyl, Limited Edition (Sun Yellow LP 300 copies)

Format: LP, Album, Vinyl, Limited Edition (Black LP 350 copies)

Format: CD, Album (200 copies)

Release Date: 20 April 2018

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Short Bio (as provided by the Band)

THE LAST DRIVE

Rooted firmly in the punk explosion of the late ’70s, the Last Drive burst into the Greek music scene in 1983, captivating audiences and critics alike with their unique speed-trash-garage-punk sound and their explosive gigs. Their debut LP Underworld Shakedown (1986) is met with critical praise, prompting them to get out of the confines of their country and carry out their first European tour.

A stir is created abroad when songs off the LP are included in international garage compilations (Battle of the Garages, Sounds of Now!). It is no surprise that their next album Heatwave (1988), is co-produced with Peter Zaremba of the Fleshtones and is released through the German label Music Maniac. Not long after that, Theo Angelopoulos includes two of their songs in his film Landscape in the Mist and Music Maniac, excited by the reception to Heatwave, releases the CD Their Story So Far, which contains their first two albums. In 1989 they record the Time E.P. in Berlin, winning new fans.

Through their meeting with Dream Syndicate, they collaborate with Paul B. Cutler, who handles production duties on their next album. Blood Nirvana (1990), one of their most accomplished recordings, marked a turn to harder sounds and was released in Germany and Spain, and a year later in the US by Restless. In summer of 1991, the Last Drive tour with Dead Moon all over Germany. It is the beginning of a long-lasting friendship. In 1992, Paul B. Cutler returns to Greece for a new “magical” collaboration. Recording and mixing takes place in Athens, with mastering in Hollywood. F*head Entropy is an altogether different concept, with more tone-color and harsher language. In 1994 they release “Subliminal”, which bears the identity of a band that can draw on its various influences, putting their personal stamp on anything they choose to work on. The band breaks up in 1995, but reforms in 2007 with a series of explosive gigs in Greece and abroad, and the release of their first full-length live LP, Time Is Not Important.

A film documentary entitled 20000 Miles Ahead – A Last Drive Story by director Dimitris Kotselis hits the big screen in 2008 and a CD/LP entitled Heavy Liquid comes out in 2009 with critical appraise, reaffirming the band’s recording status. More action follows and the EP News from Nowhere is released by Inner Ear in 2011. With a new guitarist, Stefanos on board, the band keeps delivering the most intense and powerful gig experiences. In 2013 the Last Drive celebrates its 30-years existence with two days of rock n roll unity at its home base, resulting to a new documentary, And the Engine is Still Running by Sergio Vafeiadis. After an unplugged period that lasted almost two years (2015-2017), the Last Drive fire up their guns once more with the recording and release of their self/titled album in the spring of 2018.