HULKENBURG.

The Horn, St Albans. Saturday 24th January 2015.

SAD is a type of depression related to changes in the seasons, said to be at its worst in January. The condition can be debilitating, sapping energy and making you moody. Fortunately treatment is available. Doctors may prescribe drugs or you could always try "Psychotherapy". However, if you haven't got that classic Ramones track on your mp3 player, there is some hope much closer to home. They are called Hulkenburg. The band are now back on the circuit and I and a few other travelling supporters from Bedford are here at The Horn to see them make their return at this Juicebox gig.

They were last seen in late September last year when supporting DZ Deathrays at Esquires. Mongolia's gain was Bedford's loss as guitarist Mikey Warr went on a three month backpacking trek around the Asian mountains and beyond. Tonight he is reunited with his drumming vocalist colleague Terry Ruffhead. With the rest of the bands on this bill offering nothing but pleasant politeness, these two lads offer noise, beards and copious amounts of sweat. Terry is seated towards the right of the stage while Mikey, as usual stooped over with his head down, faces him from the other side. The recognisable intro to "Owls and shadowcats" proves that the controlled chaos has begun. Aggressive chopping riffs fleetingly flirt with this grungy discordant lament.
"Dame-ren" brings a real hypnotic feel to my ears and owes a bid nod to The Stooges. It's endlessly engrossing.

What are the Hulkenburg virgins making of the noise carnage and brutal repetition I wonder?
Cheers and applause from the early arrivals at the end of each song answer that question. The small Bedford contingent, are mostly at the front and nod knowingly as Hulkenburg announce themselves with "How's it going? We've been away" and "rusty as ever". A personal favourite is "The attack of the five" and it thunders up magnificently. This is a full on stoner groove song. The onslaught of unbridled raucous energy reverberates around this small Hertfordshire venue. The songs crackle with inspirational fervour and linger long in the memory. They have the kind of tunes that remind you just why you love live music. Hulkenburg offer a good level of invention with their brooding rock. A sense of moody menace, a lofty air of primal experimentalism which is captured on new composition "Human hashed loins". Heavy drum intro, urgent yelped, almost hysterical vocals and monster guitar work. This angular aural assault makes pretty certain that, although our skulls are still firmly intact, our brain cells have been subjected to a damned good pummelling. The fellas reveal that this and the following "Mathemagicians" will be available as a double A side next month. The glowering pent up anger of "Brad bramish" is further enhanced by some quality feedback. I always savour that and this set deserved it. As Hulkenburg left the stage to a good crowd reaction, I felt heartened that Bedfordshire can produce a band such as this. Indeed, even at my advanced years I felt totally energised by their performance and, yes, my SAD condition has been eradicated. Yes it sure is great to have Hulkenburg back.