Here are some of the reviews of our debut album ANGLO-CENTRIC GENERATION which was released in mid September 2006.

SUSPECT DEVICE

OK, thirty years of punk and The Concrete Gods have gone back to virtually the beginning for their sound and in some parts possibly their lyrics! There may even be a nod to the likes of Cock Sparrer and Menace in there somewhere too. Some of the band are in Superyob but this band stand up on their own. With the ten tracks on this CD, some that use keyboards (Frankie Flame on some) and acoustic guitar they are just right as a release. I’m not sure if they could ever improve on this CD as the sound and style would probably end up as more of the same but I could live with that and I know a fair few people who would lap up some more working class London boy lyrics. This is good stuff on the whole and let’s not forget where some of us came from either!

SOHO STRUT

Anglo-Centric Generation by The Concrete Gods is an album of power popped up songs taking nods from both the mod revival and punk. The Jam and The Clash seem to be the major influences and Anglo-Centric Generation is filled with attacking melodies, driving guitars and rabble rousing lyrics. On “Hundred Channels” The Concrete Gods exhort Mr Normal to smash his TV and think for himself. “Local Boy turns pro” is an acoustic pop tune about a tough kid becoming a boxing pro, who never quite makes it to the top. Anglo-Centric Generation is an album filled with energy and if you like late 70’s inspired guitar sounds, check it out.

NO FRONT TEETH

Unfortunately there’s very few current English bands that excite me or whose albums I look forward to coming out. I don’t know what’s happened to English punk rock but it’s so disappointing right now with bands either trying to replicate an American sound or those that are stuck in some kind of UK ‘82 bubble...either way it’s fucking tedious. So thank God for the CONCRETE GODS. This is pure, 100% English punk rock (you may have guessed that from the record title) that merges old and new styles with attention-grabbing songwriting. I have absolutely no problem with bands taking influence from older bands or American bands or whatever but I have a problem when it’s just rehashed shit. In fact, I love it when I hear a flicker or hint of another band in there...that’s what THE CONCRETE GODS are like, with suggestions here and there but no way is their sound reliant on that. I hear touches of THE BOYS, LEATHERFACE, DAMNED, SHAM 69, COCK SPARRER, VIBRATORS and of course ACEFACE and SUPERYOB. I think this is a fucking solid debut and a kick in the balls for English punk rock to wake the fuck up!

MOD RADIO

Here’s an album I’ve been eagerly awaiting to review! A complete stomper of a release named ANGLO-CENTRIC GENERATION. The almost angelic intro heralds the opening track Hanging onto Yesterday, yes you know The Concrete Gods are here, ripping punker guitars and melodic choruses. Following in the same vein is 'Hundred Channels' seeing the McVicar/McManus partnership works well. 'Bricks 'n' Mortar' will leave you humming the tune for days and be warned outbursts of “na na na” are ensured! Outstanding performance guys! Let’s stop for a 9 second breather! Cue the first interlude. 'Time for Truth', back to business again! Yet another top track in Weller mode. 'Local Boy Turns Pro', a likeable almost acoustic ditty and a lyrical tour de force! Following on is the excellent cover of 'Father’s Name is Dad' and then 'Live with Myself', back to the '79 sound. Same with the track 'Taxi Ride', superb! My pick of the bunch, I can’t stop playing this one! Phew let’s have another break, cue interlude number 2. Up next it’s 'Working Class Hero', socialist punk goes Psyche with verb effects aplenty and last but not least it’s 'Time Changes Everything', not a truer word spoken and a ripping end to the proceedings. For the first time I’ve refrained from comparing the sound I’ve just heard to this track or that track, to this band or that band, just simply because I can’t. To me The Concrete Gods have have cornered their own niche sound and have proven themselves up for that challenge!

FEAR AND LOATHING

London based streetpunk with a nod more towards the likes of Generation X and The Jam, rather than the more usual Sham influences. Intelligent, snappy lyrics about everyday life and tunes that are both catchy and packing a punch! The big guitar sound works really well. A promising debut!

PUNKOIUK

An imaginative debut from London based punk band The Concrete Gods, Anglo-Centric... is an album that combines great big chunky riffing, real tunes and catchy choruses to maximum effect. Elements of the Brit rock of The Small Faces, The Jam, Cock Sparrer and Generation X all rear their head occasionally, although they’re driven on by great big bass lines and the effective vocal bawl of front man Dave Hayman. With well thought out lyrics they take the listener on a journey through the working class underworld and culture of their native city, demonstrating a pride a million miles away from the brainless jingoistic patriotism that waves the union jack and blessed the queen mum. Not everything is successful though. I could do without the fumbled acoustics of 'Local Boy Turns Pro'. Pair that with the strength, authority and immediacy of opener 'Hanging onto Yesterday', the musical gymnastics of 'Father’s Name is Dad', the Ocean Colour Scene tinged 'Live with Myself' and the confident and bold closer 'Time Changes Everything' that combines the musicality of prime period Who and the keyboard prowess of The Damned and you’re a lot nearer the truth.

MAXIMUM ROCK 'n' ROLL (issue 280)

Did the singer in Cock Sparrer join The Jolt? Well that’s what this sounds like. This is very Brit stuff with thick accents that sound like 1978 Brit punk with some mod overtones. Not quite in your face but this does have some quirky song writing feel and raw production. A strong release for Brit punk fans who like the tune as well as the sound.

BIG CHEESE (issue 82)

London based punk/mod band The Concrete Gods feature members of the underrated UK punks Superyob and former members of Aceface. Continuing where Aceface left off; they fuse Cock Sparrer style street punk vocals with elements of The Small Faces, The Who, Generation X and The Jam. In fact the latter’s influence even extends to a couple of song titles ('Bricks and Mortar'/'Time for Truth'). Lyrically they explore themes of nostalgia ('Hanging onto Yesterday'), unthinking patriotism ('Time for Truth') and remembering your roots ('Working Class Hero'). If the lyrics are sometimes a little simplistic they are at least straight from the heart and the music is bang on the nail. It remains to be seen now if the band’s appeal can translate beyond their beloved London.

MOHAIR SWEETS

Concrete Gods: Anglo-Centric Generation (Underground London) Pounding, proud British street sounds owing much to the class of ‘77 as well as Mod Revival bands like the Chords and Jam. The state of the nation, the plight of the individual in British society and the working class are the primary themes and the Concrete Gods deliver loud, proud and right on. Great stuff. (13 tracks. 33:18 playing time.)

MOLOKO PLUS - October '07 issue

There are certainly various reference which a record reviewer will gladly use in order to describe the sound of a certain combo, The Buzzcocks, The Ramones and Cock Sparrer are essential references for those into Punk rock. However when we read "sounds like Cock Sparrer" we suspect that the truth will be many light-years away and the sound will be average and will fail to live up to the comparison. Not so here: the new British troop The Concrete Gods ( two of which also play in Frankie Flame's Superyob) do not only sound like a mixture of good old Sham 69 and Cock Sparrer but are also for real ! This may sound improbable but it's true ! "Anglo centric generation" is a really fantastic album and there is no question that the story of Streetpunk will now need a new chapter added. Phenomenal !

And here's a rare negative review............ we had to include it as we found it to be a most amusing rant by an angry young (?) Yank.

TERMINAL BOREDOM

Next on the cock chopping block is the CONCRETE GODS and their debut album Anglo-Centric Generation. In the press letter, they list their influences as the Sex Pistols, Buzzcocks, The Jam, and other typical influences for an English band. While that in itself is not bad, the real joke starts when you start listening to the album. They forgot to mention the band that they actually sound like, The Clash! Everything about this album screams Clash rip off, the lyrics, the album cover, and music right down to the singer sounding exactly like Joe Strummer. Plus lame lyrics like “The terraces a wall of emotion/ all too soon the spell is broken/ the hero climbs into his Rolls/ how many saved by rock n’ roll?” Plus they talk about how much they hate John Lennon just because he got rich and had good taste in cars. At least he wasn’t on a shit list with the like of MONTREAL LOCALZ (another band the reviewer isn't keen on). Plus, your gods the Pistols weren’t rich assholes right? It’s almost like the Stooges reforming after thirty or so years and coming out with that horrible pile of shit called The Weirdness. This is what the Clash would sound like if they got back together to make their “back to basics” album and still thought it was 1977. Apparently, this band does. Corpse fucking galore.
Reminder: Just because you write a hand written letter to Rich doesn’t mean you get critical blow jobs. GRADE: F