REVIEWS

(some of these are web-translated from other languages,
so please excuse the unintended comedy)

Oldschool 03/06

I could not convene this review for writing long, because something acts so perfect, evaluate hard. It acts on stage from summer (year) near Dennis punkowej 70-tych and there is one of pioneer this sort. There is author of text of song in (to) its (his) music ( and they are penetrated composer element ) rock punk, rock garage, psychodelic, new wave and metal speed. Though there is today pauper wasatym, which (who) adjust for group appearance more motocykowych homoseksualistów, it high , tame but melodious voice, by rigorously leaned sounding instrument, it builds good numbers very. Genuine, untightened classic (classics).

Rough Edge 01/06

It has nothing to do with the music, but the coolest thing about "Vampire City" is the packaging. Well, not so much the packaging, but the actual CD itself. You see, it's blood red. That's right. The disc itself is blood red. How cool is that for a CD entitled "Vampire City"?

Okay, maybe I'm just easily amused. 

Moving on (and that's not easy because the blood red CD is so wicked cool!), "Vampire City" is a collection of songs that fall somewhere between hard rock and punk (often heavier on the punk) and feature vocalist/songwriter Dennis Most (no, not Donny from "Happy Days").  Most sometimes sounds a little like Joey Ramone and that's never a bad thing and the songs often steer away from the simple, three-chord punk and into curious little numbers with fretwork reminiscent of Steve Stevens of the Billy Idol band, especially on the eerie "Gruesome Stories" and the title track.

Although most of the tracks are acceptable, if not particularly notable, ditties, there are a couple that don't cut the mustard. In particular there's "Heavy Metal Thunder Child" which, despite it's promising title, is a blurry mess and "Why Did You Make Me Write This Song" feels incomplete, as though it were recorded before it was really explored or thought out.

Overall, though, "Vampire City" is entertaining enough, especially if you're in the mood for something a little raw.

Realmusic 07/05

Uh, Attack OF the Schnauzbartpunks! Fortunately the Portrait photo of Dennis Most is to be seen only in the inside of the Booklets and not on the Cover... The man has anyhow a all-finest Rotzbremse under the nose, which one knows in such a way within the Punk range only from Bill Bartell of WHITE FLAG. And at the end that is also a policeman... No matter, Dennis Most is already for over 30 years (since 1972 to be over exact), formed at that time in Indiana its first Punkband, with roots in the Sixties Punk, and makes since then in the most diverse constellations music, whereby one should confound its volume THE INSTIGATORS not with the English Politband.

It reached certainly larger admittingness in all the years never, it was always something "more under the radar", but that has also which property: one burns out not, pulls its thing through and remains longer thereby.

On "Vampire town center" gives it now altogether to eleven Songs, which were brought in this and last year, all identifiable by the typical Dennis Most Gesangsstil, which reminds me something of those already almost just as long active RUBBER TOWN CENTER REBELS: intermediate skirt, which earned the prefix Punk by this certain Rotzigkeit.

Thematically it has Mr. Most with the dark one, Gruseligen, and so some have the Songs also far away which from Roky Erickson - "Vampire town center", the sechsminuetige Rausschmeisser, is thereby surely most remarkable and best Songs of the album. Self-willed volume, an unusual plate.

Toxic Flyer 'Zine

Just killer punk rock with a pure 70's to 80's feel of real punk craziness. Well the fast, snotty, loud and lewd punk assault of “Vampire City” will remind you of other great bands like...the Dwarves, Fear, the Queers, the Nobodys and the Ramones. This is great punk without the sugar coated shit.

Longgoneloser 'Zine #11

11 fun filled songs that will have you shake,rattle and pogo around the living room with a bunch of mates crushing beer cans on your head.Dennis has one of those snotty snearing vocals that sound like Joey Vindictive.Musically it’s a cross between that 77 punk style with rock n roll licks – think Blanks 77,Diesel Queen,Groovie Ghoulies and the Vindictives. Overall its fun filled punk rock n roll.

Workingclassforce 05/05

Dennis Most, a stalwart of the U.S garage/punk scene, provides more guitar-trashing fun on two recently re-issued albums. First up is Dennis Most And The Instigators-‘vampire city’ (Trash 2001 Records www.trash2001.de) that collects together 11 killer tracks recorded between 1979 and 1983. Definitely more 70’s punk than 60’s garage, the band kick up a storm of epic proportions, every song providing a short sharp adrenaline rush of punk energy. Standout tracks include legendary single ‘Penetrate’ and ‘Beneath Me Queen’ which will have you pogoing around the living room with its stooges- like intensity. Also available is Dennis Most And Audiolove- ‘Live At The El Cid, December 1976. (Captain Trip Records info@captaintrip.co.jp) Recorded primarily for the bands personal use, the recording has the quality of a good bootleg and it takes a while for a good balance to be achieved. This does not detract from the energy displayed by the band however, as they rip through a mixture of self-penned material and some tasty covers including ‘Signed D.C, ‘Who Are The Brain Police?’ , ‘I Fought The Law’ and, bizarrely , ‘Lucifer Sam’. Throughout both albums Mr Love proves himself a more than capable guitarist whilst the bands provide a solid foundation for the songs. Music to drink beer to, and lots of it.

Workingclassforce/Plattenkritiken Oi! Punk

Even if Dennis Most were allowed to so far not yet absolutely say to each something, the type already took up its first single to the early 70ern and its musical roots to lie even in the garages - Punk movement of the 60's, a time thus, than even the older among us straight times have learned might to serve the Klospuelung.

Clearly that the boy has some with a nearly forty-year old musical development in things Songwriting and sound so on the pan, whereby a quite salient voice and good texts round those off very beautifully relating to crafts prima made disk, which can be arranged somewhere between 77er Punk and Garagenpunk with a shot Psychedelic.

Thus the straight older pieces, from which "Metal Thunder Child" ranks in particular among my Favouriten, come quite nicely more rueber.

In addition, the three new pieces, "fall out Shelter", "She Devil" and the 6 minuetige Titelsong "Vampire town center" are not from pasteboard.

Nice album thus and quite also which for people, which touch otherwise everything that goes in the removing toward Garangenpunk, only with pointed fingers.

Punk Planet 03-04/05

This German combo plays loud and fast punk with a big metal influence. The vocals are snotty and remind me of Joey Vindictive, which works well with this stuff. Fun, catchy songs that would make a great soundtrack for speeding down the highway late at night in a big car.

Left Off The Dial 03/05

Dennis Most is from Fairmount, Indiana. It’s a small Midwest town that is famous for fathering an icon that will live on college dorm room walls for years to come: James Dean. The Rebel without a Cause star is known for his rawness and unfortunately now, his eternal youth. These are two things that Dennis Most seems to have acquired from the late movie star. Most has been playing music since 1969, when he moved to Western Massachusetts and started playing in a band named Punk. It wasn’t until almost ten years later that he and his brother formed Dennis Most and The Instigators and started playing the punk rock/heavy metal hybrid that would land him fans like Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys and Eric Schemerhorn, former Iggy Pop guitarist.

Most and the Instigators’ new release, Vampire City, is a lesson in the punk rock/heavy metal handbook. Most’s voice seems to move effortlessly through the eleven tracks on Vampire City. Not once does he stop for a breather. Instead, he rips through songs like “Sex is an Art Form” and “Excuse My Spunk” before you have time to realize what has happened. But it’s not always a pleasant feeling. As some points, the songs sound as if Most had been watching too many horror films and was writing soundtracks while the television was on mute. In particular, “Gruesome Stories” sounds like a bad Midwest haunted house that you go to in high school in hopes that the girls you’re with will grab on to you after they’ve been scared. Ugh, high school...

Vampire City sounds like Most wrote eleven punk songs and hired a band of metal players to bring them to life. There are double bass drum fills and guitar solos borrowed from Kirk Hammet via Master of Puppets. Like the title suggests, the albums sounds like it was recorded in an abandoned carnival that rests on the edge of a deserted town inhabited by something that you don’t want to mess with. It’s dark, sweaty, and at some points down right scary. But Most and his moustache have made a good punk rock record that deserves a listen. Just make sure you have someone to grab onto in case you get scared.

-Jeffrey Thrope

Blackout_Music 03/05

More sleezy, dirty Street Rock’n’Roll from Trash2001 who are beginning to ’specialise’ in Bands who resurrect the mid to late 70’s sound of The Ramones, Slaughter & The Dogs, Lurkers, Johnny Thunders, Wayne County and the Electric Chairs etc etc. This one’s quite good and “Excuse my Spunk” has got to be one of the Best titles yet. Simple but effective.

Old School 03/05

(webtranslated from polish...if you can help, please email!) I could not convene this review for writing long, because something acts so perfect, evaluate hard. It acts on stage from summer (year) near Dennis punkowej 70-tych and there is one of pioneer this sort. There is author of text of song in (to) its (his) music ( and they are penetrated composer element ) rock punk, rock garage, psychodelic, new wave and metal speed. Though there is today pauper wąsatym, which (who) adjust for group appearance more motocykowych homoseksualistów, it high , tame but melodious voice, by rigorously leaned sounding instrument, it builds good numbers very. Genuine, untightened classic (classics).

RazorcakeIssue #23, 12/04-01/05

Ladies and gentlemen, look no further, the missing link between Dee Dee Ramone and Johnny Thunders has been found.

-Jimmy Alvarado

Utter Trash 01/05

Indiana’s Dennis Most has been cranking out his brand of hard rocking garagey punk metal since 1972. However, despite all the years under his belt, he hasn’t really released much up til now. Just four singles, a 2 vinyl LPs, two CDs, and a few compilation tracks here and there. Most’s 1979 single “Excuse My Spunk”, recently introduced to a new generation of fans via its appearance on a 1998 ‘Killed By Death’ compilation LP, is probably his main claim to fame. But as the material on these two recently issued discs shows, there’s more to Dennis Most than one song. Yeah, “Excuse My Spunk” shows up on both these discs, but the rest of the material is just as strong. It definitely has that feel of early punk, before the rule book became written in stone. Most’s vocals at times remind me David Thomas, Roky Erikson and Richard Hell. Aside from Most, only guitarist Peter Poulos appears on both discs, and his excellent guitar work is a major component of the Dennis Most sound. ‘Vampire City’ is all Most originals, some of which have been recorded before, some of which I’m guessing are new. The live CD is a true live recording with no overdubs or studio fixes. The performance is high energy, the sound quality is pretty good, and it features some interesting covers by bands like The Stooges, Pink Floyd, Frank Zappa, and Love. If you like Detroit, Cleveland, and NY punk bands of the late sixties/early seventies, it’s a safe bet you’ll dig these two discs as well.

WilRecords Webzine 01/05

"(I know) need has hit records" is really a hit, a very pretty song with true a melody. By chance one finds Peter Poulos, the guitarist of Dennis and the AudioLove, the original formation at the beginning of the Seventies. A formidable singer and a guitarist can make only mortals groups. The influences towards The Stoooges are always there with excellent "Gruesome Stories" which also makes me think curiously of a song of The Buzzcocks! One also finds the tub of Audiolove "Excuses my spunk". The hurdy-gurdies songs are recorded in new versions and one has 3 new nevertheless. There is small something of Ramones also when that becomes a little calmer or pop. The production is perfect and I hope that this disc will show the power of this true group of rock' roll of the Seventies which is still upright to put on a good snap. If one day you see this group with the poster, do not hesitate to take appointment with the legend!

Bordsteinkante Webzine 01/05

Dennis Most is already eternally as a musician on the way, here it the Instigators as support added itself. The whole is rather somewhat more calmly held, but it is missing neither at power nor hardness. Is a beautiful Punkrock album with each quantity of strong Songs rausgekommen. There was a small Vorgeschmack on the Trash 2001 label Sampler, thus times already clean-hears.

Daredevil Webzine 12/04

Old time Punk Rock...Dennis Most And The Instigators are around a long long time now and if you like The Ramones you defnetly dig Dennis Most And The Instigators...ok...and if you hear songs like "Sex Is An Art Bomb", "Need A Hit Record" and "Heavy-Metal Thunder Child" you know what I mean if I say that Dennis Most And The Instigators is a bit heavier, cause they also add some really nice Metal riffing to their songs. Shit...I like it...makes me dance around and shake my head. You like Punk Rock...you like Dennis Most And The Instigators...welcome to Vampire City.

Musik An Sich 12/04

Dennis Most belongs to those old recken of the Punk, which is simply not dead to wars, and which is perhaps also completely well so. Since 1972 the man from Indiana is now active and describes its own music as "punky garagy psychedelic..." - there one would not like to add anything further.

11 TRACK enclosure its new album Vampire town center , which appears now over Trash 2001 records in Germany. Already over the internal Sampler of the label Play It Loud , on which two TRACKS of the musician are, one could get a small Vorgeschmack on here the ordering.

Dennis Most's sound is simply, straight, ungeschminkt, beyond any technical Spielereien. That may be erfrischend occasionally, but in this case the music sounds nevertheless rather antiquated. One has rather the feeling an album from the wild 70ern in the hands to hold - however nevertheless, Dennis Most remains itself faithfully, does not adapt not to any trends, why also? That one should take to him into account.

Nevertheless, the majority of the Songs has a repetitive structure of standard: Bridge Refrain Bridge Refrain quietschendes Gitarrensolo Bridge Refrain. Of variation no trace, each Song in Midtempo held. "Heavy Metal Thunder Child" is to be understood text as Parodie, in addition, here musical no large difference to the remaining TRACKS.

However "Gruesome Stories " stings really out , a Song with cult factor, wonderful diagonally sung, party-suited, despite quite limited Lyrics...

"They're telling you some gruesome stories
About the night I died
They're telling you some gruesome stories
About the night you cried

You're telling ME some "

... and over four minutes long. Generally is the Lyrics frequently gereimt after the "Reim me or I fress dich" pattern, the not straight yellow of the egg, but who pays attention already to it?

A very good Song succeeded to Dennis Most then still with that titelgebendenem TRACK "Vampire town center ". The Song begins slowly, changed its speed constantly, hymnenartiger Refrain, with this song Dennis Most straight again so the curve gekriegt and supplies a good conclusion for its album.

Vampire town center is recommendable for fans, addresses themselves to a somewhat older public and is perfect the album for the hard chaps among us, who depend gladly times in miefigen taverns. Thus chaps such as Dennis Most one is.

3rd Generation Nation 10/04

There "Trash tore itself 2001" times evenly so the old striking sword Dennis Most under the nail, sent it and ' ne new crew in the studio, where he brought eight Songs in from his past with astonishing a new momentum. Dennis took up thereby also its first single "Excuse My Spunk" from the year ' 79 and still some other plants from this special era. But that is not yet everything! No, no!!! Because also three nigelnagelneue Songs found the way on the disk, whereby the sechsminuetige Titelsong at the end sets CD the absolute high point for that. Classical Mid speeds a punk of his completely own atmosphere lives. One must have heard! There no way passes to! Such a presentation is actually nowadays hardly still feasible. This challenge really takes care of no more second volume. There one nevertheless rather hides behind fat guitar boxes and strikes themselves usual boring he power reef after the other one raus and calls that grosskotzig Punk'n'Roll. Which however the true class in this department meant one notices at the latest, if one listens to the new bringing.

(Ralf material Shock, * * * *)

Original German

Da hat sich "Trash 2001" mal eben so den alten Haudegen Dennis Most unter den Nagel gerissen, hat ihn und ´ne neue Mannschaft ins Studio geschickt, wo er acht Songs aus seiner Vergangenheit mit einem verblueffend neuem Schwung einspielte. Dennis nahm dabei auch seine erste Single "Excuse My Spunk" aus dem Jahre ´79 und noch etliche andere Gewaechse aus dieser speziellen Aera auf. Aber das ist noch nicht alles! Nein, Nein!!! Denn auch drei nigelnagelneue Songs fanden den Weg auf die Scheibe, wobei der sechsminuetige Titelsong am Ende der CD den absoluten Hoehepunkt setzt. Ein klassischer Mid-Tempo Punker der von seiner ganz eigenen Atmosphaere lebt. Muss man gehoert haben! Da geht kein Weg dran vorbei! Solch eine Darbietung ist eigentlich heutzutage kaum noch durchfuehrbar. Diese Herausforderung nimmt sich keine zweite Band mehr wirklich an. Da versteckt man sich doch lieber hinter fetten Gitarrenboxen und haut einen gaengigen Langweiler-Power-Riff nach dem anderen raus und nennt das großkotzig Punk'n'Roll. Was aber die wahre Klasse in dieser Abteilung bedeutet merkt man spaetestens, wenn man den Neueinspielungen lauscht.

Southspace Webzine 09/04

Respect before Dennis Most, it gives with its volumes already since 1979 (!) is underway and now 2004 it a new album on TRASH2001 Records in that it no little quietly to the thing goes. Garage/Punkrock to the bone!

Very honest disk with much energy and emotions. One hears is the experience and the maturity in any case out, this an independent work that comes out without each conformity to any trends! Most it voice is simply only lecherous and entraining, certainly the best that I ever out of this branch belonged have. That for 6 minutes Titeltrack at the end comes correctly good and goes really under the skin.

The cd itself does not come by the way as a conventional Silberling therefore, but rather in red! Looks cool, knew not at all, that it so what gives.

The Sound that I usually would not hear, felled me however nevertheless very well. The friend of the dirty Garagenpunkrocks becomes this cd certainly before already at home have.

If not: making up!

Original German:

Respekt vor Dennis Most, er ist mit seiner Band bereits seit 1979 (!) unterwegs und jetzt 2004 gibt's ein neues Album auf Trash2001 Records bei dem es kein bisschen ruhig zur Sache geht. Garage/Punkrock to the bone!

Sehr ehrliche Platte mit viel Energie und Emotionen. Die Erfahrung und die Reife hört man auf jeden Fall raus, dies ist ein eigenständiges Werk, das ohne jede Anpassung an irgendwelche Trends auskommt! Most's Stimme ist einfach nur geil und mitreißend, bestimmt die beste die ich je aus dieser Sparte gehört hab. Der 6 Minuten lange Titeltrack am Ende kommt richtig gut und geht echt unter die Haut.

Die Cd selbst kommt übrigens nicht als herkömmlicher Silberling daher, sondern in Rot! Sieht cool aus, wusste gar nicht, dass es so was gibt.

Nicht der Sound den ich üblicherweise höre, gefällt mir aber trotzdem sehr gut. Der Freund des dreckigen Garagenpunkrocks wird diese Cd bestimmt eh schon zu Hause haben.

Falls nicht: Nachholen!

Lowcut Magazine 09/04

Captain Trip Records sent us the "Live At The El Cid, December 1976" cd for last issue and I must admit I was pretty clueless about this Indiana rock legend. After some research I found out that Mr. Most started his reign of 'punky-garagy-psychedelic speed metal' with a band called Punk as early as in 1972! Now is that fuckin' proto-punk or what? I don't really get the 'speed metal' part which he coined 10 years before it even existed since these new recordings (not that different from the 1976 live cd) is classic fast aggressive punkrock mixed with some vintage Alice Cooper and MC5 influences. Midwest people in the early 70s must've been pretty perplexed by this ahead-of-his-time punkrocker, so it's fuckin' neat to see Dennis getting the respect he deserves over 30 years later. Apparently Jello Biafra is a big fan and so will you be after hearing "Vampire City".

Crazy United Records 09/04

How ask? This type makes already since 1972 music? There I dipped still nothing suspecting in the fruit water around. Beside its schnauzbart Dennis Most also still the good old Punkrock from the Siebzigern with ruebergerettet. And not at all times badly for so betagten gentlemen. Nix boring dragging skirt, as one could perhaps expect. Savage, driving Punkrock is dargeboten. In addition this singing, which reminds of a mixture from Johnny gangs and Jello Biafra. The title TRACK "Vampire town center" takes full 6 minutes and has it genuinly in itself. Also the remaining material does not need to hide itself. 7von 10 points. - Andre

Original German:

Wie bitte ? Dieser Typ macht schon seit 1972 Musik? Da tauchte ich noch nichts ahnend im Fruchtwasser herum. Neben seinem Schnauzbart hat Dennis Most auch noch den guten alten Punkrock aus den Siebzigern mit rübergerettet. Und das gar nicht mal übel für so einen betagten Herren. Nix langweiliger Schlepprock, wie man vielleicht erwarten könnte. Wilder, treibender Punkrock wird dargeboten. Dazu dieser Gesang, der an eine Mischung aus Johnny Rotten und Jello Biafra erinnert. Der Titeltrack "Vampire City" dauert satte 6 Minuten und hat es echt in sich. Auch das restliche Material braucht sich nicht zu verstecken. 7von 10 Punkten. - Andre

Maximum Rock 'n' Roll's
What we do is secret blogspot
by Henry Yu 09/04

Dennis Most and the Instigators further refine their hard rocking punk on “Vampire City”, a full lengther on the Trash 2001 label out of Germany. Sharing many of the same tracks as last year’s “Wire My Jaw” CD on Dionysius, these are all new recordings with the latest incarnation of the Instigators. It’s a burner from end to end, full of hot guitar licks, heavy heavy bass (courtesy of punk stalwart and keeper of the torch Keith Grave) and the Dennis’ great snarling chops, culminating in the title track, surely one of Dennis’ best penned songs, a magnum opus power ballad that soars and burns into the brilliant chorus, “Everybody wants too much from me/Squeezing out those things that feed you/Closer now, let me feed you”. Keep the torch lit!

Inside Knowledge E-zine 09/04

Damn this guy started playing shows a year before I was born. So it seems he doesn’t need any introduction, but I never heard of him and maybe I am not the only one, so here is short story about his career. Dennis Most is a singer, songwriter, producer and arranger. His love for rock 'n' roll started in his hometown of Fairmount, Indiana. Since that time his music developed to the psychedelic punk rock, glam metal, garage rock that you can hear on eleven songs on this album. Not exactly my style but certainly not bad to listen to, this old guy rocks for sure!

Earcandy Magazine 08/04

Dennis Most returns with more of what he does best. Garage, metal, rock n’ roll in the same vein as the Stooges, Alice Cooper, MC5 and the New York Dolls. If you own anything by any of the bands listed above then you’re a future fan of The Instigators. You just don’t know it yet. Germany’s Trash2001 label knows exactly what they like and that’s why they released Vampire City this year. It’s available on vinyl as well as cd and includes the classic “Excuse My Spunk” as well as “Penetrate”.

RILBPHPA 07/04

My goodness, ne beidseitig red CD - like lecherous! As far as to that got into. Already since 1972 Dennis Most upp, 1979 makes appeared the first Single of "Dennis Most & the Instigators" (Indiana/USA) - tja, and the temporal origin cannot be denied. Only how do that create that to preserve this Power over 25 years? THE IS YET PUNKROCK!! The is no dumb retort crap, no would-be dirt, no AufdenZugaufspringen, no Modekackand no Heulsusengefasel. And then this voice, wow - ACTUAL emotions are senses that, there one the energy, the Power and there may also already once geese skin arise! Class texts, lecherousest voice, super produces - more cannot expect one. And if one means, the entire thing is typed no longer to, puts Dennis Most with the last piece "Vampire city" over satisfied six minutes yet once very violently one thereon. After that is layer and I seat here special "boahr, ey!" That live and I tic from! Thanks!

Original German:

Meine Güte, ne beidseitig rote CD - wie geil! Soviel zum Einstieg. Bereits seit 1972 macht Dennis Most upp, 1979 erschien die erste Single von "Dennis Most & the Instigators" (Indiana/USA) - tja, und die zeitliche Herkunft lässt sich nicht verleugnen. Nur wie schaffen die das, diese Power über 25 Jahre zu bewahren? DAS IS NOCH PUNKROCK !!! Das is kein doofer Retortenscheiß, kein Möchtegerndreck, kein AufdenZugaufspringen, kein Modekack und kein Heulsusengefasel. Und dann diese Stimme, wow - das sind WIRKLICHE Emotionen, da spürt man die Energie, die Power und da darf auch schon mal Gänsehaut aufkommen! Klasse Texte, geilste Stimme, super produziert - mehr kann man nicht erwarten. Und wenn man meint, die ganze Sache ist nicht mehr zu toppen, legt Dennis Most mit dem letzten Stück "Vampire City" über satte sechs Minuten noch mal ganz heftig eins drauf. Danach is schicht und ich sitz hier sach "boahr, ey!". Das live und ich tick aus! Danke!

NO FRONT TEETH WEBZINE 07/04

OK, DENNIS MOST don’t need no introduction, he’s been fuckin shit up since before I was born and he’s still fuckin it up now. Out of control psychedelic punk rock that forged the roots of punk to come. This is pure sentiment on record, there’s no contrived crap on here, just flowing energy and unstoppable vigour, check out ‘Sex Is An Art form’, ‘Penetrate’, ‘Vampire City’, ‘Excuse My Spunk’…this is the shit that makes up the true soul of punk rock.