Outl4w

When New Noise saw pubescent punk rock outfit Outl4w some years back, it was a headline set at Liverpool’s Masque Theatre where they took to the stage and promptly set about blowing the three other bands completely off it. The youngest member of the band was just eleven years old. No, seriously, ELEVEN. The general feeling that night was one of “if they’re this good now, what are they going to be like in three years?!” So energetic and technically mature was their performance that we made a silent vow there and then to find out and write home about it.

When you’re this age and starting a band, it’s all too tempting to try to replicate the look or sound of “rock stars” you’ve seen on MTV, a trap that many young bands fall into. Not Outl4w; they wrote about things that pissed them off, as all punk rock bands worth their salt should: having to get up early, your Mum nagging you about everything under the sun, and it worked because it was REAL, and it was nasty.

Their eponymous debut album is even nastier, and achieves a sound that took The Exploited about fifteen years to create. ‘No More Survivors’ is a bloodthirsty, pulverizing intro, and blisteringly fast, Bobby Bentham‘s voice already sounding like he’s been eating razor blades. The raw energy and power of songs such as ‘Blame The Nation’ and ‘I Can’t Relate’ burst out of your speakers and pin you to the wall.

Admittedly, many of the lyrics are well worn slogans preaching ideas about revolution, standing up for yourself and just generally sticking it to the man. It’s been done before of course, but rarely this well. ‘Sonic Youth’ looks set to become their signature tune. The chorus is catchier than leprosy: “We don’t want the lies / We want the truth / Go and stand with the sonic youth / There’s a reason for our behaviour.”

With all the bad press kids get these days, Outl4w’s story should set an example to them of what you can achieve if you work hard at it. The word is that the brothers’ parents have been enthusiastic supporters of the band from day one, acting as roadies and PR reps, indulging their sons’ passion. The lesson in all of this is blindingly obvious.

So any kids thinking of starting a band should think long and hard about this: switch MTV off and assume that everything you’ve seen is a lie. Slash is not your hero. Pete Doherty is not the complete rock star. Outl4w are now your inspiration, not for how they look, or even how they sound, but for remaining dedicated to their art and sticking two fingers up to anyone who tells them they can’t. They ended that memorable show three years ago with a cover of Sham 69’s ‘If The Kids Are United’. Rather aptly, Bentham sang: “Just take a look around / What do you see / Kids with feelings like you and me / Understand him, he’ll understand you / For you are him and he is you.”