I haven’t been to Rome for a while, but the last time I checked it out it seemed full of ice cream eating tourists queuing up to see the Sistine Chapel ceiling. So imagine my shock when Motorama’s Psychotronic is the Beat landed on my doormat. Formed back in 2000 and consisting of Daniela on guitar, main vocals, and keys alongside Laura on drums this band really knows how to, not only create a good slab of punk in all its trashy tradition, but also get a great image going that would have me walking the seven hills of Rome looking for them. Psychotronic is the computer game too, I think?
Psychotronic is the Beat (Dead Beat Records, 2008) is rough, loud, relentless, bar room, booze filled, exciting, brashy, bratty punk all rolled into one, or should I say two, girls who would give most guy rockers a run for their money. Tracks such as the stompingly good opener “Black and White”, “Tiki Tramp” and “Superalcoholic” set the scene for some full on chainsaw intense rock. Daniela screams out her vocals above the huge walls of riffing and Laura must have arms like a Russian shot putter to produce so much energy in her drumming.
They have come up with eleven new tracks that will cause your speakers to walk by themselves and your neighbours to board up their windows. The set is completed by a Motorama take of Gang of Four’s “Damaged Goods”. “Chinese Blues” is as debauched as it gets with guitar scuzz to the fore and Daniela’s screams spitting across it with a scary intensity. “Gossip Reputation” carries on where that left off. “All Right” is power personified and a stand out from the pack.
"We are hungry for you", screams the flyer that came with the CD – adding as a Government health warning type message, "we’re here to blow your ears". The track “We’re Here, We’re Hungry” stomps in with Daniela worryingly screaming “give us flesh to chew on”. All rather disconcerting.
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