Atomic Suplex: '14 Inches of Fist' - London's ‘Rock & Roll Machine’ Catches Fire

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How do you explain the inexplicable? There is no way to accurately describe Atomic Suplex, though many have tried… “Rock and Roll mayhem”… “loud, raucous, trashy rock and roll”… “Guitar Wolf on mescaline”… that might give you some idea. Their second album 14 inches of Fist (out now on Dirty Water) has ignited a trail of blazing hot accolades the world over, having recently completed tours of Europe and Japan. One critic wrote: “The UK quartet has been stirring up sonic trouble for a number of years now, earning increasing acclaim with every release and a reputation as one ferociously exciting and uncompromising band live. Now it is 14 Inches of Fist raising a storm since its recent release, and declaring Atomic Suplex as not a must but the essential riot for all rock ‘n’ roll fans.”

Another review description puts it rather mildly: “Atomic Suplex are a force of nature and a freak of nature and this, their second album, is them trying to ride this wild beast called rock and roll without a saddle or any safety gear. From the moment 'One Man Party' screams out of the speakers right through to 'White Shoes' your head is about to be fucked by the salacious powers of rock and roll. They take no prisoners and sound like they've taken what Jim Jones was doing in his Revue and what the Computers turned into to the extreme and then took it a bit further; it's like Gallon Drunk or the Jesus and Mary Chain never existed or if they did they are all in the glue pot that is sticking this album together along with a generous dose of the Cramps, Elvis, Buddy Holly and anybody else who loves rock and roll. It's no surprise they toured with the Hives, Guitar Wolf and the Buzzcocks, it shows.”

Here's what other taste-makers and rock and roll intelligentsia have had to say about their 23 minute 14 inches of Fist experience:

“Some bands are great at making really polished albums. Atomic Suplex is not one of them - and thank goodness for that. This is a band that can be summarized with just two words: energy and volume.” Schwindy's Indie Music Spotlight

“Straight to the point, sarcastic, sardonic and full of energy, 14 Inches of Fist perfectly encapsulates Atomic Suplex’s riotous live shows. It’s the sound of an early-Stripes Jack White being dragged kicking and screaming through a nightmarish vision of MC5 on speed, left bloodied and beaten by the side of the road, surrounded by an orgy of devilish worshipers of hell-bound garage rock n roll. Not one for the faint of heart!”  Louder Than War

“Fourteen songs (obviously) in twenty three minutes is about as much as the human body can cope with without having the emergency services present with their defibrillator (not that that would be of much use as your heart would resemble a set jelly). I can't even begin to work out half the lyrics but to be honest I couldn't care any less if I had the lyric sheet in front of me – this is the best record I've heard all year, or maybe the second best, but it shows that rock and roll isn't dead that's for sure and it's still dangerous and edgy.” Uberrock

“Jerry Lee Lewis jamming with The Jesus and Mary Chain? The Sonics borrowing The Stooges guitar pedals and cranking them up as far as they’ll go? Lord only knows. But there’s something undeniably awesome about this album – it truly is rock and roll distilled right down to its most basic animal form.” Pure Rawk

“Sound and album is garage rock, punk rock, noise rock… any kind of dirty, insatiable rock and roll you can think of and a torrent of fun from its first to last breath. It sets the aggressive belligerent tone which rousingly fuels the whole album, and a song which is soon erupting into a salaciously tenacious slab of punk’n’roll driven by the rousing tones of Jim Suplex. A sonic web of noise is soon grasping ears through his and Emma Leaning’s guitars whilst a gloriously throaty bass sound is conjured by Dan Suplex amidst the wicked swipes of drummer JD Kickdrum. The track is pure attitude, like early Damned merging with The Sonics, and instant slavery.” RingMasterReview

Atomic Suplex are one of the best live bands you could ever see, or even imagine. Screaming guitars, brutal, primal drumming and a twisted, wailing saxophone cutting through it all. Half the band look like they’re being electrocuted on stage, and Atomic Suplex himself – resplendent in his fringed leather jacket, flying V guitar in hand and face covered by a miked motorcycle helmet through which he sings – is one of the most mesmerising characters on stage today.

But don’t get the idea that this is a bunch of macho nitwits, the whole thing is done with a sense of humour and is a joy to behold. Their debut album – on Crypt Records, no less – includes such numbers as ‘Rock & Roll Machine’, ‘Rock & Roll Action’, ‘Rock & Roll Is Never Going To Die’, ‘Rock & Roll Must Die’ and, of course, ‘I Am Rock & Roll’.

Order "14 Inches of Fist" here   

The Dirty Water Club started in October 1996 in the Tufnell Park neighbourhood of north London, at a venue called The Boston. The club's name is derived from The Standells’ 1966 hit ‘Dirty Water’ which glorifies the US city of Boston, Massachusetts and its River Charles.

Past performers have included The White Stripes (voted by Q Magazine as one of the top 10 gigs of all time, Mojo one of the top 30 and Kerrang one of the top 100!), The Gories, NOBUNNY, Kid Congo Powers (from the Cramps, Gun Club and Nick Cave's Bad Seeds), The Fleshtones, Billy Childish, Radio Birdman, The Dirtbombs, Thee Michelle Gun Elephant, The 5.6.7.8's, The Horrors and The Brian Jonestown Massacre to name just a few. The club has also seen some original ’60s performers, such as The Monks, ? and the Mysterians, Kim Fowley, Sky Saxon, GONN, Michael Davis of the MC5 and more grace its stage.

Their in-house record label, Dirty Water Records, is one of the leading garage/beat/(real) R&B labels in the world.