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THE PROPHETS OF ADDICTION
Babylon Boulevard

Incorruption (2012)
Rating: 8.5/10

There’s something so joyous in hearing a modern band who have a heart for dirty, sleazy rock ’n’ roll. The fantastically named The Prophets Of Addiction are fronted by one time Pretty Boy Floyd bassist Lesli Sanders, and the potion the band have concocted for this debut album is one so streetwise and strewn with attitude that by the time you’ve finished listening to it you’ll need a good shower.

This is a full-on struttin’ jaunt into the murky realms of New York Dolls glam rock, with a meaty edge. Imagine a moonlight stroll into the heart of red light district rock ’n’ roll and that’s where The Prophets Of Addiction are, made all the more distinctive by that almost lazy Sanders drool.

However, this isn’t just about hairspray and alcohol, although it helps – The Prophets Of Addiction, for me anyway, give the youngsters a glimpse into the seedy days of sleazy metal, and for those old enough like me, this just makes me feel like it’s okay to still dress like some skeletal, electrocuted punk rocker.

The title track, featuring the immortal line: “You can check in but you can’t check out”, paints pictures of grimy hotels strewn with litter as Sanders spits out those infected lyrics, bellowing: “I mixed up some potions but I can’t find the cure, I called on the Devil but I can’t be insured”. It’s impure at heart, mixing a Faster Pussycat-style of sneer with a rotten glam strut; perfect for late nights in a downtown bar.

‘Self Portrait’ jerks in with a killer riff but for me it’s the glam rock stomp of ‘Hang Me Up’ which catches the eye, complete with T. Rex ‘20th Century Boy’ (1973) structure and wayward chorus… brilliant stuff.

‘Kick It In’ is equally slurring, while ‘Mistress Addiction’ alters the mood as a reflective, semi-ballad with a rich twang and bluesy façade. ‘Rejection’ has a harder edge, bombing in with a barrage of drums before taking on a punky shuffle.

‘Trigger’ is equally wholesome, as ragged as a drowned cat with a cool lick of a riff and dirty drums. This track is probably Sanders’ best vocal in my opinion, adding an even dirtier tinge to that already back alley vocal, and it’s also the albums best riff – more fiendish Danzig than glam slam, mixed with a bit of cosmic David Bowie.

For anyone who has been searching for a heartbeat among the modern hard rock and metal scene, then The Prophets Of Addiction are the shining – albeit tainted – light, who’ve provided me with endless nights of entertainment. Babylon Boulevard is something so sincere and frail and it’s that almost verging-on-collapse attitude that I really dig. Whether it’s the punk snarl of ‘Altar Of Altercation’ or the more pensive ‘Where R U Now’, The Prophets Of Addiction is the stripper one should never fall in love with, and yet I’m head over heels and ready for an overdose. Fans of The Stooges, Ramones, New York Dolls et al will not be disappointed.

Neil Arnold

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