The March Violets – Crocodile Promises (Digital/CD/Vinyl Album – Metropolis Records)
The March Violets hold a special place in the collective memory of 80s Post-Punk lovers. Core members Rosie Garland and Tom Ashton, now joined by bassist Mat Thorpe, have released a new album featuring 9 tracks. While the heyday of the 80s and the band’s biggest hits are long behind them, the signature guitar sound remains largely intact. You can still hear the Post-Punk influences from their early days, though the new material leans more towards a ‘catchy Rock’ style. Personally, I favor the darker, harder elements of the album, which, unfortunately, don’t appear as often as I’d like. It’s worth noting that Rosie Garland’s vocal timbre is remarkably consistent, sounding nearly identical to what it was 40 years ago. Overall, it’s not a groundbreaking album, but a decent nod to nostalgia. (Rating:7).
Listen to “Bite The Hand”:
Read the news on ‘Crocodile Promises’.
About The March Violets
The March Violets are a British post-punk band that emerged from the Leeds music scene in the early 1980s. They are often associated with the gothic rock movement and were contemporaries of bands like The Sisters of Mercy and Bauhaus.
The band was formed in 1981 by Tom Ashton (guitar), Laurence “Loz” Elliott (bass), Simon “Si” Denbigh (vocals), and Rosie Garland (vocals). They quickly gained a following with their dual vocal approach and a blend of post-punk and gothic rock elements.
Their early singles, released on the independent label Merciful Release, which was also associated with The Sisters of Mercy, included “Religious as Hell” (1982) and “Grooving in Green” (1983). These releases established the band’s dark and atmospheric style, marked by prominent bass lines, guitar riffs, and haunting vocals.
In 1984, The March Violets signed with London Records and released the “Natural History” compilation, which included a mix of their earlier singles and new material. The group faced numerous lineup changes, released “Electric Shades” in 1985, and disbanded in the mid-1980s.
The March Violets reformed in 2007 and have since performed at various festivals and released new music, including the crowdfunded album “Made Glorious” in 2013. “Crocodile Promises”, released in July 2024 on Metropolis Records, is the band’s latest album.
I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.
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