Kerrang!

BLAST

The Red Eye, Islington
Monday, July 24

Frantic Russian pop-rockers descend on London WHEN YOU hear the word Russia the last thing to spring to mind is rock 'n' roll Vodka, Tolstoy and Dolph Lundgren in 'Rocky IV' maybe, but not rock In fact, the last Russians to make any impact in western rock were Gorky Park during the '80s, who supported Bon Jovi once and disappeared out of sight Blast are trying to change all that In fact frontman Nash Tavkelidze is keen to tell of Moscow's bubbling music scene "It's fantastic at the moment The best venues, beautiful women and great clubs"

Blast combine Stones-style rock 'n' roll with a modern alternative sound to create something quite interesting Tonight at the Red Eye in Islington, they only play five songs, but they make quite an impact, especially on 'Girlfriend', with its gentle verses building up to a manic chorus They're a good, solid live band, and vocalist Nash grabs your attention from the off It's hard to take your eyes off him as he writhes and twists around the floor, and jumps off the amps on to his knees 'To Be Or Not To Be' is a Beatles esque number, while 'Sitting On Top Of The World' is a ferocious, mega-fast super charger of a song But it's set closer and new single 'Bury The Shoe Girl' that really impresses, with a hook that works itself well and truly in your head

Greatski, as they, er, never would
say in Russia

BRETT CALLWOOD