Nineties hell-raising rock’n’rollers Thee Hypnotics announce the release of Righteously Recharged, a coloured, heavyweight vinyl anthology, including rare and unreleased material, due out on 8 June via Beggars Arkive. Righteously Recharged features four LPs including Thee Hypnotics’ acclaimed debut album Come Down Heavy (on violet coloured vinyl), the swamp-rock follow-up Soul, Glitter & Sin (on red vinyl) and their Chris Robinson, Black Crowes produced third album The Very Special Speed Machine (which never saw a UK release and is on clear vinyl), along with a fourth disc, called In A Trance on white vinyl, with their very first single “Love In A Different Vein” plus early demos and Peel Sessions. The set also contains in-depth liner notes by journalist Julian Marszalek, featuring interviews with the band and a savvy look at the band’s rip-roaring career, featuring outrageous tales of rock’n’roll excess and exhilaration. Taking their cues from the Detroit militancy of The MC5, the corrupting output of The Stooges and the gospel according to The Cramps, Thee Hypnotics’ devastating brand of rock’n’roll was propelled by near punishing decibel levels and a fervour bordering on the evangelical. Blazing a devastating trail of high-octane thrills and annihilation, Thee Hypnotics occupied a bizarre hinterland that sat somewhere between the British neo-psychedelic scene of the late 80s and the detonation of garage-influenced rock from the Pacific northwest of the early 90s. Little wonder that a band that shone so bright would burn out before the end of the century. Thee Hypnotics have reformed for a 15-date UK reunion tour in April to celebrate the Beggars Arkive release. For the first time in 20 years, the classic line-up of co-founders Jim Jones (vocals) and Ray Hanson (guitar), with Phil Smith (drums) and Jeremy Cottingham (bass), is set to hit the road with all the power of a Viking raiding party. Still harbouring an intense belief in assaultive rock’n’roll as libration, and delivering their sonic payload with a savage intensity, this influential and legendary group is back to testify one more time.
