Birmingham and surrounding areas have of course been famous for producing a number of rock acts over the years but Vincent and the Onepotts are more than just another band to add to the list, having formed in 2008 and releasing “Devil’s Eye” the following year V.A.T.O have since lost a guitar player and return to the live scene at the end of 2015 with a double vocal attack in order to keep the band running at full throttle (FYI – their name comes in reference to the Vincent Motor Cycle Company’s “one pot” bike).
They’ve performed alongside the likes of Ginger Wildheart, UK Subs, the more light-hearted Dirtbox Disco and appeared on the bill at the Stummercamp festival, so upon the opening notes of the albums first track “Hurricane” it was already obvious they were going to be my sort of thing – and if you’re into loud and fast rock n roll, then it will be yours too.
The duel vocals work nicely on “Dead Train” and the punk attitude comes across for the fist-pumping “Brothers of the Bowery” whilst there are plenty of drinking songs on offer with the obvious “Raise a Glass” being one of just those, for you can imagine feeling right at home with Vincent and the Onepotts playing at your local punk night complete with a beer or two in hand.
It’s this kind of energy that makes “Best of Enemies” such a great listen, it may not be breaking any new territory and whilst tracks such as the aforementioned “Raise a Glass” along with the repetitive “Change your Mind?” have Vincent and the Onepotts sounding like the American punk of Rancid mixed with the glam and sleaze influenced Backyard Babies, both tunes are easily put straight onto repeat for the bigger impact and bit of a sing-a-long.
Every punk band has their protest song and this three-piece are no different, the album starting to come to an end with “Rebel Revolution” and a track that you can envisage being played to an audience who are ready to chant along to whatever anti-establishment rant is popular at that moment in time, then as you’re in full anarchy mode the album closes with the frantic start of “All Fucked up” before the engine is randomly slowed down a little and as Vincent and the Onepotts have a fine release in “Best of Enemies” hopefully they will gain the best in friends when they take their punk n roll back out on the road.
