Screaming Blue Messiahs
Gun-Shy
Rare & Collectible Vinyl Records

1986 Original in shrink. "Gun-Shy," the sophomore album by Screaming Blue Messiahs, crackles with an unbridled intensity that defines the band's place in the punk and rock landscape of the late '80s. Released in 1986, the album is a visceral explosion of raw energy, where the trio—frontman and guitarist Bill Carter, bassist Chris Thompson, and drummer Kenny Harris—carve out a sound that is both frenetic and tightly controlled. Carter's vocals, gruff and impassioned, spearhead the attack, while his guitar work is a whirlwind of aggressive riffs and manic solos. The rhythm section, marked by Thompson's driving bass lines and Harris's relentless drumming, provides a solid foundation for the sonic chaos. Tracks like "Wild Blue Yonder" and "Smash the Market Place" exemplify the band's ability to blend punk's rawness with rock's swagger, creating a sound that is uniquely theirs.

In "Gun Shy," the Screaming Blue Messiahs channel a distinctly British take on American rockabilly and blues influences, infusing them with a punk ethos that feels urgent and immediate. The production, overseen by Vic Maile, captures the band's live-wire energy, ensuring that each track bristles with a sense of spontaneity and edge. Lyrically, the album traverses themes of urban life and societal critiques, delivered with a wry wit and a palpable sense of frustration. This record stands as a testament to the band's ability to distill chaos into coherent, compelling music, making "Gun Shy" a significant entry in the annals of 1980s rock that resonates well beyond its initial release.