THE year of rock and roll death is the unlikely driving force behind the new EP from a group of Worcester noiseniks.

Stars such as Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse and many more besides have died at the age of 27 and the Rusty Knives feel they want to use their demise to make more of a statement on their six-track Matches and Alcohol.

The band’s guitarist and vocalist, Al Terry, said: “The EP is inspired by the stupid club of stars who expired at the age of 27 before they had anything to say.

“We wanted to make a statement and really mean it.

“Having something to say seemed more important than just having to say something.”

Beginning life as a Velvet Underground-style jam band in 2009, the three-piece, which is completed by Elly Palmer on bass and Abi Brookes on drums, soon took a turn for the heavier sounds of grunge.

Al said: “We play a volatile combination of punk rock and grungy pop music with a distinct 90s twist.

“We are very much inspired by the likes of Nirvana, Iggy and the Stooges, the Pixies and Black Flag.

“We have a feral and highly distorted garage rock tinged guitar sound played over simple solid basslines and smash lust inducing drum beats.” He says this intense combination would appeal to punks, metalheads and anyone with a 90s rock fixation.

For the chance to see if this would be your cup of tea they are playing at the Pig and Drum, in Lowesmoor, Worcester, on Friday, August 24, as part of the Worcester Music Festival.

They will be joined by Thunder Lion, Aeonian Dog and Evolution Of Man.

Matches and Alcohol is available from Rise in CrownGate or from therustyknives.band camp.com.

For information go to facebook.

com/therustyknives or alternatively you can e-mail therustyknives@gmail.com.