A review from PittsburghBeat.com:

☆★☆ Billy No Mates is the side solo project of Duncan Redmonds of Snuff. Apparently Snuff's taking some time off, so Duncan's passing time doing this... and we're all reaping the benefits. Duncan played and sang all of the notes on the We Are Legion CD, so this truly is a solo project. I'm not sure about the tour EP. Although, he has assembled two touring bands thus far... one for Europe and one for Japan. Let's hope the next one is for the States. I really dug these discs, but I'm more than a casual Snuff fan... so I'm really into their sound, and usually dig the spinoff bands like Guns 'N' Wankers & Dogpiss. If you're a fan of snuff, I suggest you pick this up. You'll like what you're about to hear. ☆★☆

We Are Legion - Billy No Mates (Ten Past Twelve Records) Released: 4 April 2005
• (4 out of 5 aliens)

1. "Bones" - I like this track, it reminds me of Guns 'N' Wankers... even though I've heard Duncan comment that all of that was pretty much Joolz's deal. This kind of stuff is where I appreciate the whole melody & harmonizing thing that's become Duncan's signature I guess. Also, I really dig this tone... and just the sense of the way a song is supposed to flow form one part to another.
   
2. "Memories Come Memories Go" - Groovy little intro. I like the riffs here... somewhere in between blues and metal... the vocals are very slow after the initial riff, and it kind've drags... but I don't think it' a bad thing. The hand claps near the end of the song are just awesome. I mean, how often do you hear that in punk rock? Hand claps? Heh. Good stuff, I tell you.
   
3. "Look At You" - This opening riff really reminds me of Snuff... I guess the guitar reminds me of GN'W more than anything. I like the harmonizing here. I can't imagine how many times he had to lay vocals to get all those layers in there. The timing here is great. It seems like there's od spacing between the vocals & the backing, then the guitar riff comes in as a perfect compliment to the vocals & carries the melody off.
   
4. "Bedevere" - Typical vague lyrics... leaving you open to take it however you want. The melody is a little monotone here, putting a very morose mood on things. It seems like Snuff stuff is usually a little happier or anrier... or just more energetic in general.
   
5. "Seagulls" - This is slightly more energetic. I think it's incredibly catchy. This song is more exciting, but I find myself missing Snuff-like guitar doodles or even some horns. Funny lyrics... "Seagulls shitting on my car..."
   
6. "What's Wrong With That" - Angry. Reminds me of old Snuff like Snuff Said... and all o' that. have no idea what he's saying, but it pisses me off.
   
7. "Frijweg" - Great way to start. Pounding. Guitars. Vocal harmonies. Wait... I've heard this before... Sounds liek an original incarnation of a Snuff song... or where Duncan had it going in the first place.
   
8. "Fade" - Melancholy. This brings it out that most of the disk is a little monotone vocally. I really like the melody that's there hiding, trying to come out. I'd like this more if it was sped up just a bit... but then it fades into rocking metal riffs. Seamlessly. I love that about Duncan. Snuff seems to always be able to pull it off. I'd like to hear the rocking for a little longer!
   
9. "Bittersweet" - I like this song more every time I hear it. The lyrics are clever. I find myself wondering what would have happend had this been brought to the snuff table. This is another melacholy song.
   
10. "Slap Top" - Now, this is the energy I've been waiting for. I'm a sucker for those guitar riffs. You can hear it in my playing. I had to have got it from Snuff. I love the timing here... where the drums stop and the guitar picks it up and throws it to the voice... it's just great structure. When the vocals are all layered over top of each other... it's just awesome. I love the way it's all put together. I'd like to hear more like this.
    
11. "More To Come" - Slow... but I like it. Snuff always grows on me if I don't "get it" on the initial listen, and I think this will do the same. Again, I just appreciate the drums, the guitar tone, and the harmonies. This song does get rally interesting during the end though, with the organ & the heavy parts. I'd like to hear more of this.
    
12. "Spaceman" - Odd. This is why I like Suff & all the related bands. They're always doing a track or two that makes you do a double-take. I like the repetition of the vocals over the different build-ups. Again, it's a sound that I'm used to & enjoy.

Japan 2005 Tour EP - Billy No Mates (Ten Past Twelve Records) Released: 15 June 2005
• (4 out of 5 aliens)

1. "Oooooh Billy" - Weird sound effects. What is someone doing? Sirens. Good way to start a CD! Excellent riff once the noise goes away. "Billy!" sirens... "Billy"... inchoherent rambling... metal & rockabilly riffs... confusion... chaos... moaning... I love it!
   
2. "ひとり上手" «Hitori Jo-zu» - From the looks of the CD case, even though I can't read Japanese... I guess this is a cover. One thing Duncan can do well is pick a cover. This melody is awesome. I like the "heys", ha ha ha. Good stuff. Energetic & melodic with loud guitars. I love it. Now, if I just knew what he was saying... we'd be doing fine.
   
3. "Runner" - Another cover I think? I like this one too. Duncan sure can put his own twist on anythign he plays. The stuff he covers sounds a lot liek most of the stuff he writes.
   
4. "Nice Hat" - A crazy little instrumental. It reminds me a lot of the Misfits' "Attiude"... and leaves me wonderign what that instrument is! This is a very happy little ditty, & I'm a sucker for these instrumental type deals.
   
5. "Hanashitakunai" - Groovy guitar. I still have no idea what he's saying, but I don't care. I like it. Form the markings on the CD... I suppose it's another cover. The guitar wanking is cool.
   
6. "アザミ嬢のララバイ" «Azami Jo-no» - The last cover here? I like the riff melody that opens this up. The tempo here is really cool... different than any of the other songs. It stands out for that reason. I can really feel the emotion in the chorus, even if I don't quite get it.
   
7. "What's Wrong With That (Demo Mix)" - Heavy. Thrashy. Distorted vocals. Thundering insanity. I love it. I love that he can pull off all these moods & styles in one CD. I think he's pissed.
   
8. "Fade (Cascade Mix)" - Funky mix. I like these. Usually casual fans aren't as fond of these as the more hardcore fans. It takes a while to get to the rocking... and there's only a little bit... but it's worth it. Heh. At least it's in English
   
9. "Klompen Gelopen " - Whimsical whistling... marching beat... absolute fun and silliness. Is he actually saying anything? Anything at all? This is so friggin' weird, it's up there with my favorites. And closes with the whistling... perfect.

Check out these Billy No Mates related links:

• Billy No Mates page at 10 Past 12 Records
• Billy No Mates on MySpace
• Billy No Mates one-sheet at Forte Distribution
• Billy No Mates at Punk In Ya Face
• Interview with Duncan at Punksite.de
• The official Snuff website
• Snuff Yahoo! Group
• 10 Past 12 Records
• Guns 'N' Wankers on FatWreck.com
• Guns 'N' Wankers on DamagedGoods.co.uk
• Dogpiss on HonestDons.com
• Dogpiss on Fatwreck.de

Listen to Billy No Mates:

• Billy No Mates - "Bones" (Thanks to http://www.10past12records.com)
• Billy No Mates - "What's Wrong With That" (Thanks to http://www.punkinyaface.com)