2006 was a brilliant year for album releases, but 2007 has been even better. The diversity of music has been staggering, with new interpretations of rock music a strong feature. Take this album by Neurosonic for example. It’s impossible to place this one in a neatly tied generic box with its mix of punk, metal, pop, dance and rap. Opening track ‘So Many People’ is a jagged, bass-driven, dark, melodic slam-dunk of a song, the like of which you will not have heard before. Superb. Next track ‘Are Solar’ is rock rap with choruses that will get every alt dance club bouncing to kingdom come. ‘I Will Always Be Your Fool’ suddenly changes route and could have easily been found on an early Beatles album. The verses move along in first gear while the choruses explode metal style. God knows why this ditty wasn’t released as a single, it would have slaughtered everything else. ‘Me Myself And I’ follows and I doubt whether there’s been a more beautiful rock song released all year. The lead vocal and harmonies are stupendous while the huge melody and subtle instrumentation carry the song along. Quite extraordinary. So far, every song a winner and I was left wondering whether the standard could be maintained. Shouldn’t have worried. Screeching guitar riffs introduce multi-paced, rampant rocker ‘Until I Die’ before the haunting and highly emo ‘Fearless’ is launched to provide a remarkable album highlight. Need I go on? Hell, this could be our rock album of the year!

4.5/5