With so many new rock bands around at the moment it’s refreshing to receive an album that is a little more melodic, a little more distinctive, heavier, and even possesses several potentially chart busting singles.

But at the heart of the band’s music is simple, honest rock ‘n’ roll, performed with skill and authority. The opening track pretty well sums all this up in one cracking mid-paced song. Sex offers supreme bass and lead guitar riffs, a profound bass rhythm, gut-wrenching vocals, anthemic choruses, and a song with melody to burn. It’s a great opening gambit and things just get better and better…

Next up is Left Of Centre that lifts the stakes even higher with a song that offers quiet passages, a more controlled vocal, along with heavy rock choruses. Lyrics are excellent and the strong melody will ensure that this song will be single-chart bound. The band’s heavy rock credentials come to the fore with next track, Replica, which has a metal style bass rhythm and some grandiose and extended guitar riffs. This is the track that forces me to want to see the band perform live. The next track was selected for last week’s Shakenstir radio session, with some difficulty I might add, since all the songs are of killer quality. K.O. is a bit slower, a bit more contemplative and possesses a huge melody. Now I mentioned potential singles early in this piece and I kid you not, this album is bursting full of them. Crash And Burn is a stonking, slower paced tune with the power to move an ocean-going oil tanker. There’s also another major melody, something this band really excels in.

I’ve listened to this album many times and am now pretty convinced that it’s going to take something very special to unseat its position of rock album of the year. Yes folks, it’s that good…

5/5