I missed out on seeing this band perform in our local venue in December due to the untimely birth of my first grandchild. From the sound of this debut album it looks like I missed out on some seriously good fun…

A number of new bands have recently tried to resurrect punk rock *and glam rock), but with very mixed results. The Others sound like the genuine article with youthful exuberance, direct and simple song lyrics, angry instrumentals and a tailor-made vocalist. The first track Lackey says it all with threatening opening drum and guitar intro before the spitting vocal comes into focus. There’s a rawness and sincerity about the song that’s just a little compelling, and I can visualise the heads banging and the spit flying from the band’s audience. William underlines the band’s melodic sensibilities with a song that rushes along at the speed of a Japanese Bullet train. Rampaging guitars take centre stage in next track Southern Glow almost masking the singer’s very valiant effort to keep up and be heard. However, it still ends up as a storming punk rock track. In The Background repeats the earlier trick of steadily building up momentum before the sonic explosion is inevitably triggered. But there are also clever changes of pace here that provide moments of respite before feet recommence their battering of the Wilton.

Then one of the best moments of the album when This Is For The Poor slacks off the pace with a song dominated by sincerity and emotion. And while the slow pace is threatening and the instrumental choruses as mean as they come, the spoken-paced lyrics have the force of a gigantic Tsunami.

The Others have produced a genuine angst-ridden punk rock album that brings back to mind why bands like The Clash met with massive live audience acclaim and participation. Connection is the secret and this band has discovered the art, and in the process has recorded a debut that every punk fan should own. Every track on this album has ‘killer’ indelibly stamped on it – check it out for yourselves.

4/5