Prize for the most eclectic, eccentric and enthusiast record of the week goes to the Welsh band with their eighth LP, a heady mix of thunderous metal with summery, upbeat, simmering BBQs of reggae, ska, dancehall and pop. It’s their debut on metal and punk label Earache Records, and there’s no shortage of noise here in this particularly heavy-rock ska-metal fusion, but fronted by the effervescent, charismatic dreadlocked 56-year-old Benji Webbe, born of a Windrush-generation father and a mother from Cardiff of Philadelphian heritage, this is an example of prime British melting-pot music culture, echoing the likes of Aswad to Bad Manners, and with some parallels to the political and social commentary of hip-hop, heavy-rock contemporary Bob Vylan. It’s the dynamic contrasts here that jump out, from the positive inclusivity of bouncy reggae-pop L.O.V.E. (Smile Please) complete with Muppet-style figures in the video, to the political anti-hate anger of heavy rock in Unstoppable, the dance music-metal mix of Set Fazers, the ragga-metal of Gimme That Boom or more American soft-rock with added ragga of If I Could. With the fire power of bassist Daniel Pugsley, ZZ Top-style bearded guitarist Mikey Demus, and drummer Arya Goggin, always at high volume, this is energetic, tuneful, engaging, and impossible not to smile about. Out on Earache Records.
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