WHO ARE THEY? Four baby-faced Welsh rockers who reportedly snagged a major-label deal after playing just four gigs — and despite being too young to drink in much of the world.
WHAT IS THIS? Their impressively solid debut album, which was preceded by a 2016 EP and some singles.
WHAT DOES IT SOUND LIKE? A perfectly balanced blend of indie-rock, power-pop, punk, glam and grunge — though it might also remind you of Arctic Monkeys, Oasis or even an edgier Cheap Trick from time to time.
WHAT WOULD BE A BETTER TITLE FOR THIS ALBUM? Coming Out Swinging.
HOW SHOULD I LISTEN TO IT? From the pit at a massive English festival.
WHAT 10 WORDS DESCRIBE IT? Brash, powerful, sneering, rambunctious, raw, blazing, urgent, outsized, anthemic, gritty.
WHAT ARE THE BEST SONGS? The disc pretty much hits the ground running and doesn’t let up for 48 minutes — but tracks like Something Worthwhile, Move and Force of Nature are self-explanatory.
WHAT WILL MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY SAY? ‘More vicious than pretty.’
HOW OFTEN WILL I LISTEN TO THIS? It’s got staying power.
IF THIS ALBUM WERE A WEAPON, WHAT KIND OF WEAPON WOULD IT BE? A broken bottle. Or perhaps a rusty switchblade.
SHOULD I BUY, STREAM OR STEAL? To quote their song Are You Entertained?: “Nothing comes for free.” Especially nothing this good.
https://youtu.be/jKp89BpQup8
