The Virginmarys

At last, damn it! It's been two and a half years now, I've been nagging to this tormented milieu about these formidable guys from Macclesfield, England and I gladly admit I love to say I told you so. Here's the excellence of The Virginmarys on a full sized and fully stuffed album. Beware though because this may dislocate your necks.

This here is not music. This is a network of time bombs. Respectable rocking tradition is the groom, happening now modernity is the bride. I can think of no band that manages this marriage with such bull's eye and unique panache, except maybe the Hives in a quite different register. Listen to "Out Of Mind" and you'll think AC/DC went grunge. Listen to the bombastic riffs of "Running For My Life" or "Taking The Blame" and you'll know the Virginmarys took the blues back from Rage Against The Machine. These conmen know two killer tricks: cutting staccatos and releasing hurricane force. They hold till you can't wait anymore and then just shoot intense rock 'n' roll. Simplicity is the gimmick and it's a tremendously powerful one. However unpretentious, these strings play the kind of groovy things that you'll dig till your smile sticks to your ears.

After three wonderful EPs, "King Of Conflict" comes as a confirmation. Previously unheard opener "Dead Man's Shoes" stands on the same level as the best songs of the EPs, which follow in a jaw dropping row. "Portrait Of Red" is an astonishing signature piece, "Just A Ride" gets you air drumming like a fool, "Out Of Mind" needs you to dress sharp and shake a shoulder, and then unquestionable hit "Bang Bang Bang" blows your mind. Most new songs seem to add a new element to the recipe when opting for a stream of powerful eighths. Still, what matters is modern sounding solidity keeping up with pure rock whole palm slaps. Ally Dickaty, front guy of this awesome trio, sings like the building is on fire and no one cares. He'll show off that bleary and broken almost grunge or indie sensitivity, as if Alex Turner was trying to cover a Kings Of Leon tune, and then a few verses later he won't hesitate to give you a heavy metal howl from LA. That's passion, no jokes!

I can't even try to guess what else you may want, you ungrateful brats!