by
Last seen on these shores playing as a little known act on the Burning Heart Records’ ‘Heart Attack’ *Tour *The Peepshows *came and went without stirring much in the UK music scene. However, thanks to *‘Refuge For Degenerates’, their 3rd full length release, that all looks set to change. Taking cues from classic rock legends AC/DC *as well as obvious Scandinavian rock ‘n’ roll heroes Gluecifer *and *The Hellacopters *this is an album packed to the gills with high quality song-writing and super-cool melodies.
In fact, it’s hard to pick an actual highlight from this, each track worthy of being a regularly aired classic in your local. From the opening loosely strung chords of ‘In The Dirt’, with backing vocals courtesy of Nikola from fellow Örebro residents Millencolin, to the 90s Brit-pop of ‘Nailed To The Ground’ to the 70s feel of last track ‘When I Fall’_, with it’s effortless solos this is an album that will take president over anything else you buy in the next few weeks and will ensure a good month-long residency in your stereo.
Despite being produced by Mieszko Telarczyk (a guy more used to the grindcore blizzard that is Nazum), ‘Refuge…’ also boasts a beautifully dark edge, with less emphasis on dirty riffs and more on those gorgeous choruses. Take ‘Monochrome 76’, easily one of the coolest songs of the whole genre thanks to the lines "Let your love light shine on me / and let your soul shine set me free" vocalist Oswald’s husky voice just sounds perfect and must surely be enough to convert even the most hardened pop fan into the beauty of rock ‘n’ roll. Absolutely essential.
-
10Mat Hocking's Score
