Having been away from the spotlight for what seems like an eternity (about 18 months, in fact), it's always a pleasure to welcome a band as distinctive and charismatic as New Rhodes.

That their hiatus has been productive in many ways - recruiting a new drummer, relocating to London, and recording a new album are but three defining activities at the top of their list - means that the doom mongerers who thought they'd disappeared off the face of the Earth for good can cheer up again.

'The History Of Britain', while being a subtle taster for the Songs From The Lodge long-player, isn't as immediate as any of its three predecessors, but after a couple of plays you'll be singing the "You've got a dream, believe it..." chorus as part of your work, lunchtime and sleeping routines. So beware: the bug of infectious melody is gonna get you.