Rock and metal can, and often does, take itself far too seriously. So we should all be thankful for bands like Atomic Bitchwax. The band’s new album, Force Field (Tee Pee) is a pure joy to behold.

Despite being the band’s seventh album since 1999, this thing bristles with raw energy. The kind of energy you get from drinking too much, eating too much sugar, and running around in circles. It’s just twelve tracks of short, sharp Rock n’ Roll, pure and simple.

From the high octane opening of ‘Hippie Speedball’ though to the rollicking ‘Shocker’, onto the galloping ‘Houndstooth’ and closing jive ‘Liv a Little’, everything about this album screams fun. Riffs fly, solos squeal, and the drums maintain the frantic tempo at all times. The whole thing has a punky, the-wheels-can-come-off-any-time feel about it. And it’s great.

‘Alaskan Thunder Fuck’ is exactly as fun as it sounds with its hyper-take on Fifties Rock n’ Roll. ‘Fried Dyed And Layin’ To The Side’ is a Seventies Prog classic given a youthful makeover and a load of speed. There’s no filler, little variety, and it’s all over in 35 minutes and you’ll be eager to play the whole thing on repeat.

Given the current cold weather conditions a lot of us are facing, Force Field is the perfect record with which to blow away the cobwebs and any winter blues. Dumb and fun in the best way.

8.0/10

DAN SWINHOE