With an album cover bearing bright colours and acid-flavoured fonts, plus a deal with Ripple Music, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Psych bangers Psychlona are unashamedly West Coast US. The real shock, therefore, is that this pack of four upstarts belongs to West Bradford UK, and give a fiery edge to that chilled fuzz template. Debut album Mojo Rising (Ripple Music) is set to give a real shot in the arm to a genre already packed with amazing releases in 2018.

Opener ‘Stone’ begins with a killer bassline before exploding into a sea of crushing riffs, a booming groove of drums, clattering cymbals and Psychedelic resonance. The vocals are the first giveaway of those Northern English roots, a gruff ‘oller from the disused mines which is perfectly complemented by an urgent yet mellow lead. ‘Ride’ follows a similar template yet has more drive, an irresistible pace which is akin to giving Jimi Hendrix a right royal boot up t’arse with some heavy-duty Rock ‘n’ Roll.

The Punk background of many band members provides a laconic yet truly exciting slant on the Desert format. ‘Down In The Valley’, its tagline delivered in a cracking Yorkshire burr, is a hypnotic trance machine but maintains a fizzing intensity and is dripping with “fuck-off” attitude. And even though ‘Big River’ commences with more of a slow Blues strut, the rampant burst is soon upon us: a blistering snarl of a chorus that bites at the tense slower sections like an arseful of fleas. Similarly, the slow Grunge opening of the delightfully irreverent ‘Your God’ develops into a monolithic, acid-dripped version of Sid Vicious tearing Eddie Cochran a new one. More of that Blues influence is evident in the Hawkwind-esque ‘Juju’, the gently played chords of the intro sequences rising into the Stoner swell of the verses. The penultimate ‘Black Dog’ is a low moan, a simple yet slow and dirty Groove succeeded by more solo-graced Sunday jam rhythms.

Closer ‘Beakfoot’ is a heavy, hypnotic, sadly pedestrian bluster through patchouli scents, the delicate yet throaty lead and bass sections growing into fiery choruses, a vocal that’s almost painfully atonal yet so suited to the vibe. There will doubtless be many who don’t take to Psychlona because of that undeniable pub feel, but it’s precisely that quality that gives Mojo Rising its energy and a rawness that’s rare in the genre. A joyfully rough diamond that should never be polished.

7 / 10

PAUL QUINN