For a band named after the less celebrated effects of a certain tonic wine, as well having as an interest in Mexican wrestling, their third album from The Bucky Rage starts in rather heartfelt fashion with country-tinged ballad ‘Snails’.
However, we’re soon in full flow, with the dirty garage rock of ‘Waltzer’, the frenetic, organ-propelled title track, and a gruff bluesey ‘Hard Working Man’ underpinned by spindly guitar.
The band draw influences from across their two decades – ‘Be My Bride’ wouldn’t be out of place on a 1960s Nuggets compilation with its echoey, Doors-like keyboard stabs; ‘Broken Down’ is a gothic take on Cramps-style rock, before we’re back to impassioned soul on closer ‘I Saw The Light’.
For a band inspired by darkness and (comic book) violence it’s nice to see them exploring their more sensitive side. #
‘Living In A Cult’ is out now. This article originally appeared in the Blackpool Gazette.