With an opening title track that’s a flurry of guitar twang, the scene is set for an exhilarating set where punk and blues collide. ‘The Great Disappearer’s surfy rock and “ba ba ba” chorus bowl along apace while ‘Chasing Ghosts’ has the frantic energy of Dr Feelgood.
Dedicated to frontman Hugh McLachlan’s “late great” sister Kim, the album’s title translates as “Strong and faithful” (their clan motto), although you could be forgiven for thinking, despite ‘Glasgow Girls’, the band’s roots point to New York via CBGBs or even the 1960s London of the Rolling Stones.
‘Setting Sun’ is a thrashy melding of The Cramps and Blues Explosion, while ‘Lagrimas Tatuadas’ – a teardrop tattoo for the departed – is slower, an almost doo-wop Nick Cave but with acidic sharding guitar.
Meanwhile, ‘Unoda’ sees bassist Aliane Allison take on vocals for an almost poppy coda to an album which, following a quick revisit to the title track, is over and done with in a breathless 23 minutes. Short, but very strong
This article originally appeared in the Lancashire Evening Post.