Another excellent release from a band that certainly deserves more of our attention.

Sweden's Imperial State Electric are already on album number five, which comes hot on the heels of the imperious 'Honk Machine' from last year. Peddling a tight line in Hard Rock/Power Pop ISE has, with this release, come up with the goods once more. Being pretty much a vehicle for guitarist/vocalist Nicke Anderrson this album sees the band branching out somewhat and experimenting a little more.

With a sound that resembles part-Beatles, part-early KISS along with a dash of the Raspberries, the band manage to cram an awful lot into their songs. With each track coming at the listener head first and leaving one quite breathless, there is not a second that's wasted here, even when we get a solo. There is so much energy, power and melody into what little time there is that it leads to a lively, spontaneous feel for the whole album.

'Empire Of Fire' really does set the tone for the whole album; Hard Rocking riffs with instantly catchy choruses. The title track is at a slightly slower pace but nevertheless irresistible and comes over all Cheap Trick on us. 'Break It Down' is a major step out for the band which is straight Country Rock complete with pedal steel and a female vocal making it a real stand out. 'Over And Over Again' is a frantic piece of Pop/Rock and is such an enjoyable romp that it's over seemingly in the blink of an eye. 'Bad Timing' has that early KISS feel and could almost be the offspring of 'Deuce' or something off 'Dressed To Kill'; it is quite brilliant. A change in tempo also comes with 'Read Me Wrong' which again has a slight Country-like Beatles flavour to it.

'No Sleeping', which closes the album, has a pretty authentic Beatles aura too, with at times an uncanny John Lennon-sounding vocal laid on top of a beautiful backing track. These guys are obviously students of that era when the adage was "don't bore us, get to the chorus".

This album is very much an old-school offering with all bar one of the songs clocking in at the two to three and a half minute mark. With an overall running time of just over thirty-two minutes there is no unnecessary excess here. Another excellent release from a band that certainly deserves more of our attention.

Malcolm Smith