Pound For Pound

Pound For Pound is the sound of American rock'n'roll from the 1950s, dragged through a Florida swamp, kicked through cities from Seattle to Dallas, emerging bloodied but unbowed at the far side.

Where in the past Royal Trux have remained steadfastly elusive and deliberately difficult, Pound For Pound sees Neil and Jennifer come out from behind the wall of noise.

Opener 'Call Out The Lions' sets out the album's stall early on, sleazy but melodious guitar paving the way for Neil's slightly sinister vocals to take centre stage. Titles like 'Deep Country Sorceror' and the brilliant 'Sunshine And Grease' say it all really - the blueprint hasn't changed but the dynamics are in place for a shot of pure rock'n'roll, last administered when Axl Rose was still in short pants.

'Accelerator (The Original)' could have come straight from the guts of Jagger and Richards, a whirling, swirling harpie of a tune that grips you by the roots of your hair and won't let go. The aforementioned 'Deep Country Sorceror' has Jennifer and Neil trading lyrics deep in the voodoo belt of the delta blues, landing somewhere between a charm and a curse.

When it comes to classic rock albums, Pound For Pound's seedy shuffle and hangdog hook could go for a few rounds with real rock heavyweights. As an example of dirty, sordid rock'n'roll, it's hard to see this being bettered this year.