The Velourias

Packed full of riffs that are as sharp as Don Draper’s suit collection and bolstered by some absolutely killer choruses, the self-titled debut from Dublin-born, Leeds-based trio The Velourias is one of the best Irish rock albums I’ve heard all year. Opening with the subtle sonic sucker-punch of ‘Trapped In The Belly Of A Whale (Part 1)’ the band really get going on the anthemic ‘Uganda’ and from there it’s a full-on, alt. rock tour de force that reminds me of Fighting With Wire and Dinosaur Pile-Up. As you might expect from the band’s name, they also dabble in some Pixies-esque dynamics (‘The Exhibitionist’) with singer Phil Keogh’s vocals shining brightest on ‘Joan Of Arc’. Fans of Hot Snakes and Idlewild should check this out.