Main members Josh Homme and Nick Oliveri are joined by Screaming Tree vocalist Mark Lanegan and Foo Fighters’ mainman Dave Grohl on drums. There has been a lot of hype over this album - best in a decade according to reviews on Amazon - so it had a lot to live up to. The single ‘No One Knows’ is a great track, throbbing bass lines, chunky riffing and the bizarre, high pitched vocals of Mark Lanegan. Sabbath riffs dominate ‘First It Giveth’ with the haunting backing vocals of the band behind the song. The bizarre ‘Song For The Dead’ follows, with those weird backing vocals there again to create an almost psychedelic feel, before ending in a flurry of guitar and powerhouse drumming. Would go great on a horror movie soundtrack.

Zeppelin influences can be heard on the ‘Hangin’ Tree’ - an album stand out. Harmony vocals mixed with fuzzed guitar, sheer class. ‘Go With Th Flow’ is a catchy pop rocker in the mold of the Foo Fighters - the next single maybe? The start of ‘Do It Again’ sounds like the Glitter Band - I kid you not! It’s 60’s retro time again with ‘Another Love Song’ with its jangly guitar and Hammond organ backing.

‘Six Shooter’ and the opener ‘You Think I Ain’t’ are pretty forgettable, but these aside it is a great musical trip.

The between song mock radio broadcasts (‘KRDL - we spoil music all the time’) are funny first time round but they wear thin after a few plays. But that aside this is a damn fine rock album and Masters of Reality fans will love this (Chris Goss of Masters is credited as a guest musician on the album). Crank it up loud and enjoy!

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Review by Jason Ritchie